Two Fashionable Peas in a Pod: Ava + Diane, New York, NY

Chloe + Isabel’s Sales Development Manager Diane is always fashion-forward, and her mini-me Ava is no exception! In honor of Mother’s Day, we picked this duo’s brain to find out what inspires their sense of style and what they absolutely love about C + I jewelry.

Diane glams it up in the Turquoise Torsade necklace, while Ava keeps it playful and age-appropriate with our Monkey Pendant.

Diane Fernandez // New York, NY

C + I: What was the first piece of jewelry you were ever given or bought for yourself?

Diane: When I was six, I went to the Philippines for the summer. It’s my family’s tradition to give every girl their own gold name necklace. My grandmother had one made for me and for each of my sisters and gave it to us that summer – I love that necklace (for sentimental reasons) and still have it – and actually wear it! When Ava was born, my aunt from the Philippines sent one for her, so we’re keeping the tradition alive.

C + I: How does your style influence one another?

Diane: Well, since Ava is so young, she has no say in what gets purchased but she has a definite voice on what to wear & how to wear it! She loves anything pink and she has a quirkier sense style than me. She loves mixing stripes & polka dots … very of the moment to mix prints! She shows me how to be more fun with my choices. There are times when Ava dictates what she will wear, if she doesn’t like what we picked out for her, she says “I don’t like that” and grabs what she wants.

C + I: How would you describe your style in three words?

Diane: Casual, chic & evolving. For Ava, it’s playful, colorful & bold. Mostly PINK & PRETTY!

C + I: What is your “go-to” look?

Diane: Right now, it’s jeans, blouse & great heels. Sometimes I throw on a jacket if I want to make it more polished. And I always have my jewels on! For Ava, it’s skinny jeans, slouchy boots & a printed top. Sometimes we look the same — although I don’t plan it like that because my Nanny dresses her in the morning! There are days when I come home from work & we’re dressed exactly alike and I see my mini me!

C + I: What do you love about Chloe + Isabel jewelry?

Diane: That we are fashionable without being a fashion victims. Everything we have in our line so unique & timeless, but at the same time relevant and trendy.

C + I: What inspires you?

Diane: Travel really inspires me. I love to travel & love learning about different cultures – from food, lifestyle, history, architecture etc. My family inspires me, specifically my kids. I get to be a carefree kid all over again with them and look at life in a totally different way. Lastly, I get inspired by old photographs. I like looking at a glimpse of history, seeing our past and seeing how it still influences trends & lifestyle today.

Ava Fernandez // New York, NY

C + I: How would you describe your style in 3 words?

Ava: Pink for sure!!

C + I: What inspires you?

Ava: Princesses Sleeping Beauty and Jasmine, and pink.

C + I: What do you love about Chloe + Isabel jewelry?

Ava: I love monkeys! (holding our monkey charm necklace)

Danielle Emig is an all-star merchandiser who loves promoting her online boutique through Twitter and Pinterest, as well as hosting trunk shows with her friends. We were so excited to meet her in person, and this is what she had to say:

Danielle (right) with our founder and CEO Chantel (left)

”Chloe + Isabel has helped me become financially independent and able to do things I normally haven’t been able to. All of the trunk shows I’ve had have helped me be generous to my friends (especially out at the bar) but I was also able to afford a spring break vacation in South Carolina with all my friends and that was so rewarding!”

“I’m definitely a Chloe. I’m always looking for the latest trends and like to take risks with my style. My three favorite C + I pieces are the retro glam torsade necklace, the open star two-finger ring, and the lariat chain with spike ends (so rocker chic!).”

C + I head jewelry designer Casey takes us behind the scenes of our new Garden Party collection — one of our most special collections to date. Feminine and filled with color, these crystal creations were inspired by vintage castings and ladylike looks of 1940′s Hollywood, but modernized by their unexpected mix of colors.

To find out more about this amazing collection, we sat down with Casey to talk about the what inspired this girly Garden Party trend and learn a bit about how a designer brings an idea to life. So read on to get the ‘inside scoop!’

What was the inspiration behind the new Garden Party collection? It was inspired by vintage castings we found, as well as old photographs of very dressed-up women posing outdoors, surrounded by colorful flowers.

What three words would you use to describe this line? Feminine, floral, and vintage.

What’s your must-have piece this spring? The Multi-charm Garden Bracelet — I love how eclectic it is.

Who can you picture wearing the Garden Party collection? British actress Felicity Jones comes to mind right away. Maybe I’m reading too much into all of her ‘Masterpiece Theater’ characters, but her whole look is soft and pretty — very girly, yet she has a commanding edge about her which I love. That sense of femininity with an edge is very Chloe + Isabel!

Which materials did you use the most, and why? Light green and pink crystals were a biggest color influences. It was important to hone in on colors that were used in vintage wallpapers and china. Also, we wanted to explore metals with an aged look but keep in mind there always needs to be a ladylike touch in our jewelry. That is where the colored pearls and stones came into play.

What sets this collection apart from other C + I pieces? The colors in Garden Party give it a softer feel than many of our other collections. It’s very springy and vibrant.

What pieces from previous C + I collections can the Garden Party collection be layered and combined with? Any of the bracelets can be layered in with our deco bracelets from Holiday, which also used vintage castings. Or, I would take a pendant and layer it with one of our various long chain necklaces, like the Two-Tone Long Chain Necklace.

What kind of woman is this line designed for? This is for a woman who likes really feminine pieces, yet enjoys a hint of retro whimsy when she accessorizes.