LIZZIE MANDLER: THE MODERN MINIMALIST
LIZZIE MANDLER : the mODERN MINIMALIST
Lizzie Mandler's minimalist jewelry is like magic. Her layered stories of stacked huggies, curated necklace groupings and more, lure you in with their mix of clean, modern style with a rock n roll edge. And look closely or you may miss the real beauty in her pieces, because for Mandler, it's all in the details.
The Jewelry Edit had the opportunity to speak to Mandler about what inspires her.
How did you come up with the concept for Lizzie Mandler fine jewelry?
I started designing jewelry when I was 12 (fun fact- my first two companies when I was 13 were RockIt and Bella Cosa), at age 16 I started working with precious materials and I knew immediately that it was what I wanted to do professionally. So I wouldn't exactly say I had a concept for the company, it was more just a stubborn 16 year old deciding her own fate. Oddly I never really thought twice about it, or questioned the decision.
Where do you look for inspiration when designing pieces?
My inspiration behind my designs has always been the wearer, the way jewelry integrates into our lives, and how it lives on the body. The goal has always been to create jewelry that’s highly wearable, with great attention to the small details: proportions, angles, finishings.
What’s your favorite type of material to wear/work with?
Gold—always!
How would you describe your style?
I would say my work is well designed minimalism. To me it’s not about how complex a piece is, it’s about the very small details that separate my pieces from others.
What was the first piece of jewelry you remember buying for yourself?
Because I started so young, I never actually bought jewelry for myself or anyone else. The first piece I ever designed was a pair of earrings for my Mom for Mother’s Day.
What’s the most special piece of jewelry you own? What’s the story behind it?
My mother had a Tiffany's 'Diamond by the Yard' necklace. When she met my father he gifted her a larger one. When my sister turned 13 she got the original, and when I turned 13 it was passed down again (and my Mom was gifted another one from my dad). There was so much meaning engrained in that necklace for me. It was not only about my 'coming of age', it was also about joining some sort of club with the women in my life. I looked forward to the day I received that necklace for years, so much so that my Mom bought me a silver Tiffany's Star to be a place holder. This tradition my Mom created is what drew me to jewelry, I thought it was so incredible the significance a piece could have, the memories it could hold and how it can change from generation to generation.
What’s one piece of jewelry you wear often, that you can’t live without?
A heavy gold chain—the weight is irreplaceable.
How many pieces of jewelry do you usually wear at any given time? What are they?
I wear between 25 to 35 pieces of jewelry every day! I dont know when this happened, but it just kind of built up over the years. I tend to wear a piece and then never take it off, so I guess 11 years later it all adds up! I always have huggies in my ear, never a matched pair, and usually alternating between black and white as they go up the ear. Huggies are the best, they are so comfortable and I never have to take them out. I wear 10 to 12 bracelets, a combination between bangles and handmade chain bracelets all stacked together with my watch. Then I layer 3 different lengths and weights of our signature chain with a few smaller necklaces between. For rings, I always have 3 to 4 pinky rings on, and then I vary what I wear on my other fingers but usually its a few simple plain gold bands on my thumb and pointer, and a stack of 3 to 4 rings on my right ring finger.
Why do you think it’s important for people to wear jewelry?
I think jewelry is an incredible way to immortalize moments, life events, and even feelings. I think jewelry allows us a unique opportunity to carry that history around with us, literally our story, and have it age and grow with us.
What’s something people should keep in mind when shopping for jewelry?
Jewelry is highly personal. I think people feel a connection to pieces, or they feel something when they try it on. Thats what you should always look for, what brings a smile to your face? What can you see yourself owning and loving for years and years to come?
What draws customers in to purchase jewelry from your collection?
It's so personal, I can’t even say that most of my clients have a certain style or aesthetic that binds them together. I want to say part of it is just magic, or some energetic connection they feel with the pieces. With so much jewelry out there, I really believe people are just drawn to certain pieces and there isnt always a logic or reason behind it.