When you're having a rough style day—a guacamole stain on the favorite shirt you planned to wear; a dearth of options due to overdue laundry; a sudden realization that you hate absolutely everything you own—there's one thing that can always save you from a hopeless abyss of fashion despair: jewelry.
No one knows this style truth better than accessories designer and entrepreneur Emily Elizabeth Winters, the owner, operator, and designer of Emily Elizabeth Jewelry. From creative hairpieces to whimsical necklaces and bold rings, Emily designs accessory lines that are at once original and completely wearable. It's no wonder the line is a favorite of style editors and has been featured in dozens of magazines, including In Style, Teen Vogue, Vogue Japan, and Allure.
I recently sat down with Emily to discuss what inspires her, finding her true calling, and the challenges of running a one-woman show. She also shared some personal news, and how she plans to balance the next chapter of her life and business.
Why did you decide to start the line?
I started Emily Elizabeth Jewelry after I graduated from college with a degree in English and a minor in Studio Art and had absolutely no direction or career prospects in my chosen field. I literally had to think of what I enjoyed doing and could possibly make any smidgen of money doing. It was almost a go-to last resort.
What kinds of women buy your jewelry and accessories?
I've actually tried to figure out who my demographic is and it's so broad! I have college-aged customers to women who are in their 60s. There are women from all different states and female couples looking for matching pieces, which is a lovely new trend in my sales.
What inspires you creatively?
I really go off of vibes and what I'm being drawn to. I have so many findings and components in the inventory, and sometimes I'll come across a chain or charm I haven't used in years and for whatever reason—whether my mood, season, what I'm currently wearing, or what I wish I could accessorize my outfit with—a fresh idea will spring up into my head and that old chain will now be "new."
What is your favorite kind of accessory to design?
I've designed so many pieces over the years and while I'm not sure which is my favorite to design, my intuition definitely perks up when I know I've created a piece that will be a favorite with editors and my customers. For example, my Petra ring is earthier and more organic than most of my pieces. One day I was just fiddling around with materials and I realized I could use the Swarovski CZ that I've been using for years as a way to both conceal and embellish the hole in a bead. After I completed the sample I knew the piece would have an awesome response and it has!
What is it like when you see celebrities wear your designs?
It's just super cool. I still get high off of going to Barnes and Noble and making a B-line to the magazine section to see how my pieces look.
You’re moving from New York to North Carolina, how do you expect your new locale to inspire your designs or change your business?
Definitely. I'll be 33 when we move so it's not like I'm old and ready to wind my life down, but I'm definitely ready to scale back, slow down a bit, and start the next chapter of my life—MOM! There is no way I can do my business 100% full time and be a mom 100% so I've decided that now, even a month before we move, I will start to transition my business from full time slowly down to a side business with the first step being the massive sale I'm currently holding.
What challenges have you faced as an entrepreneur?
Juggling your professional and personal life when you’re a one-woman show is very hard. Since even my PR efforts are just me, I cannot lean on others to take on responsibilities (strangely my decision), and sometimes my work life drifts into my personal life. It's hard to not take things personally as well since I'm Emily Elizabeth of Emily Elizabeth Jewelry. If someone has issues with my company, I feel like they have issues with me, not just my company.
