The former sculptress reveals the philosophy behind her big bangle theories
You don’t need a sweet tooth to love Rock Candy—Ippolita’s delicious gem-studded collection to which women everywhere have developed a serious addiction. Even the Ippolita styles are yummy—Lollipop earrings, Gelato bangles…all crafted with fresh, juicy jewels like Brazilian amethyst, blue topaz, and champagne citrine. JCK was experiencing a serious sugar craving, so we called the Manhattan-based, Italian-born artist (she studied sculpture at Florence’s Istituto d’Arte) to get our fix.
Age: Ageless
Number of years in the biz: 17
Number of employees you oversee: 50, with lots of help
Jet Set earrings
Family/pets: I have a daughter, Maya.
Describe your personal style: Extravagant from the neck up
First piece you ever designed: Gold Squiggle bangle
The single piece of jewelry you can’t live without: Jet Set earrings
Best piece of advice you ever received: “Do what you love, not what makes you rich.”
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Grapes on the vine
Worst piece of advice: “Play it safe.”
First job ever: Picking grapes on the farm where I grew up in Tuscany
How did you get started designing jewelry? My love of art and craft led me to design. As a sculptor and painter, it was a natural transition to create “wearable art.”
If you weren’t designing jewelry, what would you be doing? Painting, sculpting, teaching art
Why “Rock Candy”? It perfectly describes the brilliantly cut, colorful stones in this collection.
Favorite gemstones: Diamonds, turquoise, and London blue topaz
Rock Candy bangles
Jewelry you’re wearing right now: Jet Set earrings, gold paper clip necklace, and 13 gold and diamond bangles
Five items on your desk right now: A stack of magazines, an itinerary for my trip to Thailand, a picture of my best friends, my sketchbooks, a small glass hand
Five songs on your playlist: “A&E,” Goldfrapp; “Sympathy for the Devil,” the Rolling Stones; “Pink Moon,” Nick Drake; “The Look of Love,” Nina Simone; “Take Five,” Dave Brubeck
First website you check every day: WWD.com
Scent: Bois Oriental by Serge Lutens
Exercise regimen: Ideally—torture by personal trainer three times a week. Reality—running through airports
What did you have for breakfast? Espresso with half-and-half
Guilty pleasure: Häagen-Dazs dulce de leche ice cream
Drink (daytime/evening): Coffee/wine
How do you unwind? Dinner with friends at Blue Ribbon Sushi in Brooklyn
Favorite museum in Florence: Palazzo Davanzati
Superstitious? Only in a crisis
Book you’re reading: The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them, by Elif Batuman
Book you’ve been meaning to get to: One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel García Márquez
Preferred news source: NPR
Main means of transportation: Subway
Favorite movie: Minnie and Moskowitz, by John Cassavetes
Who would play you in your life story? Penélope Cruz
Personal motto: “Art matters.”