Designer Spotlight: Vanessa Mooney
I wanted to get you the skinny on a designer new to my boutique.
Meet Vanessa Mooney:
Born in 1980, Vanessa Mooney is a rare breed of a Hollywood rebel, harnessing a unique look and attitude, which transcends into her distinctive accessories line. The great-granddaughter of Harry Warner (one of the original Warner Bros.) has been infatuated with the freedom that art provides and obsessed with all forms of art, music and fashion, her entire life. It was in 2009 when she founded her eponymous line under a core idea: let uninhibited design intuition lead the way.
Self-taught, Vanessa designs everything in her studio in Downtown Los Angeles, combining unexpected materials and techniques that make each design feel brand new. Eclectic in her personal style choices, she portrays “model-off-duty” fashion with a rock ‘n’roll, boho-chic edge. An avid traveler with a keen interest for unexpected beauty, she derives inspiration from different ethnicities and cultures.
With an ever growing following embracing her designs including celebrities like Katie Holmes, Vanessa Hudgens, Venus Williams, Jennifer Lopez, Lily Allen, Juliette Lewis, Devendra Banhart and Hayden Panettiere… Vanessa Mooney may just be the one to watch. Her pieces can be found in over 500 of the top specialty stores and boutiques in the U.S. and abroad, including Bergdorf Goodman, Cusp, ShopBop, Madison and American Rag Cie. She can also be found in pages of Harper’s Bazaar, In Style, Nylon, Cosmopolitan, Us Weekly, Marie Claire and Glamour to name a few. She has scored high-profile collaborations with premiere U.S. retailers like: Calypso, Urban Outfitters, Club Monaco, Madewell, and is now expanding into handbags and footwear.
Handcrafted, often intricate, always unique and ever imaginative; Vanessa Mooney is a brand, a lifestyle, a state of mind.
Q: Hi Vanessa! What are some of the things you're into?
A: I love the beach, the mountains, the ocean but I also love the city—L.A., NYC, and Paris! I have always been interested in anything related to the arts whether it was music, painting, or fashion. I grew up in Hollywood so music and street style were always something I related to and was into. I have a love for anything that is creative and inspires others to be creative. I find beauty in so many things, like people and their expression of what is interesting and beautiful to them
Q: What inspires your jewelry making?
A: For me it's always an accumulation of sights, feelings, and ideas that start off my collections—I am always looking and watching everywhere I go. I always feel a combination of inspiration as I get going and the pieces are completed. I like that feeling of random combinations that occur when I am done and I look at the overall collection! It doesn't feel forced but more of a flow from one piece to another.
Q:What type of girl wears your jewelry?
A: I feel I design for that girl on the street, who you pass by and look twice. It is for someone who isn't afraid to be themselves, and tries to experience new things in life and their travels. I think the girl that wears my jewelry wants something different, so instead of doing what she sees other people do, she makes it her own in whatever way she does!
Q: What are some tips you would give to someone who is interested in buying jewelry, but doesn't know where to start?
A: Definitely build a collection of pieces! Jewelry is super fun and can make clothing exciting. Start with something that gives you a good, sexy, tough, or fun feeling when you have it on, while also complementing your body or personality! I surprise myself all the time with suddenly wanting to wear something I would have never thought I would be into. You just have to go with it try not to limit yourself!
Q: Do you have any idols when it comes to jewelry?
A:I don't know that I have idols but I really admire the work that other jewelry designers do. Pamela Love, Pade Vavra—there are so many!
To purchase some new pieces visit: chic.kitsylane.com