Our intern Alex had the pleasure of interviewing Suzy Lequeux of L.A. jewelry line, Rossmore. We adore Suzy Q's lively personality and love having her at DNA pop-up events.
Did you always want to create jewelry?
Yes, and I think it was encouraged as well! I expressed interest in beading & jewelry making, and my dad had a good friend that was a jeweler, so he bought me a bunch of real jewelry tools. Then, while I was studying art at UCLA, my dear friend Jacqui happened to have a job with Nina Segal and Christy Martin at Fred Segal, and she got me a job with them where they taught me about having a boutique line and many other things!
My success with jewelry has been a journey of sorts, where I've paid close attention to the sign posts and where they've been pointing, but more importantly, where they have pointed back at me. For example,, from the very 1st time I created jewelry for myself to wear, I was approached with compliments and then, later, offers to buy. I knew I was on to something and I still sell stuff right off my neck and hands to this day!
The name from your line comes from Rossmore Ave. in Los Angeles. What about that street inspired you?
The city of angels inspires me and Rossmore is my favorite street in LA. It's where stylish old-Hollywood buildings glamorously rise up out of the mundane sprawl and night blooming jasmine fills the air!
What is your favorite piece and what is the story behind it?
It's so hard to pick a favorite. I will usually start wearing a certain piece a lot, depending on what I'm going through or feeling at the time (if you read my listings, there's a story w/ each piece), and then inevitably sell it off me at a trunk show or while eating at a restaurant and have to start over. I was wearing the Galaxy 2 (a heavy casting of seashell shard) a tone in black on a 30" chain with the two tone Say Anything in 18" and sold those two off of me! Lately though, I've been wearing the Laughter in black with the Chevron in silver 16", the Teeth in gold in 18" and the Say Anything in 20" black.
How do you envision girls wearing your jewelry? (Layered/alone, jeans and t-shirt or dresses and heels, etc)
I'm all about the layering and each individual picking what resonates with them. I feel jewelry is a highly personal form of self expression. My goal with my jewelry on the fashion side of things, is to give a cohesion to that idea of each of us being unique.
To illustrate what I mean, you can pick the items you respond to, but within a style system, so they still all go together, but even then, the greater charm of my jewelry is that you can also still wear it with your other pieces as well.
When someone puts on a piece of your jewelry, what do you hope it makes them feel?I hope they feel delighted, that they connect with it in their heart, & that they fall in love with how they feel when wearing the item!! It's awesome when i first started getting these little baubles and objects out there, women would write to me " I love my piece, I never take it off!"
So that's where that slogan came from.
Love is a central theme of your line. What are five things you absolutely LOVE?!
I absolutely LOVE my family and friends! You know who you are in Cali, TX, & NYC!!
I absolutely LOVE making jewelry, art, fashion, music, and media.
I absolutely LOVE defining personal style. It is my favorite hobby! My haunts include Diavolina/Madison for shoes and clothes, Fred Segal Rocks for all jewelry that I don't make myself, LA Vintage Exchange for insanely unique hand-dyed vintage pieces, just got a rad bag!!, Vintique for my vintage shoes, Haus of Price for crazy custom jumpers, and then StantonJames, Jenni Kayne, & Switch for gorgeous boutique, euro and hard-to-find designer wares, as well as American Rag and Specific for home and fashion objects.
I absolutely LOVE how it feels to cascade down a powdery mountain while snowboarding.
I absolutely LOVE the coconut water, cane juice, and coconut smoothies from RAW CANE SUPER JUICE at the Hollywood farmers market.
What’s next for Rossmore?
I just did a mini ring collection that is insane, it's going to be at Fred Segal Rocks & Diavolina soon!!! Also, I am dreaming up a canvas bag collection, very utilitarian, heavy and clean, with interesting accents and details. And I'm finishing up collaborating with SisterMantos on music for my site. Gonna be ridic!
xxoxoxoxxoxo
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