Originally posted on The Stone Set.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO PURSUE JEWELRY DESIGN?

I always DIYed my outfits. I had to have a little twist on what I was wearing so I didn’t look like everyone else. I went to school for Fashion Design. My senior collection was beaded. I hand beaded everything, waistbands, sweaters, dresses. I always felt like embellishment truly made the outfit. After college I worked as a clothing designer and just personally collected vintage jewelry, mixed it up with things I had, and wore it in unique ways. People would ask me if they could purchase it and I would always be like ‘oh no no I design clothing’ until a light went off that jewelry is my thing. It was like that ah ha! moment. I started hand making pieces for friends until I found a manufacturer and launched a small 6 piece necklace collection. It sold out in the first week and I was like, this is it for me. I get to make things I absolutely love for people all over the world. And they like it. How wonderful is this.

YOU HAVE SUCH DISTINCTIVE PERSONAL STYLE. HOW HAVE YOU CULTIVATED IT OVER THE YEARS AND HOW DOES YOUR JEWELRY REFLECT IT?

I went through phases like everyone else. I definitely knew what I liked and held true to it at each phase of my life. I had a juicy jumpsuit or seven in middle school forsure. By the end of high school into college I was heavily into the Olsen era of leather pants and white t-shirts.

I just loved the idea of wearing staple pieces, like a t-shirt or white button down and then adding that extra kick at the end. You can have so much fun with accessories. I collected a lot of vintage, mostly art deco and tribal pieces. There was something really timeless and beautiful about mixing those two styles. They didn’t skew too much one way. I felt feminine, but also edgy. That’s really where the DYLANLEX aesthetic came from.

WHAT’S THE TRICK TO STYLING YOUR JEWELRY? HOW DO YOU APPROACH A LOOK?

The beauty of creating this jewelry line is that we take out the styling process. There is no trick. You just throw it on over a sweater, tank top, or t shirt and it enhances your look. Everyone that puts it on has the same reaction – at first when they see it they’re like ‘can I do this?’ and then they put it on and they want to go out! It’s the greatest thing watching women put a piece on. Ugh I love it. If I could be there with every customer while they are getting their first piece I would be the happiest person in the world.

WHAT PIECES ARE YOUR PERENNIAL FAVES?

FALKOR. It’s the first piece I designed and to this day, it’s one I wear regularly. It’s my first love, my first jewelchild! More recent, are all gold. I never thought I’d be a gold person, but it’s so much fun to wear. BEAU, AXEL II, GILDED FALKOR. And we just dropped a new collection of bone colored stones and gold. Paired with swimwear and crisp white shirts for summer, it feels very Slim Aarons: La Dolce Vita.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BEYONCE MOMENT. HOW MAJOR!

I think that has been the most interesting thing, how stylists and other creatives find us. It’s so real, it’s not a business transaction. We don’t pay to play. They truly enjoy the style we bring and seeing stylists bring life to our jewelry is so rewarding. Beyonce’s Formation middle fingers up image is hanging in our office. I still get birthday cards and DM’s of people tattooing her with our jewelry on their bodies. It makes me smile every time.