outfit 1: shirt: JCrew/jeans: American Eagle/sandals: Ralph Lauren/necklace: c/o La Clé Jewelry
outfit 2: shirt: Lucky Brand/ jeans: American Eagle/boots: Vince Camuto/necklace: c/o La Clé Jewelry
Key necklaces have always been a staple item for me. So when I first heard about La Clé Jewelry I KNEW I had to check them out. I was not disappointed. La Clé Jewelry has such a cool concept and I love everything that they stand for. They also have a powerful woman role model behind it all! Basically La Clé Jewelry uses repurposed vintage keys and gives them a new life helping you look good, feel good, and do good. I love how every key has a story behind it. There are fifteen different colors (and even more glitter ones!) to choose from and every one of them has a different meaning. For example, my teal key means "Good Company & Captivating". As the color fades, it represents how you're absorbing energy from your key words. Once the color is completely gone, send a picture of your naked key to La Clé using #NakedKey with a note about what the color means to you. They will make a donation in your name to a charity of your choice! I love giving back, and being able to while wearing some cute jewelry while doing it is a win all around.
I received the teal dipped key with my monogram and a gold glitter key! The possibilities for your key necklace are endless! You can get any word you want stamped onto your necklace. I thought my monogram added a cute personal touch. And this girl always has to have some glitter, so when I saw that the glitter keys were coming out I HAD to have one. I was surprised with how gorgeous my necklace turned out! The custom keys are normally $30 but you can add another key of any kind (original, dipped, or glitter) for $5 more! I've gotten so many compliments and people asking where I got my necklace. I plan on buying every color!
Not only does La Clé have some amazing jewelry and apparel, but they also have an amazing owner! Deanna Saracino is the owner of La Clé, a mom, and the President of Standard Vinyl! She's an amazing role model and I had the pleasure of asking her a few questions. She was so nice and inspiring!
1) What inspired you to start La Clé Jewelry?
La Clé Started after a pretty major professional failure. I was working on a startup that I was so passionate about and it just tanked. Bad decisions and surrounding myself with the wrong people led me to a place I didn't want to be. I made the decision to re-focus myself and my energy into things I have always wanted to pursue and create something that focused 100% on the positive things in my life and focus on being able to give back in the process.
2) How do you match the meanings to the colors? What's your color?
A lot of brainstorming, word searches, opinions of friends and family. I go through a ton of words but narrow them down to key words that not only resonate with me but leave an impact when a person sees it. I think everyone can be a mixture of all the colors on any given day. I gravitate to the white, gold and teal :)
3) Have you had a #nakedkey yet? Which charity did you make a donation to?
yes we have had a few! :) We've made donations to the Jillian Loyden Foundation, MADD and different various cancer research foundations. I love being able to give back and I am looking for more charities to connect with to spread the word about our #NakedKey Program! It's a great way to raise money for your cause! With the Jillian Loyden Foundation we donated $5 from every purple key to help put an end to domestic violence. It's great being able to give back when you buy anything. Our keys give people a chance to do that.
4) How long can you expect your key to last before it becomes naked?
Depending on how often you wear it and how well you take care of it. It takes about 8 months to 1 year to really see the wear and tear on your key.
5) I love your graphic tees! How do you come up with these cute and quirky shirts?
Thanks! I design them and I try to come up with fun things that I'd want to wear :) I love simple graphic tees and tanks. They are fun and send a message and I think people love that! I hope to continue to come up with some cool ones that people will love. The goal is to keep expanding the apparel line. :)
6) Your website says you also are President of Standard Vinyl! Can you tell us some more on how you balance that and La Clé and being a mom?
Ah yes! Standard Vinyl is the coolest and was really the step that gave me the opportunity to pursue developing La Clé. I am lucky enough to have a BRILLIANT brother, who is also an successful entrepreneur. The timing was right to bring me on board to grow the company to it's full potential. We help musicians and record labels put their music on vinyl. It's amazing being able to follow my passion for music as well as fashion at the same time. I am finally doing what I want to be doing and it's so rewarding. And of course there is nothing better than being a mom. I consider myself a high level multitasker and I thrive on it. I like being busy and getting things done. I'm very organized and manage my time extremely well which is key to being able to doing all 3.
7) What has been your biggest obstacle in starting and running La Clé?
Doing it all myself! With the other projects I was involved in, I had other people to turn to for advice or feedback. Remembering how to trust my instinct and be decisive was important. I was a bit out of practice always waiting or reporting to others. As much as it is nice having people to bounce ideas off of or rely on. it is much more rewarding to be your own boss and get things done. I like being in charge of my own destiny and I love a challenge. This spring and summer we are looking for interns as we are ready to start expanding. I am hoping to have my first hire in 2016 :)
8) What advice do you have for girls wanting to start their own businesses?
Don't be afraid to jump. Do what you love and the rest will come.
9) What can we expect to see in the future for La Clé?
I am so excited for this year to unfold. I have some very cool collaborations in the works with some major brands I love and I am hoping to keep expanding our line to more boutiques and stores, as well as expand our apparel line. We are introducing cards, journals, prints and really focusing on tailoring La Clé to being a well rounded brand that people can get behind.
A lot of brainstorming, word searches, opinions of friends and family. I go through a ton of words but narrow them down to key words that not only resonate with me but leave an impact when a person sees it. I think everyone can be a mixture of all the colors on any given day. I gravitate to the white, gold and teal :)
3) Have you had a #nakedkey yet? Which charity did you make a donation to?
yes we have had a few! :) We've made donations to the Jillian Loyden Foundation, MADD and different various cancer research foundations. I love being able to give back and I am looking for more charities to connect with to spread the word about our #NakedKey Program! It's a great way to raise money for your cause! With the Jillian Loyden Foundation we donated $5 from every purple key to help put an end to domestic violence. It's great being able to give back when you buy anything. Our keys give people a chance to do that.
4) How long can you expect your key to last before it becomes naked?
Depending on how often you wear it and how well you take care of it. It takes about 8 months to 1 year to really see the wear and tear on your key.
5) I love your graphic tees! How do you come up with these cute and quirky shirts?
Thanks! I design them and I try to come up with fun things that I'd want to wear :) I love simple graphic tees and tanks. They are fun and send a message and I think people love that! I hope to continue to come up with some cool ones that people will love. The goal is to keep expanding the apparel line. :)
6) Your website says you also are President of Standard Vinyl! Can you tell us some more on how you balance that and La Clé and being a mom?
Ah yes! Standard Vinyl is the coolest and was really the step that gave me the opportunity to pursue developing La Clé. I am lucky enough to have a BRILLIANT brother, who is also an successful entrepreneur. The timing was right to bring me on board to grow the company to it's full potential. We help musicians and record labels put their music on vinyl. It's amazing being able to follow my passion for music as well as fashion at the same time. I am finally doing what I want to be doing and it's so rewarding. And of course there is nothing better than being a mom. I consider myself a high level multitasker and I thrive on it. I like being busy and getting things done. I'm very organized and manage my time extremely well which is key to being able to doing all 3.
7) What has been your biggest obstacle in starting and running La Clé?
Doing it all myself! With the other projects I was involved in, I had other people to turn to for advice or feedback. Remembering how to trust my instinct and be decisive was important. I was a bit out of practice always waiting or reporting to others. As much as it is nice having people to bounce ideas off of or rely on. it is much more rewarding to be your own boss and get things done. I like being in charge of my own destiny and I love a challenge. This spring and summer we are looking for interns as we are ready to start expanding. I am hoping to have my first hire in 2016 :)
8) What advice do you have for girls wanting to start their own businesses?
Don't be afraid to jump. Do what you love and the rest will come.
9) What can we expect to see in the future for La Clé?
I am so excited for this year to unfold. I have some very cool collaborations in the works with some major brands I love and I am hoping to keep expanding our line to more boutiques and stores, as well as expand our apparel line. We are introducing cards, journals, prints and really focusing on tailoring La Clé to being a well rounded brand that people can get behind.
See? She's awesome! And her keys are amazing! That's why I'm giving away one La Clé Jewelry key of your choice to a lucky winner! The giveaway will run from today, March 18th, to Sunday, March 22nd. Enter below!
Good luck!
This is an adorable concept, I love all the different colored keys!!
ReplyDeletexo
Syd
http://www.sincerelysyd9.blogspot.com