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" \n  Where are you from? Dumont, New Jersey, with a Korean and Puerto Rican background. How did you get started in the industry? When it comes to accessories, I&amp;#039;ve always collected things I love, from seashells to vintage jewelry and charms with any imaginable detail. I think being able to wear pieces that I found in my jewelry box, together with new and natural things inspired me to create keepsakes to share with everyone. I designed for 9 years before starting my own business. What advice would you have for someone wanting to start their own line or business? Be willing to take risks. Leaving fashion to launch my own collection has been the biggest risk I&amp;#039;ve taken. Fashion was my form of identity \u2013 I studied, worked, lived, and breathed it for years, so to leave it for something totally new where I was inexperienced took a leap of faith. What were some of the challenges you faced in starting out and how did you overcome them? I found it really hard getting your foot in the door, especially with retail stores. Retailers may be used to seeing accessories in a certain way, with pieces that are very hardware heavy with limited hand work and sewn elements. Describe your customer. The woman who wears my creations is a true magpie. She loves all things shiny and fancies bold colors.  What would you say is your design signature? I wouldn&amp;#039;t say I have a signature piece because I believe in constantly evolving, however crochet-work and charms tend to be present in my designs. A piece that everyone thinks of when they hear &amp;quot;Venessa Arizaga&amp;quot; is my Pi\u00F1ata Bracelet, which is very playful and whimsical, as well as my Sweet &amp;amp;amp; Vicious Necklace. What tips would you give our reader on wearing your designs? LAVISH LIFE NECKLACE: For a preppy, Parisian cool look I love to wear this toughened up pearl necklace with navy suede Tod&amp;#039;s driving shoes, Isabel Marant khaki&amp;#039;s, and a fun, French stripe boat shirt. Tr\u00E8s chic!!!  CANDY JAR NECKLACE: For an everyday go-to hippy look, I like to pair this piece with high-waisted denim shorts and a vintage t-shirt. If you&amp;#039;re on-the-go, I love pairing it with a pair of brightly colored, classic low top Vans. It&amp;#039;s the perfect get up for concerts or running around town.  What is your best piece of fashion advice for women? For clothing, splurge on a great leather motorcycle jacket. It&amp;#039;s timeless and cool and you can dress it up or down for any occasion. For jewelry, I would recommend anything with pearls. It&amp;#039;s certainly classic, but mixes well with anything from chains and charms to your novelty pieces.  Which celeb is most likely to be spotted in your jewelry? Leighton Meester and Dakota Fanning. Which celeb would you most like to see in your jewelry? I would love to see actress Rinko Kikuchi in my jewelry. I love her wild nature and how she lights up a room. She has this ability to make anything look so effortless. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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