Podcast appearances and mentions of randolph duke

What you'll learn in this episode: Why working with jewelry designers is part business, part therapy. Why the jewelry industry is picking up its pace to match the fashion industry, and why this trend might backfire. Why customer feedback on comfort and wearability is essential for jewelry brands. How Lionel defines success for his jewelry clients. What caused so many fashion houses to develop fine jewelry lines in the last few years, and what this trend means for the industry.  About Lionel Geneste Lionel Geneste is a fashion and luxury industry veteran, having worked for John Hardy, Givenchy, Catherine Malandrino and Randolph Duke in various capacities, from global marketing to communications and merchandising. He is also the founder of the gift-giving service b.Sophisticated. Born in Tehran to French parents, Geneste grew up as a modern nomad: Cairo, Istanbul, Lagos, Beirut, Paris are just a few places he once called home. And so he acquired an eclectic eye, at an early age, for the refined and urbane—only further encouraged by his clotheshorse mother and her like-minded friends. Additional Resources Website Instagram Photos Available on TheJewelryJourney.com Transcript: How does an independent jewelry brand get noticed? For some lucky jewelers, the secret is Lionel Geneste. Lionel is a jewelry strategist and advisor who has launched iconic brands, shown new collections at Paris couture week, and gotten small jewelry artists into top stores. He joined the Jewelry Journey Podcast to talk about how the jewelry industry compares to the fashion industry; the trends, opportunities and challenges jewelers are facing today; and how he chooses his clients (and why he has to believe in their work). Read the episode transcript here. Welcome to the Jewelry Journey, exploring the hidden world of art around you. Because every piece of art has a story, and jewelry is no exception. Sharon: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Jewelry Journey Podcast. This is the second part of a two-part episode. If you haven't heard part one, please head to TheJewelryJourney.com. Today, I'm talking with Lionel Geneste. He's an independent strategist in the jewelry industry. He does this after 15 years in fashion, so he knows fashion and jewelry. Welcome back. Let's say people haven't seen the lines of these jewels or the independent jewelers that you represent. Do they say, “Oh, I haven't seen this. I want it for my store”? Lionel: Right. They do that. Everybody has access to everything pretty much now, with Instagram or even stores posting on their websites. I tend to have a collection or a certain number of pieces with me, and then I distribute it amongst the stores I work with. I still give the list of everything I have within the U.S. So, if a client has seen something and it's not within their store, I will send it to them to present to the client. It's very interesting. Once the client knows the brand, they really go for it. They dig into the Instagram to see other pieces. I think you have to be very fluid and flexible, and you have to be able to move around your jewelry if you want to accommodate your plan. Sharon: What are the first things you advise people, your new clients, on? Is it to get involved with social media? Lionel: I know we all hear the stories of people selling off Instagram. I think the brick and mortar is still—at a certain level, we're talking about jewelry. It's different below $8,000. It's very rare when someone buys it from a website. Even a website like Moda Operandi, for example, if there is a piece— Sharon: Which one? Lionel: Moda Operandi. It's a website that was launched on the idea of doing trunk shows on there. For example, they will very often ask for the piece to be sent so they can show it to their clients. It's rare that they buy it directly off the website. I think for pieces that are $500 to $2,000, maybe $3,000, but above a certain price, the clients want to see it, feel it. Sharon: And touch it. When you look for new clients, what do you look for? What would you consider new? Would you consider if the way they make it is new? Lionel: There are there a few things. If I take them, for example, Mike Joseph is very interesting. He has great technique. The jewelry is going to be well made. He made this entire collection of flowers in titanium, but he used the reverse side of titanium to have it as a matte finish, as opposed to a very glossy one. I think with this collection, when he was at couture, he won two prizes. So, I think he is both innovative and has great technique. Vishal, I like his take on traditional Indian jewelry, which has a lot of gold and stones, but he makes it much more sleek. The thing is not to see the metal. I don't know if you're familiar with the portrait cut. Sharon: No, I'm not. Lionel: The portrait cut is a slab of diamond. It's the Maharaja who built the Taj Mahal who actually asked his jeweler to do this type of slab of diamonds to put on top of their portraits so it would bring a shine to the miniature. So, it's a technique, and Vishal does rings and earrings. I think that's an interesting new way. I'm always looking for people who bring something new to the table. Sharon: You mentioned the perspective. How could their perspective be new? When you talk to other art jewelers, sometimes you look at a piece and it looks normal, then they tell you the stories behind it and you understand it better. Lionel: True. You can always try to understand the story. When you see Vishal make some of these pieces, I think you almost don't need the explanation. You see that there is something new there. I'm not saying it's wrong to try to have the story behind it, but I kind of like when—I've had numerous jewelers come in. They're coming to me and showing me things, and the thing I hear the most is, “I couldn't find this on the market.” And I look at the pieces, and I'm like, “I can bring you in 10 stores when there's exactly the same thing.” And I think, “No.” Sharon: So it's their technique with the materials they use. Lionel: The technique, the material, the inspiration. With Vishal it's the reinterpretation of traditional Indian jewelry, but it's still very modern and light. Sylvie has more inspiration from literature or drawings. She goes to museums to find her inspiration. Sharon: I was just thinking, do you represent people who are goldsmiths themselves making the jewelry, as opposed to them designing it and they have a goldsmith make it? Lionel: Mike and Vishal have their own factories, so they are really following from the beginning, from the start. Sylvie has an atelier. She draws. Sharon: Were you a maker of jewelry? Lionel: No. Never. I've always liked jewelry, but I was never a jewelry maker. Sharon: Have you learned over the years how something is made? Lionel: Yes. I've learned more about the stones. I've learned more about the techniques. It's important to sell something, as you said earlier, to bring the most information. People are really curious today about how it's made and the story behind it. Sharon: No matter who your client is, are they interested in the way it's made? Do they ask you questions? Lionel: There are different profiles. People who just respond to the look of it are not curious, and it depends on the jewelry itself. With Vishal, because of this new way and this new cut of diamond, people are asking. It's always interesting to get the background on it because there is a new historical background. Mike, for example, with his flowers connection, people were really intrigued by the use of titanium and how it was not used traditionally. So, yes, you get questions on that. Sharon: How often do you see something new that you haven't seen before? Is it once a year? Lionel: It's rare, actually, when you see people who are bringing something really new, a new proposal. Some people are doing stuff in a great way. Not everything has to be groundbreaking, and I get that. I go to couture every year, so I kind of scout, but just for myself. I like to see what's going on. That's not where I'm going to have a new client or anything. It's interesting to me to see what's new. Sometimes I see someone, and I refer them to all the stores, saying, “You should go and see that brand. It's really cool. It's new.” Sharon: Do you advise a store to go look at the different jewelry? Lionel: Yeah, I would, even if I don't work with them. I think stores appreciate that I do that. I think the one thing I'm known for is taking on brands that are different and unique. When I point out someone that I think is great, they will listen. Sharon: Do you only work with people who work in gold or emeralds? You mentioned John Hardy. He only works in silver. Lionel: No. For John Hardy, I went for the one-of-a-kind collection that was very stone oriented. No, I don't. The next big thing I did, I worked with Hearts on Fire, which was kind of relaunching and just hired a new designer. That was very interesting, to work with a big company. The idea of bringing this new designer on and kind of starting from scratch was an interesting thing. We worked on opening different stores and more classic, more bridal. That was an interesting strategy to implement. Sharon: Did you advise them of a designer or did you walk in and they introduced you to a new designer? Lionel: They already had the designer in mind, so we looked at the collection. They asked me about their archive and what I thought they should bring back on. I think my background with fashion and jewelry always interests people because they know I still have a foot in the fashion industry in a way. Sharon: If somebody is in the fashion industry now, can they segue?  How can they segue to doing what you're doing if they got tired of fashion? Lionel: I think I know people who did the transition from fashion to jewelry. In the end, it's the same actors. In the press and the stores, it's the same people, except for the jewelry stores. But if you talk about all the concept stores that carry jewelry as well, it's easy to do. It's the same work, basically. Sharon: So, they wouldn't be getting away from that. Do you do pop-ups? They have become popular here. Lionel: They do. I don't necessarily do pop-ups. They call it differently. For example, Vishal did something at Bergdorf called the Residency. We were in for three months, and it was very successful. It is now going to be permanent for Vishal. We'll be at Bergdorf all the time. I think the model of trunk shows is a bit overused. It's kind of difficult to make typical trunk shows today. Again, in a certain world, once you're at a certain price point, some stores are doing a lot of them, and it's the same people that you're soliciting over and over. There's only so much you can do. Sharon: With Vishal, what do you consider successful? You said he was successful in this residency. Was that Vishal? Lionel: Vishal. The brand is called VAK. Sharon: What was successful? What was the purpose of the residency? Lionel: The jewelry is very well-made. It's a beautiful product and not terribly expensive. I think the proposal is that the value is great, and it was new. It's a new look. The salespeople were excited about it, and I think they really reached out to their clients. That's what made it successful in the end. Sharon: You say now he's there permanently. Lionel: Yes. Sharon: He has what, a cabinet? Lionel: Yeah, a vitrine. There's a vitrine now in the salon. Sharon: Do you ever have to pay to have prominence? Lionel: No. Sharon: What are your favorite things to sell? Lionel: I like two things. I like rings, and I like earrings. Sylvie Corbelin has a quote that I always liked. She'll say that earrings are a gift for the other. You don't see it on yourself, but it's the people who see you, see the earrings. My mother, for example, would never go out without earrings. She would put on a pair of earrings to match, and it was for her to feel dressed. She didn't feel that she was dressed if she was not wearing earrings. And I like big cocktail rings. Sharon: What kind of jewelry do you like for men? Do you like bracelets or necklaces? Lionel: I do like bracelets for men or a nice pinky ring, I guess. Sharon: I was surprised. I went out to lunch with somebody who had what I consider a fabulous necklace, but I would never consider it for a man. He got so many comments on it. Lionel: I'm sure. A lot of guys now are buying diamond pieces. I think there's a way to wear it that's chic. Sharon: How long have you been in the jewelry business? Lionel: 18 years. Sharon: It's a long time. What changes have you seen over that time? Lionel: A lot of jewelry coming. A lot more jewelry. Sharon: Really? Lionel: Yeah. You see all the brands. Now the big trend—I was just saying yesterday, Prada is launching fine jewelry. Saint Laurent has launched fine jewelry. There's Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci. Everybody's betting on jewelry being the moneymaker. I think the biggest growth we can see right now is men's. Men are buying jewelry. Sharon: Would you say there are a lot more independent jewelers today than there were? Lionel: Not only independent, but also all the houses are launching their own lines. Clothing houses, like Prada is launching a line. Saint Laurent is launching a line. Dior did it 20 years ago, but everybody's hopping on the jewelry train. Sharon: Why do you think that is? Lionel: I think there is a real interest again for jewelry. A wider interest than just buying, but as an investment. I think also during Covid, jewelry kind of proved to be Covid-proof. I think a lot of people got the idea that jewelry was the next big thing, because it's true that 2021 was an extraordinary year for jewelry. However, I don't think it's really a trend. I think it was at the moment, and we've seen since that the numbers have been down. The money that women would put in clothes and handbags and shoes, they were not going out, so that money went to jewelry, which was great. But I think it was instant. It was not necessarily a trend. Sharon: Did your business go up because of Covid? Lionel: Huge. We saw a huge difference. Sharon And you've seen it go down or be flat? Lionel: Go down and then flat. But go down, definitely. Sharon: When you take on new clients, do they have to be making a certain amount? What do they have to have? What criteria do you use? Lionel: Well, yes, I make sure they have enough finance to launch a business and to make it start. First of all, you need to have at least three or four years in front of you. There's no instant success. However, I'm always conservative in their growth. I'm not going to ask them to put out a lot of pieces. I think it's always about opening two or three key stores that are generating enough buzz as marketing, if you will, to help grow. But try not to overflow the market. Sharon: What if they're independent and making things you usually don't represent, but you think there's something there, an innovation or a passion? Maybe they make pieces that sell for $3,000 or $5,000. That's their niche. Would you take somebody like them on? Lionel: Yeah, I do. All the jewelers I work with, the price point starts at $5,000, $6,000. Sharon: I won't even ask you how much it goes up to. Thank you so much for being here today. Lionel: Thank you. Sharon: I feel like I roped you in from a plane ride or something. Lionel: No, no. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for having me.  Sharon: Thank you for being here.   We will have photos posted on the website. Please head to TheJewelryJourney.com to check them out. Thank you again for listening. Please leave us a rating and review so we can help others start their own jewelry journey.

The Stinking Pause Podcast - bringing you classic movies since 2013...some good, some not so good.   2023 marked the 10th anniversary of the Stinking Pause podcast.   To celebrate, we looked back at some of the movies already reviewed over the past 10 years and inviting fellow podcasters and friends to join us.   This week, our dear friend, and Scott's co- host on the Reel Britannia podcast, Steven, joins Scott, Paul and Charlie to discuss a movie that we haven't chatted since the show first started ten years ago An episode full of pork bellies, amorous gorillas and blackface plus fond memories from a great friend.   Trading Places (1983) Louis Winthorpe is a businessman who works for commodities brokerage firm of Duke and Duke owned by the brothers Mortimer and Randolph Duke. Now they bicker over the most trivial of matters and what they are bickering about is whether it's a person's environment or heredity that determines how well they will do in life. When Winthorpe bumps into Billy Ray Valentine, a street hustler and assumes he is trying to rob him, he has him arrested. Upon seeing how different the two men are, the brothers decide to make a wager as to what would happen if Winthorpe loses his job, his home and is shunned by everyone he knows and if Valentine was given Winthorpe's job. So they proceed to have Winthorpe arrested and to be placed in a compromising position in front of his girlfriend. So all he has to rely on is the hooker who was hired to ruin him.   "Hey, bubbles, man! Say man, when I was growing up, if we wanted a jacuzzi, we had to fart in the tub." This and previous episodes can be found everywhere you download your podcasts   Follow us on Twitter @StinkingPause   email: thestinkingpause@gmail.com   Thanks for listening!    

What you'll learn in this episode: Why working with jewelry designers is part business, part therapy. Why the jewelry industry is picking up its pace to match the fashion industry, and why this trend might backfire. Why customer feedback on comfort and wearability is essential for jewelry brands. How Lionel defines success for his jewelry clients. What caused so many fashion houses to develop fine jewelry lines in the last few years, and what this trend means for the industry.  About Lionel Geneste Lionel Geneste is a fashion and luxury industry veteran, having worked for John Hardy, Givenchy, Catherine Malandrino and Randolph Duke in various capacities, from global marketing to communications and merchandising. He is also the founder of the gift-giving service b.Sophisticated. Born in Tehran to French parents, Geneste grew up as a modern nomad: Cairo, Istanbul, Lagos, Beirut, Paris are just a few places he once called home. And so he acquired an eclectic eye, at an early age, for the refined and urbane—only further encouraged by his clotheshorse mother and her like-minded friends. Additional Resources Website Instagram     Photos Available on TheJewelryJourney.com Transcript: How does an independent jewelry brand get noticed? For some lucky jewelers, the secret is Lionel Geneste. Lionel is a jewelry strategist and advisor who has launched iconic brands, shown new collections at Paris couture week, and gotten small jewelry artists into top stores. He joined the Jewelry Journey Podcast to talk about how the jewelry industry compares to the fashion industry; the trends, opportunities and challenges jewelers are facing today; and how he chooses his clients (and why he has to believe in their work). Read the episode transcript here. Sharon: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Jewelry Journey podcast. This is the first part of a two-part episode. Please make sure you subscribe so you can hear part two as soon as it's released later this week. Today, I'm talking with Lionel Geneste. He's an independent strategist in the jewelry industry. He does this after 15 years in fashion, so he knows fashion and jewelry. He's multi-lingual, and he represents many people abroad in the U.S., which is very, very unusual. In fact, I met him through an independent jeweler, and I thought he had such an interesting background I wanted to talk to him more. Lionel, welcome to the program. Lionel: Sharon, good morning. Thank you for having me. Sharon: I'm really glad to have you. How did you come into this business? Lionel: Well, I was in the fashion industry, then a friend of mine was taking over John Hardy. We're talking about 2006 or 2007. They were launching a one-of-a-kind collection, and they brought me on board to launch that collection and to develop it and then basically to do all the PR for John Hardy in general. Sharon: I'm not familiar with John Hardy. Is it fashion? Go ahead. Lionel: John Hardy is this company that does mostly silver. They're based in Bali. All their ateliers are in Bali and they have a big office in New York. John Hardy himself wanted to do a collection for his wife, which would be only one of a kind. That's when we started that collection called Cinta, which means love in Balinese. People were noticing these rings, and the people from Neiman Marcus noticed them and asked if we could develop them into a full collection, which we did. I'd been more in fashion, in the couture world, and I thought I could do something. Basically, the ladies that were willing to wait for four months for a dress are also willing to have one-of-a-kind jewelry or even preorder them. Sharon: You know, when you tell me who it is, I remember who John Hardy is, but I haven't seen his jewelry for a while. It's around. So, those are your clients? Are they mostly women? Do you represent any men? Lionel: Yeah. These were the clients. The idea at the beginning, when I developed it, is I would do dinners in Paris during the couture shows, and we would present the jewelry. That was pretty much how it all started. If you look at it now, all the jewelry houses are doing presentations during the couture shows. A couple of weeks ago it was in Paris and everybody from Boucheron, Dior etc., presented their collection.  It's on the same calendar. From then on, when I left John Hardy, I started a company with a business partner. The idea was that we were giving our clients not only the PR aspect and marketing, but also the business, because I was well versed in the business side as well. It was a kind of a one stop shop. Sharon: I'm not familiar with the couture shows. Does the jewelry have a separate presentation? Lionel: Yeah. The couture shows, it's like when the houses like Valentino, Dior, Chanel, it's all their shows that are only one of a kind. There are very strict rules that are enacted by the Chambre de Commerce in Paris. You have to have a number of atelier, you have to have a number of people working in the atelier, it's all handmade, etc. There was a parallel with the ladies buying those clothes that are much more expensive than ready to wear and the jewelry industry, and I think everybody made the same link between those. Now, these shows are every year in January and July. The houses like Boucheron, Chanel, Chaumet, all of them hold presentations and invite the press, but also invite clients at the same time. Sharon: So, they show their most expensive jewelry. Lionel: Yes. It's really the high jewelry collections that are shown there. Sharon: Is there somebody showing them, presenting them, or is it just come and look and see? Lionel: No, they are usually elaborate with more and more, actually. Everything is an experience. More and more they're doing elaborate dinners. For example, Boucheron at the Place Vendôme has dedicated the last floor to a big dining room, and there's also a suite. The best clients can come stay at Boucheron and stay in the building. The view on Place Vendôme is beautiful. So, now it's more a presentation with the designer himself or herself inviting their best customer, or hoping to get the best customer. Sharon: Do you invite these customers? Lionel: I used to do that a lot. I haven't done it in a year. Usually, I work with younger designers or independent and smaller designers, so I don't have the same budget. But usually what I do is I find a new, typical French bistro. I used to do it the night before the shows to make it something very informal, but still presenting the collection in a different format. Sharon: Is that how people found you? They come to these dinners? Lionel: When we talk about clients, there are two different kinds of clients. There are my clients who are the jewelers that I represent, and then I'm talking about clients who are the people who buy the jewelry. Basically, it's word of mouth. When I work with jewelers, some stores recommend me to other brands. Some clients know about someone who's launching a new brand and they refer me. That's really where I enter the competition. I make a proposal, and it's more about that and referrals. Sharon: Do you advise the high-end buyers of jewelry? Do you advise them? You say you have two kinds of clients. Lionel: Yeah, I have some clients that are collectors. Not everyone is always looking for newness or paying attention to that. So, yes, I do advise them on what I think is a young designer that's upcoming, and if they're serious about their collection, I think they should have a piece of that person in their collection. I launched Emmanuel Tarpin, for example, and at the time everybody wanted his earrings to be part of their collection. Sharon: Who did you say? Lionel: Emmanuel Tarpin. He's been having a lot of press lately. He's launched a collection of orchids. I don't work with them anymore, but I launched him at the beginning. Sharon: Do you have to like the people that you work with? Lionel: Absolutely. I do have to like the product. I couldn't sell something that I don't believe in. Sharon: Do you ever work with men? Do they come to you for advice? Lionel: They do. However, I find most men—no, I do, actually. I have some men that come, or they are strongly recommended by their wives. A lot of my clients are women who buy for themselves. Sharon: Okay, so they find out about you through word of mouth, or do you advertise? Lionel: But also, I do work with stores. Some of my jewelers are in stores such as Just One Eye in Los Angeles, Cayen in Carmel, Mayfair Rocks in East Hampton. I choose strategically the partnerships and in places where I know we're going to find the right client. Sharon: I bet your clients, they're abroad and you represent them in the states. Lionel: Yes. Some of them I represent worldwide. I represent them also in Europe, in London and Paris.  At the moment for my clients, I work with Sylvie Corbelin. That's how we met, you and I. Sylvie is based in Paris. I work with a brand that's new-ish called Mike Joseph, and it was a big success at couture last year. He is based in Bangkok. Then I represent Vishal Anil Kothari, who is based in Mumbai. It's kind of a take on traditional Indian jewelry but with a much lighter frame. They use portrait-cut diamonds, emeralds. Sharon: Do people find out about you? It seems like everybody is not finding out about you through shows or their friends. Lionel: You know, friends, clients, stores, owners. They see how I work with them and recommend me to other people. I have younger friends in the industry that just started their business and ask me for advice. They recommend me or hire me. Sharon: You travel a lot because you have addresses in New York, L.A., Paris. Lionel: I was based in New York for 20 years. I moved to L.A. six years ago. I still go to New York quite often. Sharon: But you were born in Paris or in France? Lionel: I'm French. My parents traveled a lot, so I was born a bit by accident in Tehran, in Iran. But I'm French. I studied in France. Sharon: Do you feel stretched? When I try and get hold of you, I wonder where in the world you're going to be reading this or calling from. Lionel: No, I like traveling. I think it's interesting. I find it very interesting to meet the clients. You were asking me earlier about feedback and if I give the designer I work with advice. I don't give them advice. I think they all have a strong point of view and they are not influenced by trends. However, I do give them feedback from clients. I think it's always interesting to see. Do they find the jewelry comfortable? Are the earrings too heavy? It's always interesting to see. When you work for a designer, for a woman like Sylvie, Sylvie wears her own jewelry, so she knows if it's comfortable or not. That's always interesting. Mike Joseph tells me that he always has his sister try jewelry on and even live in it for a few days before he puts it in production. Sharon: Do they tell you if it's too heavy? Lionel: Sometimes they do. They do give feedback. Yesterday we were presenting some new sketches to a store, and some stones were kind of sticking out. The first question the store manager asked was, “Is it going to snag clothes?” The answer is they had to remake that and polish the edges so it would not catch on clothes. Sharon: You were presenting sketches of the jewelry? Lionel: Yes. I was showing jewelry to a store, showing the new collection. Kind of a preview of what we're going to do for couture. I wanted to get a sense. It's always interesting. You were asking me when I take on the client, do I have to like it? I do have to like it, but I also usually show it to one or two editors that I trust or a few store owners to see what their reaction is to it as well. It can't be only my personal things, so it's always interesting to hear what other people have said. Sharon: Do magazine fashion editors come to you to find jewelry? Lionel: Yes, they do. They'll ask me what I have, if I have anything new and interesting. I do like to work with more individuals. I always try to bring something interesting. You were asking how I choose the designers I work with. It's difficult today to find people who really bring something new, so I'm always looking for that. Someone who has already come up with a new invention or brings something to the world of jewelry. Sharon: Do you work with them to expand? They're independent and they grow. Do you help them when they launch a chain? Do they outgrow you, let's say? Lionel: No, and I actually, I do like that. I like to be at the beginning, helping them find everything from their voice, how to place themselves, where to place them within the market, price point. What exists already on the market? After I work with them for five or six years, and if they really grow, I like to push them out and hire a real agent.  In general, the brands I work with, we try to keep it exclusive, to not have it in every store. It's very organic. We're not pushing. With strategy, I prefer to go within stores where you're going in what we call deep, like bringing 15 to 20 pieces to really show the depth of the work of the designer, rather than just five or six pieces just to have a presence, which to me doesn't really serve the purpose. Sharon: Do you advise the jewelry stores you're bringing jewelry to on how to display it or things like that? Lionel: Yeah. Some stores have a strong vision about how to do it, but yes, I will. I would ask them to take on some pieces that I find are really representative of the work, and if the pieces are not there I think it doesn't give the right image of the designer. I would try to push, even if they could be slightly reluctant in the beginning. I think some key pieces are important. Going back to Sylvie, snakes are an important part of her design. If I go into a store, I need to have some of these pieces because they're an important symbol of hers. Sharon: So, you would advise the store owner how to show it off, how to get it right. Lionel: Yes. Right. Sharon: What skills do you think you need to be successful? If somebody wants to do what you do, how would they be successful? Lionel: When you work with designers, it's part business, part therapy. I think you really have to listen to them. That's the important part, because you can't be totally at odds with what they're feeling and pushing for something they don't believe in. It's a dance, and it's about listening to each other. I think the relationship with the designer is really what makes it successful. Mike Joseph, Vishal, Sylvie, we've been working together for eight years, so we know each other really well now. I think that's important. Sharon: When you said therapist, what does the therapy involve? Lionel: Designers, or the good designers, are really artists. You have to listen to what they're saying, what they feel. You have to be careful about bringing the commercial part in. You also have to respect what they're designing. So, it's a dance. Sometimes a feeling of rejection can exist, so you have to work with that as well. Sharon: You were in fashion first. What kind of experience does someone in fashion have to have to go into jewelry? Lionel: It's little bit the same world, I think. You have to have a sense of aesthetics, and you have to like it as well. You don't go into jewelry if you don't like jewelry. But the transition from fashion to jewelry is pretty seamless. Sharon: Do you see a difference in the fashion world and the jewelry world? Lionel: I think there used to be a bigger difference in the sense that fashion was very fast-paced and jewelry was not. But I think jewelry is getting into that pace as well, where the designer wants to present two collections a year. So, we're getting a bit on the fashion calendar in that sense. Sharon: The jewelers, if they have a presentation, I have a visual picture of them lugging their cases and setting up. Lionel: Right. I think now people are presenting two collections a year. That used to be a fashion thing. I'm not sure it's the way to go. I don't think you sell jewelry in the same way you sell clothes. It takes more time. I've witnessed clients being disappointed because there was a collection they liked, and then the collection is gone. I think that doesn't leave enough time for people to act upon something they don't necessarily want to buy within a month or two. We will have photos posted on the website. Please head to TheJewelryJourney.com to check them out. Thank you again for listening. Please leave us a rating and review so we can help others start their own jewelry journey.

Madeline Ruiz was the curator for the Personal Collection for Iris Apfel. This collection traveled to major museums across the country. Madeline served as personal shopper to M. Apfel and many others. Madeline is also a personal stylist. Madeline graduated from ( FIT) Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. shows, red carpet events, magazine advertising and promotional campaigns. Her experience as magazine editorial directo sets her as an arbiter or style and taste, promoting the best designers and talent available. As a contributor and writer, her duties span from concept to castine, fittings and editine. And as image consultant she brands her client and finos and estabushes their public persona CLIENTS: Amber Valetta, America Ferrera, Beverlv Johnson, Beverlv Lee, Carmen Dell'Oretice, Catherine Zeta Jones, Cicelv Ison, Debbie Dickin son. Diana Ross. Eva Longoria, IrIs Aptel, Janice Dickinson, Jerry Mall, Namath. Laura Dern, Marla rump, Martin Scorsese Mounia, Nell Carter, Pat Cleveland, Raquel Welch, Roberta Flack, Sigorney Weaver DESIGNERS: Marc Jacobs, Randolph Duke, Betsy Johnson, Carlos Marques, Naeem Kahn, Yoly Munoz PHOTOGRAPHERS: Beth Baptiste, Bob Murray, Francisco Scavullo, Gideon Lewin, Leonardo DeVega, Paul Gelsobello, Rebecca Blake Ric Somekh. Ricardo Betancourt MUSIc: Prince/Sheena Easton - MusIc Video https:www.voutube.com/watch!V=UG VcCAlUgE Sheena Easton - Eternitv - Official Music Video https:/www.youtube.com/ watch!V=DVW-IOSH&US Melba Moore - Album Cover and Press Shote The Latin Connection (FOX TV- Weeklv Dance Show Filmed at Studio 54 The Fania AllStars - Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, La Indria, Iris Chacon, Tito Roias, Pedro Biaggi, Brenda K. Star FILM/TELEVISION: Featured guest in Iris (2015) by Albert Maysles reatured guest on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee _yoy, MAGAZINEC. AMERICAN VOGUE LONDON'S ATTITUDE COSMOPOLITAN USA THE GUESTINEORMANT THE SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER ADVERTISING: Jou Jou Jeans - Ad Campaign Candies Shoes - Ad Campaign Attitude Fragrance - Ad Campaign Jordache Jeans - Ads and TV Commercials LouIS Bartholowmew Jewelry -Ad Campaign Ladv Madonna Catalog - Maternitv for the Stvlish Mom Elizabeth Arden Cosmetics - TV Commercial BainDesoleil THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS MAGAZINE MAS MAGAZINE FASHION EDITOR - (UNIVISION WOMAN'S WORLD MAGAZINE - Monthly Contributing Editor Makeovers For Real Women' ESSENCE MAGAZINE - Mo inthly Contributing Editor How I To Wear Something 10 Different Ways RETAIL EXHIBIT. MACYS - Fashion Advisor Mavor Koch's Gallery at Gracie Mansion LOEHMANNS - Personal Shopper Puerto Rican Artists In New York NORDSTROM - Personal Shopper Madeline Ruiz-1ne StyliSt, JOANNA MASTROIANN) - First Assistant Profiled on Tempo Channel BLOOMINGDALES -At Your Service - Personal Shopper GUCCI - Fifth Aven ue StO - Assistant to Fashion Director SAKS FIFTH AVENUE - The Fifth Avenue Club - Personal Shopper NORMA KAMAL - Couture Department - Sales and Promotional Events Start Signing

Madeline Ruiz was the curator for the Personal Collection for Iris Apfel. This collection traveled to major museums across the country. Madeline served as personal shopper to M. Apfel and many others. Madeline is also a personal stylist. Madeline graduated from ( FIT) Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. shows, red carpet events, magazine advertising and promotional campaigns. Her experience as magazine editorial directo sets her as an arbiter or style and taste, promoting the best designers and talent available. As a contributor and writer, her duties span from concept to castine, fittings and editine. And as image consultant she brands her client and finos and estabushes their public persona CLIENTS: Amber Valetta, America Ferrera, Beverlv Johnson, Beverlv Lee, Carmen Dell'Oretice, Catherine Zeta Jones, Cicelv Ison, Debbie Dickin son. Diana Ross. Eva Longoria, IrIs Aptel, Janice Dickinson, Jerry Mall, Namath. Laura Dern, Marla rump, Martin Scorsese Mounia, Nell Carter, Pat Cleveland, Raquel Welch, Roberta Flack, Sigorney Weaver DESIGNERS: Marc Jacobs, Randolph Duke, Betsy Johnson, Carlos Marques, Naeem Kahn, Yoly Munoz PHOTOGRAPHERS: Beth Baptiste, Bob Murray, Francisco Scavullo, Gideon Lewin, Leonardo DeVega, Paul Gelsobello, Rebecca Blake Ric Somekh. Ricardo Betancourt MUSIc: Prince/Sheena Easton - MusIc Video https:www.voutube.com/watch!V=UG VcCAlUgE Sheena Easton - Eternitv - Official Music Video https:/www.youtube.com/ watch!V=DVW-IOSH&US Melba Moore - Album Cover and Press Shote The Latin Connection (FOX TV- Weeklv Dance Show Filmed at Studio 54 The Fania AllStars - Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, La Indria, Iris Chacon, Tito Roias, Pedro Biaggi, Brenda K. Star FILM/TELEVISION: Featured guest in Iris (2015) by Albert Maysles reatured guest on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee _yoy, MAGAZINEC. AMERICAN VOGUE LONDON'S ATTITUDE COSMOPOLITAN USA THE GUESTINEORMANT THE SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER ADVERTISING: Jou Jou Jeans - Ad Campaign Candies Shoes - Ad Campaign Attitude Fragrance - Ad Campaign Jordache Jeans - Ads and TV Commercials LouIS Bartholowmew Jewelry -Ad Campaign Ladv Madonna Catalog - Maternitv for the Stvlish Mom Elizabeth Arden Cosmetics - TV Commercial BainDesoleil THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS MAGAZINE MAS MAGAZINE FASHION EDITOR - (UNIVISION WOMAN'S WORLD MAGAZINE - Monthly Contributing Editor Makeovers For Real Women' ESSENCE MAGAZINE - Mo inthly Contributing Editor How I To Wear Something 10 Different Ways RETAIL EXHIBIT. MACYS - Fashion Advisor Mavor Koch's Gallery at Gracie Mansion LOEHMANNS - Personal Shopper Puerto Rican Artists In New York NORDSTROM - Personal Shopper Madeline Ruiz-1ne StyliSt, JOANNA MASTROIANN) - First Assistant Profiled on Tempo Channel BLOOMINGDALES -At Your Service - Personal Shopper GUCCI - Fifth Aven ue StO - Assistant to Fashion Director SAKS FIFTH AVENUE - The Fifth Avenue Club - Personal Shopper NORMA KAMAL - Couture Department - Sales and Promotional Events Start Signing

This week on ACC Stars: Where Are They Now? Erin Summers interviews former Duke forward Shavlik Randolph. Randolph played three seasons at Duke, helping the Blue Devils to the Final Four in 2004. His NBA career included time with Philadelphia, Portland, Miami, Boston and Phoenix.

Lu has graced the catwalks of the top fashion houses around the globe. Lu was discovered by the Zoli modeling agency in New York, she began her career as a showroom model and quickly made a name for herself as the “go-to” model for Bob Mackie, Bill Blass Yves Saint Laurent, Oscar de la Renta, Givenchy, Patrick Kelly, Giorgio Armani, B Michael, Escada, and Randolph Duke. She has graced covers and pages of top magazines and made numerous television and movie appearances. As a successful and sought after model, Lu brings her expertise to the pageant world where she personally coaches thousands of young ladies from around the world. For the Miss USA and the Miss Universe Pageants she works during the pageants to guide and ready the contestants for their appearance on the runway. As a coach and runway expert she teaches her technique on the runway, develops poise & presence, and continues to inspire those interested in the fashion and modeling world. -- www.Lusierra.com Instagram: @lucelaniasierra -- -- Are you having a difficult time getting clear on your goals? Are you tired of doubting every move you make? Do you need accountability to stay consistent? Download the FREE Breakthrough Blueprint here https://bit.ly/3duRwLA -- Would you like more direction and consistency in your life? Maybe its time to surround yourself with other like-minded women who are also wanting to level up their mindset! Starting Wednesday, September 16th at 5pm PST/ 8pm EST Tori is offering a Winning Circle Elite coaching program for pageant girls who are serious about taking home the crown! It's time to create the life that you ultimately desire and with this program you will be equipped with the courage and confidence to achieve them. Learn more at https://bit.ly/2Y2pvVk Follow Tori Kruse: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misstorikruse/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misstorikruse Twitter: https://twitter.com/MissToriKruse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torikruse/ Podcast: https://apple.co/2LHbyq4

I have an extensive background in green beauty and cosmetics that spans over 20 years. I love beauty and sustainability. Developing sustainable innovative products for myself and brands ignites my passion. I authored The Green Beauty Rules: The Essential Guide To Toxic-Free Beauty, Green Glamour and Glowing Skin (HCI Books, 2015). Prior to that in 2006 I developed a color line for designer Randolph Duke for Home Shopping Network (HSN). In 2006, I joined CloutierRemix as a makeup artist and green beauty expert where I performed TV, editorial, print, advertising and red carpet artistry and secured a variety of sponsorships, ambassadorships and spokesperson opportunities in the green beauty space. https://www.linkedin.com/in/paige-padgett-262968a/

The VHS Strikes Back - EPS28 For our Christmas Day movie review we have gone back to Eddie Murphys breakout role in the 1983 Trading places with co-star Dan Aykroyd. Does this movie stand up and will Chris finally enjoy one of these festive period movies Dave had chosen? Plot Summary: Louis Winthorpe is a businessman who works for commodities brokerage firm of Duke and Duke owned by the brothers Mortimer and Randolph Duke. Now they bicker over the most trivial of matters and what they are bickering about is whether it's a person's environment or heredity that determines how well they will do in life. When Winthorpe bumps into Billy Ray Valentine, a street hustler and assumes he is trying to rob him, he has him arrested. Upon seeing how different the two men are, the brothers decide to make a wager as to what would happen if Winthorpe loses his job, his home and is shunned by everyone he knows and if Valentine was given Winthorpe's job. So they proceed to have Winthorpe arrested and to be placed in a compromising position in front of his girlfriend. So all he has to rely on is the hooker who was hired to ruin him. Rotten Tomatoes: 87/100% Imdb: 7.5/10 Metacritic: 69/100% If there are any movies/tv shows you want Dave and Chris to review please contact them on the following links: email: comicsinmotionpodcast@gmail.com twitter: www.twitter.com/comicsinmotiop --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thevhsstrikesback/support

Lu has graced the catwalks of the top fashion houses around the globe. A powerhouse runway and print model, Lu was discovered by the Zoli modeling agency in New York. She began her career as a showroom model and quickly made a name for herself as the “go-to” model for the runways of Bob Mackie, Bill Blass Yves Saint Laurent, Oscar de la Renta, Givenchy, Patrick Kelly, Giorgio Armani, Escada, and Randolph Duke -just to name a few. She has been on covers and pages of top magazines and made numerous television and movie appearances. As a successful and sought after model, Lu brings her expertise to the pageant world where she trains and coaches thousands of young ladies for Miss USA and the Miss Universe Pageants. As a coach and runway expert she teaches her technique on the runway, develops poise & presence, and continues to inspire those interested in the fashion and modeling world. Join us at the Beauty|Brand|Believe Expo on March 10th in Washington! Get the details and register at: http://BeautyBrandBelieve.com Connect with Lu: http://LuSierra.com     © Alycia Darby Zimnoch 2017 Win A Pageant  All Rights Reserved.

A look at the modeling world with Lu Celania Sierra. Lu has graced the catwalks of the top fashion houses around the globe. A powerhouse runway and print model, Lu was discovered by the Zoli modeling agency in New York, she began her career as a showroom model and quickly made a name for herself as the “go-to” model for the runways of Bob Mackie, Bill Blass Yves Saint Laurent, Oscar de la Renta, Givenchy, Patrick Kelly, Giorgio Armani, Escada, and Randolph Duke -just to name a few.  She has been on covers and pages of top magazines and made numerous television and movie appearances.  As a successful and sought after model, Lu brings her expertise to the pageant world where she trains and coaches thousands of young ladies for Miss USA and the Miss Universe Pageants.  As a coach and runway expert she teaches her technique on the runway, develops poise & presence, and continues to inspire those interested in the fashion and modeling world.

I don't get it. I consider myself to be a relatively educated human. I have strong opinions, I went to a bunch of schools i've read a bunch of books...BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND the art world. But then again, who am I to judge? It seems to me to be a big fixed operation where a bunch of jerk off rich assholes decide what art should be valuable just like they do in the stock market, call each other up on the iPhone 7's they already have from 43,000 feet while they eat seal carpaccio in their gulf streams and laugh like Mortimer and Randolph Duke dreaming of their Scrooge Mcduck vaults of gold and riches. All the art I loved was cheap, all the art I hated was so expensive I kept thinking it was a joke. Piles of garbage, literal animal carcasses, stuff that looked like it was made by a serial killer in an insane asylum with his own excrement. I found it really challenging. So I spent most of my art basel asking people why and how this has happened. Here's what I've learned - NOTHING. It's all just a big circle jerk of short rich guys and their ballon lipped girlfriends/prostitutes However I did manage to talk to some really funny people and ruffle the feathers of quite a few gallerists and I may have found Miami's next great rap superstar.

Sylvia Global's host, Randolph Duke, joins guest Marianne Williamson, for a LIVE conversation on spirituality and politics.  "What we don't engage, we can't transform.  The spiritual journey is a journey of the heart that can't just be talk."  Learn more about Sister Giant, a new consciousness, a new politics.

Born and raised in Iran, in an international school, Mitra Rahbar, has a global outlook. Having two passions, Arts and Humanities, but one mission - to create Healing and Nurture. Mitra is an acclaimed speaker, singer and poet. Her rich heritage, her global outlook, years of being a social worker and spiritual advisor-intuitive has given her tremendous wisdom and insight into the human heart. For the past six years Mitra has been conducting workshops, teaching, speaking and combining her music and meditative work that is deeply enlightening, joyous and healing. In 1998 Mitra received an award from the Los Angeles Mayor's office. In 1999 and 2001 Mitra sang and spoke at the United Nations in Geneva. She has contributed her unique talents to global organisations such as International Relief, Child Foundation, Peace and Womens' Leadership groups, as well as many academic, cultural and spiritual organisations. As one audience member has quoted: " The World Needs to Hear Mitra."

Sylvia Global's host, Randolph Duke, joins guest Marianne Williamson, for a LIVE conversation on spirituality and politics.  "What we don't engage, we can't transform.  The spiritual journey is a journey of the heart that can't just be talk."  Learn more about Sister Giant, a new consciousness, a new politics.

Sylvia Global's host, Randolph Duke, joins guest Marianne Williamson, for a LIVE conversation on spirituality and politics.  "What we don't engage, we can't transform.  The spiritual journey is a journey of the heart that can't just be talk."  Learn more about Sister Giant, a new consciousness, a new politics.

Sylvia Global's host, Randolph Duke, joins guest Marianne Williamson, for a LIVE conversation on spirituality and politics.  "What we don't engage, we can't transform.  The spiritual journey is a journey of the heart that can't just be talk."  Learn more about Sister Giant, a new consciousness, a new politics. Call (347) 215-6138 Monday, October 29, 2:00-3:00 p.m. PST.

Sylvia Global's Host, Randolph Duke, offers everyday women unique insights for honoring who we are.  Techniques for achieving your best self, Powerful  advise and Tips.  This episode includes discussions with other Sylvia Global host and perspectives for Devoted Moms, New Feminine Wealth and Entertainment.   Call (347) 215-6138, Wednesday mornings from 10:00-11:00 a.m. PST

Sylvia Global welcomes our new host, Designer to the stars, Randolph Duke.  Randolph brings a unique perspective to how you can achieve the A-list, red carpet appearance beginning from within. LIVE every Wednesday, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PST.  Call in to meet Randolph Duke (347) 215-6138. Subscribe at Sylviaglobal.com.