How Jennifer Meyer Built a Timeless Jewelry Brand Through Resilience and Manifestation

Summary

Episode Summary: How Jennifer Meyer Built a Timeless Jewelry Brand Through Resilience and Manifestation

Let's Get Dressed with host Liv Perez delves into the inspiring journey of Jennifer Meyer, a renowned jewelry designer celebrating her brand's 20th anniversary. In this episode, Jennifer Meyer shares invaluable insights into building a sustainable and timeless jewelry brand, navigating the ever-evolving fashion landscape, and the pivotal role of resilience and manifestation in her success.

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1. Introduction to Jennifer Meyer's Journey

Liv Perez opens the episode by reflecting on Jennifer Meyer's early influence through magazines and her continued presence in the fashion industry. Celebrating two decades, Jennifer Meyer's designs remain a staple among celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Selena Gomez.

"She's actually celebrating her 20th anniversary this year... Her designs are still a staple in entertainment and fashion." [03:00]

2. Designing Everyday Wearable Jewelry

Jennifer Meyer discusses the philosophy behind creating jewelry that seamlessly integrates into daily life. Emphasizing practicality, her pieces are designed to be durable and versatile, allowing women to layer and wear them without the hassle of constant adjustments.

"I try and Design jewelry that you never have to take off, that become part of you, that become part of your wardrobe that you can layer in." [04:10]

3. The Significance of Personal Style and Stacking Jewelry

The conversation highlights the importance of personal style in jewelry selection. Jennifer shares her favorite stacking techniques and the emotional connection she maintains with her pieces, ensuring each item holds personal meaning and longevity.

"Jewelry has a lot of meaning and I think when you find those pieces that you love, stick with them." [08:42]

4. The Role of Resilience and Manifestation in Business

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Jennifer Meyer's belief in manifestation and resilience. She attributes much of her success to focusing on positive outcomes and believing in her worth, which has helped her navigate business challenges and maintain a thriving brand.

"I'm a big believer in manifesting. I think you have to always believe that you are deserving of every little bit that you want." [06:03]

5. Early Career Influences and Building the Brand

Jennifer recounts her early experiences working with fashion giants like Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani. These roles provided her with invaluable insights and discipline, shaping her approach to her own brand's growth and sustainability.

"Working at Giorgio Armani and under Wanda McDaniel... It was like, you are going to work your ass off." [15:57]

6. Overcoming Business Challenges: The Barneys' Closure

A pivotal moment in Jennifer's career was the unexpected closure of Barneys, a major retail partner. She shares the emotional and financial impact of this event but emphasizes her strategic positioning that allowed her brand to continue flourishing despite setbacks.

"Barney's was a very, very, very important part of my business... And when they closed, they owed me a lot of money." [25:12]

7. The Importance of Community and Adaptability in LA's Fashion Scene

Jennifer expresses her deep love for the LA fashion community, highlighting its close-knit nature and the collaborative spirit that fosters innovation and support among designers. She also touches on the challenges posed by recent wildfires and her commitment to rebuilding and supporting affected communities.

"LA comes together hard and we will rebuild and we will help these families and do everything that we can." [29:04]

8. Embracing Summer Trends and Practical Styling Tips

The episode transitions to discussing current summer jewelry trends. Jennifer advocates for vibrant colors and layering, encouraging listeners to embrace bold statements while ensuring their jewelry remains comfortable and meaningful.

"I really love color for summer... it's always nice to have some sparkle around your neck or a pile of bracelets." [31:04]

9. Smart Jewelry Travel Strategies

Jennifer shares her tried-and-true methods for traveling with jewelry, emphasizing practicality to prevent tangling and damage. She recommends using Ziploc bags as a simple and effective solution for organizing and protecting pieces on the go.

"Anytime you put something in a Ziploc bag... it will not get into a little knot." [32:19]

10. Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations

Concluding the episode, Jennifer reflects on her brand's resilience and looks forward to continuing to innovate within the jewelry industry. Her unwavering optimism and strategic foresight serve as a testament to her enduring success.

"With every door that closes, there's a new one that opens. That was the hardest moment... every day is something." [25:48]

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Notable Quotes:

• "I try and Design jewelry that you never have to take off, that become part of you." — Jennifer Meyer [04:10]

• "I'm a big believer in manifesting... you are deserving of every little bit that you want." — Jennifer Meyer [06:03]

• "Working at Giorgio Armani... you are going to work your ass off." — Jennifer Meyer [15:57]

• "Barney's was a very important part of my business... they owed me a lot of money." — Jennifer Meyer [25:12]

• "LA comes together hard and we will rebuild and we will help these families." — Jennifer Meyer [29:04]

• "Anytime you put something in a Ziploc bag... it will not get into a little knot." — Jennifer Meyer [32:19]

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This episode offers a comprehensive look into Jennifer Meyer's strategic approach to building a lasting jewelry brand, her personal philosophies on resilience and manifestation, and practical advice for both aspiring designers and fashion enthusiasts. Her candid reflections and actionable tips provide valuable lessons on navigating the dynamic world of fashion and entrepreneurship.

Transcript

[Ryan Reynolds]

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[Reverse Auctioneer]

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[Jennifer Meyer]

Sold.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Of $45 for a three month plan equivalent to $15 per month. Required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of network spizzy. Taxes and fees extra.

[Britbox Advertiser]

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[Liv Perez]

Hi everyone. Welcome back to another episode of let's get Dressed. It's your host, Liv Perez. I hope you're having an amazing week wherever you're tuning in from. Thanks so much for joining us today. I am so excited about today's episode because I got to interview the founder of a brand that I have followed for a very long time. To be honest, if I was to jump in a time machine, take me back to like the early 2000s, I could very easily picture myself following flipping through the pages of People magazine, really interested in fashion and wanting to know what everyone was wearing. And there was one jewelry brand I would consistently see in every issue and that was Jennifer meyer. Fast forward 20 years. She's actually celebrating her 20th anniversary this year. Her designs are still a staple in entertainment and fashion, worn by the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Selena Gomez, and so many more. In today's episode, we got to sit down and chat about her amazing journey building a truly timeless brand and that has lasted for decades. From print magazines to social media, retail, E Com and more, she survived and thrived it all. We also dive into how she stayed resilient through the ups and downs of business how her personal life and spiritual journey shape her designs and the lessons that she's learned along the way. Plus, she gives us her go to travel tips for packing jewelry. I literally gasped when she told me what she does because it's so smart. Why haven't I been doing it in the past? And and what she is excited to stack for summer before we get going, A Quick Housekeeping Note if you love this podcast, you will definitely love my new substack newsletter. Let's Get Dressed. As a subscriber, you will get weekly fashion deep dives, daily styling tips, trend forecasting, and access to an incredible community of fashion lovers alike. And as a thank you to you guys for being my podcast listeners, I'm giving you three months free when you subscribe for the full year. That's just saving $63 for exclusive content and access to my private style chat where you can ask me questions directly like what to wear to a friend's wedding or how to style that new shoe that you just got for your closet. You can sign up through the link in the show notes and I hope to see you guys there. I hope you guys love this episode. Let's Go Get Dressed with Jennifer Meyer.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Hey Jen, welcome to the pod.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Thank you for having me.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Thrilled to have you on.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Thank you.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I want to talk a little bit about how you get dressed every day, because I'm sure you get dressed every day with jewelry to top of mind, it is always kind of like the final thing for me. So how are you going into your closet every day and getting dressed?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Actually, it's kind of the opposite. So I always say that women in their day actually don't have time to think about their jewelry. That when you wake up in the morning, you're trying to get out of the house, you're showering, you're eating breakfast, you're doing so many things and you've got to get dressed and you've got to look presentable. And you know, a lot of women, you're doing your hair, you're doing your makeup, you're doing all these things. If you're like straight trying to get to the office, you're rushing. If you're making lunch for your kids or getting them to school or whatever it may be. I always say that you can't really think about and what pieces am I gonna put with this outfit? What jewelry pieces work with this outfit? It's like, it's hard enough figuring out what shoes to wear with what jeans and pants and T shirt. So I really try and Design jewelry that you never have to take off, that become part of you, that become part of your wardrobe that you can layer in. And that was sort of the goal. So I try and wear pieces. I mean, everything you're seeing right now, with the exception of my earrings, but these earrings, I mean, I've slept in this, I've showered in it, I've worked out in it, and it's a. It just becomes a part of me.

[Jennifer Meyer]

You have a pretty good stack going right now. Is this your everyday stack or is this just like the beginning of the week? You're like, this is what I'm putting on for the week.

[Ryan Reynolds]

This is my current everyday stack. I always have my good luck charm on that never comes off.

[Jennifer Meyer]

What is your good luck charm?

[Ryan Reynolds]

So this is our bestseller forever. It is sort of all the good luck love protection encompassed in one. It's a horseshoe up, it's an elephant trunk up. It's the evil eye. It's a four leaf clover. It's the heart, it's an om. I love the good luck charm. So. So it just never comes off. And I get the most amazing stories about the good luck charm all the time.

[Jennifer Meyer]

You've always, like, had that. I feel spirituality and like manifestation so close. It's something I've always kind of known about you.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I mean, I. Listen, I'm a big believer in manifesting. I'm a big believer that you can focus on things that you really want and be really careful on focusing on things that you don't want because you can create your reality.

[Jennifer Meyer]

What do you feel has worked for you in manifesting?

[Ryan Reynolds]

I mean, how long is this podcast?

[Liv Perez]

Go for it, please.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I think everything, I mean, all the amazing things in my life have worked in manifesting and concentrating on the good things, on concentrating on the things that you want. I think that I hoped that there was a part of me that manifested. Ruby and Otis, my children. I think I manifested my amazing fiance. I think I manifested a really seamless separation divorce from my ex husband, who's now my best friend. And my ex and my current, my fiance are super close. I mean, I feel like all the goodness, my family, my amazing friends, my business, you know, I feel like there's just all the good things are things that I've spent time thinking about and concentrating on and envisioning, you know, really envisioning.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Do you think manifestation is about saying it out loud, writing it down, or do you have to be able to see it in your brain?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Listen, there was a quote by Wayne Dyer and it Said, I'll see it when I believe it, right? Instead of like, I'll believe it when I see it, which is very sort of cynical, but like, I'll see it when I believe it. So it's like when you can believe something, when you believe it, you then can manifest it. That is going to happen for me. You know, when you really concentrate on the things that you really want. I will say it's really good to do both. It's really good to see your writing, to. To put it out on paper, to know really what you want, how you want it. I think also, like, believe you deserve it. I think a lot of people think, why should I ask for that? Why do I deserve that? Well, I already have a great job. Why do I deserve a better job? Like, why do I. I'm already, you know, I already had a great relationship. Why do I deserve another great relationship? I already have a beautiful home. Why do I want a better home? And I think that that's bullshit. I think it's really important to always believe that, that you are deserving of every little bit that you want. And the more you receive, the more you can give.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Thank you for this business little business emotional tangent. I appreciate it. Back to the everyday stack because this is something I am also working on. It's like I need to up my jewelry game a little bit. Are you switching yours out like every week?

[Ryan Reynolds]

No, no, it's just like this is.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Your, this is what you're doing all the time and maybe you'll like throw something in here and there.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, or I'll change it out or I'll add something else or I'll add a couple more or I'll take couple off. I think it's like you've got to just wear jewelry that just you feel that sticks with you. I always say that women look in, look in their jewelry boxes and they know every piece that's in there. They know what they received it for, what the occasion was, who bought it for them, if they bought it for themselves, how much money it cost, like why they bought it for themselves. So I think that jewelry has a lot of meaning and I think when you find those pieces that you love, stick with them. Just put them on and don't think about it. I like to design jewelry that you are wearing first thing in the morning that you are wearing to work out and that you're wearing to go out to dinner with your husband or your friends or whatever it is, or an event.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I got a question on Instagram recently, where Someone was asking about, like, summer styling for jewelry. Right. And I feel like in the summer, we see, like, a lot of layering. Right. Most of us are, like, in tanks, tees, and that layer is kind of a big part of the outfit.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Meyer]

And someone said, is there ever a way to be wearing too much jewelry? What do you think?

[Ryan Reynolds]

I mean, yeah, probably. I'm a simple person. Although I do see people that have piles and piles of jewelry on that. I'm like, it works. They do a great job at it. You know what? It's all about your comfort.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Yeah. I totally agree with you.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It doesn't matter. You can have one piece of jewelry on. You can have 15 necklaces on. If you are comfortable, wear it, own it, enjoy it.

[Jennifer Meyer]

There's a girl on Instagram who is, like, kind of known for her ring stack, and every single finger is filled with, like, thick, different mixed metals.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Meyer]

And it's not something I feel like if I saw on someone, I'd be like, oh, that looks great. But she wears it with such confidence.

[Ryan Reynolds]

There you go.

[Jennifer Meyer]

That I'm like, is that. Am I trying that? And I would usually not ever try that. But, yeah, full, like three rings, a finger, and she just goes for it, and it looks great on her.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

There you go.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Do you mix metals?

[Ryan Reynolds]

I do. Yeah, I mix metals.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I do, too.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Totally.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I feel like it's like the more you overthink it, I don't think there's any rules.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, you know, it's like, there's no rules. The rules are that you should feel good and you should feel comfortable. And I think the one thing I can say about jewelry is it's an investment. So. And I try and really design pieces that when you're gonna look at it in 10 years, you're not gonna say, why did I buy that Jennifer Meyer piece? You're going to be excited. You're still going to be wearing it. You're going to have your tennis necklace on or whatever it is. It's never going to go out of style. And I like classic pieces all around anyway, so I think investing in jewelry is. Is important if you want to invest in something like that. I feel like you never wanted to go out of style, so you want it to be classic and beautiful.

[Jennifer Meyer]

How did you get into jewelry to begin with? Like, growing up, was there a moment where you were like, this might be my thing.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know what? My grandmother designed jewelry, and I used to do it with her, and then I never thought about it. And I worked in fashion. I Worked for Ralph Lauren and I worked for Giorgio Armani and I worked at Glamour magazine. So I always loved being in fashion. And secretly I always wanted to design jewelry, but I had no idea how to. And actually my ex husband was the one who was like, what do you want to do? I was like, I don't know. And he said, everyone has something in their head that they want to do and they're too scared to say it. It's like a secret. You know, you're too scared. You think you're too old, you think you're too young, you think you didn't go to school for it, you think you have to study for it. He's like, but everyone has it in their head. They're just too scared to say it.

[Jennifer Meyer]

It's so true.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And it's true.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And I was like, really? And he's like, yeah. What do you want to do? You want to be a doctor? You want to be an actress? Do you want to be a writer? You want to work for NASA? And I was like, oh. I was like, I mean, if you're putting me on the spot, I've always wanted to be a jewelry designer. He's like, that seems doable. And I was like, it does. I have no clue how to do it. And he was like, you can try and figure that out. And I did. I literally went downtown. If it said jeweler on the door, I knocked on the door, I asked them to make this leaf that I had designed. I went down Beverly Hills, Brighton Way. If it said jeweler, I was knocking on the door. I went to Culver City and I found people that could actually make my pieces. Half the people, more than half the people, were like, sorry, we can't help you. Other people were like, yeah, sure. This will cost X amount of dollars. This will cost X amount of dollars. And I saved a very little bit of money and I taught myself every single step.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I really appreciate that your ex husband at the time was like, you can go do it. I think sometimes the people in our lives are the best mirrors.

[Ryan Reynolds]

A hundred percent. Yeah, 100%.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I love that.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And it's really important in life to listen to the people that, you know, really want only goodness for you.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know, it was like I was trying to say to my kids the other day, I was like, when I give you advice as your mother, I was like, I am one person in your life that I promise you I can guarantee. I only want to see you have the greatest life. I only want to see you be so Happy, so successful, so thrilled with everything that happens to you. I said, you never have to question that. So it's like, I think when somebody who really loves you or cares about you, whoever that is, is trying to give you good advice, you gotta take it.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Moms are the best.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Moms are the best.

[Jennifer Meyer]

That is so sweet. You and your career have worked with some pretty incredible people. I know you were at armani under Wanda McDaniel, who we love and adore.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yes.

[Jennifer Meyer]

She's the EVP, I think, executive vice president of Armani Global. And I wonder for you during that time also you mentioned you at Ralph Lauren.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Is there anything from that time that has, like, really stuck with you today that you hold really close?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, yeah. I mean, the. For me starting to work for Giorgio Armani and under Wanda was like, I mean, I was I working at Giorgio Armani and in that whole world was sort of the greatest training you could get.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It was like, you are signing on for this job. You are going to work 24 7. It was not an option. There was no like, well, I'm working overtime. Well, do I get a raise? Well, how much am I gonna make? It was like, no. You are lucky to have this job. And you are gonna work your ass off. And you are gonna work on Friday nights and you are gonna work on Saturdays, and you are gonna work on Sundays if they need you. And you are gonna be available and you are gonna go travel to Milan, which is amazing, but you're not gonna sleep. But you are gonna be around the most brilliant designer in the world who has built a multi billion dollar company. And you are lucky to learn from this. And it was true. It was like you get thrown into the fire in the most positive way. And it's very different now. People work very differently now. How much am I making? How much overtime? What is this? I don't work Saturdays, I don't work Sundays. And you know what? I respect boundaries. Absolutely. But during that time, if you said, oh, sorry, I can't work, it's Saturday, they'd be like, okay, great, no problem. Because there's somebody who will.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I remember my first job was at Teen Vogue and I was there so late, of course, and then going to class in the morning, but I wanted to be. Yeah, I think that's kind of the. The difference is I was desperate to be there. I was so excited to be there.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know, my dad was an agent forever and I would hear him talk to his clients and if they didn't want to do, if his Clients didn't want to do a job or they weren't interested in going to that meeting or whatever the case may be, he would always say, listen, there is somebody out there who is younger than you, who's smarter than you, who's more handsome or more beautiful than you, who has more drive than you, who wants to work harder than you, and they are sitting there waiting for you to up so they can take your place.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Yep.

[Ryan Reynolds]

They're just like, damn, I'm just waiting for her because I want what she has and they will do better.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Yep.

[Ryan Reynolds]

So don't stop grinding, you know, really don't. Like, if you love something or you want to show how good you are at it, like, keep going. Like, work your hardest.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I think that applies forever.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I agree.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I like. I think I'm always going to have that looking over my shoulder.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I agree.

[Jennifer Meyer]

And I think it's what keeps you humble and going.

[Ryan Reynolds]

100%.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Yeah. Without it, I just. You never want to be too comfortable. I always say, like, being comfortable is like the kiss of death.

[Ryan Reynolds]

100%. Yeah.

[Liv Perez]

While we're on the note of incredible jewelry, I want to share with you guys one of my favorite ways to style jewelry for the summer. I really love to wear a bunch of necklaces. Maybe they're colorful. Maybe it's a bunch of pearls. And my favorite way to style that is with something that leaves kind of an open chest. Maybe that's a great button down. Maybe that's an amazing V neck. And I have two in my closet that I love to wear that are both from Jenny Kane, who are the sponsor of today's episode. I love their Flynn cashmere sweater. You guys have heard me talk about it all the time. It's just so good. The quality is amazing, and they have so many good colors if you're looking for just a really easy sweater to pair with all your jewelry this summer. And then I also really love their linen Logan shirt right now. They also have that in a few colors, like black, natural, a dark moss, and then just a simple classic white. It's a beautiful white linen down that will be great for anything you're wearing this summer. I can definitely see myself wearing it in the ivory color with a pair of jeans maybe paired with their Nina sandals, which I love as well. And a beautiful necklace to tie it all together. You guys know I'm such a big fan of Jenny Kane. I have been shopping the brand for years, and it makes up so much of my closet. I have so many great essentials for summer from them. And I know you guys will love their pieces. I have a 15% off code for you guys if you're looking to add some new things to your closet. So find your forever pieces at Jenny Cane. Get 15% off at Jenny Kane.com live L I V at checkout. That's 15% off. Your first order at J-E-N-N-I K-A-Y-N E.com using the promo code LIV. That's me. Let's let getting dressed be one last thing we have to worry about this summer.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I was actually thinking about this interview this morning and thinking about how many jewelry brands that I know that have sustained as long as you have and thrived and killed it.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Thank you so much.

[Jennifer Meyer]

And it's interesting to look at the beginning of your career, having worked for such heritage, iconic brands that have made a massive imprint on American fashion and global fashion. And I wonder for you what you think the key to sustainability is, especially at fashion. My goodness.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, God.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I know I made you bite. Take a big bite of the fashion cookie.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know, I'll tell you something. With Ralph Lauren and with Mr. Armani, those men were there. Those men were showing up at the fashion shows. Those men were doing the fittings. Those men were part of this brand. It's their name. But they weren't messing around. They worked hard. They showed up. And I think that you have to still care about your business. You have to care about the people that work with you. You have to care about the aesthetic. You have to stick with what you know is good for the brand. So you can never get too comfortable.

[Jennifer Meyer]

How much of your personal life, like, whether it's your friends or family or Ruby going to college, like, how much of that informs what you're designing?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Ooh. I mean, first of all, my friends inform everything that I'm designing. Like, nothing inspires me more than you than fashionable women, that seeing how people put their stuff together, how they wear their clothes, how they wear their jewelry, how they wear, you know, their hair, everything. So I think I get so inspired by women in general and stylish women and people who are willing to take risks. And my daughter inspires me all the time. Although half the time, she's like, doesn't want to wear my jewelry. And then all of a sudden, like, I'll go into her bathroom, and I'm like, where'd you get this? She's like, oh, I'm so sorry. I took it from your room. I'm like, oh, my God. Okay.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Jen. What?

[Liv Perez]

What Are the.

[Jennifer Meyer]

The teens wearing jewelry wise? Like, I think about what I. I mean, first of all, if. If you were my mom and I was just surrounded by incredible jewelry all the time, I'd probably have done way better than I did in high school.

[Ryan Reynolds]

But Ruby wears some pretty good jewelry.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I was going to say I was wearing, like, Claire's highlighter pink star cutout earrings in, like, 2012. Yeah, that was the look.

[Ryan Reynolds]

That was cute.

[Jennifer Meyer]

What are they wearing these days?

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know what? That's a good question. They are more. They're much. They're about gold hoops and classic and otherwise. You know, it's all about fashion.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

They love comfort athleisure sweatpants and, like, a cropped T shirt.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I mean, were we not living in Free city for years?

[Ryan Reynolds]

100%.

[Liv Perez]

That's LA.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Exactly.

[Jennifer Meyer]

It's. It really is the city of sweatpants and Uggs. Yes.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Little has changed.

[Jennifer Meyer]

La. People knew the power of Uggs before the world knew the power of Uggs.

[Ryan Reynolds]

For sure.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Maybe that's my limited mentality because I grew up here, but I just feel like we were always wearing Uggs.

[Ryan Reynolds]

We were.

[Jennifer Meyer]

It was the thing to the beach, to school on the sand. Always on the sand.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Like wearing. Even to this day in Malibu, I see people walking on the beach in their Uggs.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You're like, makes sense.

[Jennifer Meyer]

They were originally actually made as surfers for surfers.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. Yeah, for sure.

[Jennifer Meyer]

You mentioned earlier that when you were, you know, first working at Armani and all of these amazing places, and when you even started your own business, social media didn't exist.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Nope.

[Jennifer Meyer]

And I remember Jen Meyer was like, the blueprint of celebrity placements. Like, back in the day, if you opened up any of the tabloids and it was like, what we're loving right now, what we're gifting your jewelry was there every time, without doubt. And now you're in this world where social media is everything. It's probably the place where you meet your audience at every day. How has that shift navigated? And what do you think is the place where you are meeting your customers the most?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Well, Instagram.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Yeah, for sure.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I mean, that's it. Instagram is a beautiful thing, you know, for making connections and for seeing beautiful things out in the world and being exposed to new ideas and new people. I think it can get really overwhelming. I think that, you know, as a designer, it's really important to stick with what you love, what your aesthetic is. Don't be too worried about what everybody else is doing and what you're Seeing on Instagram. You know, it's like, whether you're making jewelry or doing a podcast or, you know, running a marathon, it doesn't. You're. You're seeing on Instagram 95% of the time. You are seeing the best of the camera roll. You are seeing the best of everything. And it's very rare that you're really seeing, like, everything that goes into it behind the scenes. And I love Instagram, but I also know that it's not always real life.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I remember growing up here, you were like. You and Barney's were synonymous.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Thank you. I'll take that as a big compliment.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Absolutely.

[Liv Perez]

That was fun.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I miss Barney's.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I was gonna say, like, what?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, I miss those days.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I remember your jewelry was everywhere. It was. You were a bestseller at Barney's.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yes.

[Jennifer Meyer]

For years. You were a bestseller at Barney's.

[Ryan Reynolds]

10 years.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I feel like we were. People were there, and you were there to get Jen Meyer jewelry.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. Thank you. Barney's was an amazing time. And at the time, they really invested in their people, and they really invested in me, like, truly invested in me, and it was amazing. And I invested in them, and we grew an amazing business together. It was very sad when they closed.

[Jennifer Meyer]

There's one in Tokyo. I just went the other day.

[Ryan Reynolds]

How was it?

[Jennifer Meyer]

Interesting. Not as, like, I think the old Barneys, there was such a soul to it, because, again, everything you just said is so correct. It was like a fashion lover's paradise. Just discovering new things, finding new things. This just felt a little discombobulated, but it's still there.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Meyer]

And I heard they're making a TV show. Did you see that?

[Ryan Reynolds]

No.

[Jennifer Meyer]

The creators of Gossip Girl, I think, are going to be doing a TV show about Barneys.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Okay.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Well, they better include the Jenn Meyer era, let me tell you that much.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I'll call them right now.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Yeah, just make sure. So funny. What was that like when it closed? What was. Was there, like, a shift moment for you of having to be like, what's our next kind of tent pole moment?

[Ryan Reynolds]

I think you have to be careful in your business not to depend on one person or one store or any something like that to be making your business whole? And Barney's was a very, very, very important part of my business. And when they closed, they owed me a lot of money. Like, a devastating amount of money that I never got back. I never saw the jewelry, all of it. It was very sad.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Wow. Did you get the jewelry back at least?

[Ryan Reynolds]

No. Oh, yes.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Because they take it from you, right yeah, that's the way it works. Okay.

[Ryan Reynolds]

The jewelry was gone, the money was gone. They literally said to me, you can sue us, but because we filed for bankruptcy, you probably won't get any money. And it was really sad. Wow. But I was lucky in the sense that I positioned myself in a way where if Barney's closed or anybody had closed, I would have still been okay, and I could still sustain my business in a great way. I had built my business in a way that I didn't depend on one person. Yes. Did it sting? Yes. Was it a bummer? Absolutely. But we were able to move forward, and it also opened up a great. You know, and I, at the time, I was still at net a porte, and I'm still at net a porte for over 10 years, and they're incredible. But leaving Barney's opened up other amazing opportunities, which was Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf. So they're amazing partners of mine, and I love being at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf. They're just phenomenal. So, you know, with every door that closes, there's a new one that opens. That was the hardest moment. I mean, that was. That was a moment that rocked us, but again, didn't define us. It didn't close the business. It didn't put us in trouble. But I've had a lot more great moments than I have bad moments. But every day is something. I mean, every day, it's like right now, I'm talking to all these designers every single day. It's like, the price of gold is so wild that it's affecting everybody, you know? So I think it's just like, there's always going to be something. You just have to learn how to ride the wave.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I think you have to be really good at problem solving to own a brand.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Every day it's something new.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You also have to be ready to make decisions. You know, you have to be ready to, like, move forward quickly, be very.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Decisive and firm in. In the vision. Yeah. I bet you that's where your manifesting comes in, because it's like, you're able to just probably make those decisions so quickly because you can probably see the vision to an extent.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Well, I'm just like, in life like that. I want that.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know, that's it. I want that. And go get it, like, and. And without jealousy. You've got to see what other people have or what you feel and be like, that looks good. I'm gonna go after that, because God bless her for getting it. You know what I mean? Like, show Me the blueprint. Show me how you got there.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I feel like you have really. Obviously you were born and raised in la, but LA is so your city and I love talking to people about the amazing fashion industry here. I feel like it is such a close knit community. How do you feel about being a designer in L. A?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Love.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Love.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I mean, absolutely love. And I love. There's so many designers in LA that I am obsessed with. I think it's, you know, again, I'm born and raised in LA and I've, I've only felt completely welcomed by, you know, the fashion world and so many other places. Even being from la, give LA the.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Fashion people their flowers.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. You know, I agree.

[Jennifer Meyer]

There are so many great brands here, 100%. It's a smaller community of people doing really interesting things.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I agree.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Yeah, I love it.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I agree.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I know you have a store in the Palisades village. How has that been navigating that post fires?

[Ryan Reynolds]

I mean, it's devastating. You know, it's. My store is still standing, although it has to be completely gutted. Everything around the village is pretty much burnt to the ground and it's devastating. So the good news is about my store still standing. I mean, it won't be open for at least another year, nor will the village. But I, I hope and I plan on when, when we can come back, we all come back together stronger than ever. Help to build that community up, help to, you know, bring everybody into our, our arms and do everything we can. It's. I've never seen anything like it in my life. Driving through there, I was trying to look at any silver lining. I'm like, listen, the good news is if there was any good news is that these fires happened in the afternoon and not in the middle of the night because that would have been really devastating. But LA comes together hard and we will rebuild and we will help these families and do everything that we can.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I love hearing you say that you are going to be back there and ready to go. I think so many people need to hear that right now. And I think even Elise Walker mentioning that she's announcing that she's reopening. I think people need to see that level of hope and excitement and that those communities are gonna come back. I think that that's really important right now. My mom, as you know, is in Malibu and there were some points where, you know, so many businesses closing all at once that it was hard to see any kind of layer of hope there. So I think going out and saying that you're Going to come back and you're excited to come back is really important.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. No, it's sad. I mean, these stores need to reopen, and people lost their jobs, and it's too. It's devastating.

[Jennifer Meyer]

If you're based in la, please go to those areas and support as many businesses as you can. They really need it. Okay, looking forward. Let's talk about summer a little bit. What are some summer jewelry trends that you're loving right now?

[Ryan Reynolds]

I really love color for summer. I'm always in turquoise. And I think that, like you said before, it's like, you know, you're always in, like, a tank top or a little sundress or something, and it's always nice to have some sparkle around your. Around your neck or, you know, that's where I just love a pile of, like, bracelets, bangles.

[Jennifer Meyer]

In the summer, I think there's never too much.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I agree.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Like, just lay it, layer it all on. And I completely agree with you. I love, like, a big turquoise something.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Me too. So also, I'm very big on whatever you're wearing. Wearing to dinner, you should wear to.

[Jennifer Meyer]

The beach, like, 100%.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Your jewelry has got to just, like, live on you.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I love that so much. Put that on a hat.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Meyer]

If you're wearing it to dinner, wear it to the beach.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Exactly.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I just love that. Like, I want. I. I think there's so many outfits that I've seen that I love of people just, like, in bikinis with, like, jewelry everywhere. Yeah. I'm like, yeah, so good. That's the vibe for the summer.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I agree.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Yeah. I'm also loving a lot of, like, the long necklaces that I'm seeing now. A lot of stones, a lot of, like, purpl, precious kind of gems. Vibes. I think it's fun.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Color.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Color.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Meyer]

More than ever, I feel like I'm seeing a lot of color.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Right.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Meyer]

How are you traveling with jewelry in the summer? What's your best tip for people who are, like, heading abroad or heading on a trip and they're packing all of their jewelry with them?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Okay, here is my trick to all my jewelry. Little Ziploc bags, or you can get really, like, reusable ones on Amazon. Anytime you put something in a Ziploc bag, like a necklace, and you hang the tip of the necklace out of the bag and you close. Will not tangle.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Genius.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It will not get into a little knot. So that will be your best friend. Or use that Ziploc bag and you can use it over and over and over again. And that is my tip. And you can get like a little envelope or reusable something or a little makeup bag, and you can put your jewelry in there and little Ziploc bags.

[Jennifer Meyer]

I prefer that so much more to a, like, pre sold jewelry box. Where I love a jewelry box, don't get me wrong, but sometimes some of the travel ones only have, like, specific, Like, I'm like, I have more earrings than the five slots that you've given me.

[Liv Perez]

Yeah.

[Jennifer Meyer]

What am I supposed to do with that?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Ziploc bags.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Ziploc bags. I love that. What are you most excited to wear on, like, wear from your jewelry collection this summer?

[Ryan Reynolds]

I mean, I love this tennis necklace with the open heart. It's always going to be a turquoise tennis necklace during the summer. Probably mix it with like a lapis tennis necklace or an amethyst tennis necklace to, like, bring out the color. That's my vibe.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Thank you so much for coming on today.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Thank you for having me.

[Jennifer Meyer]

Congratulations on 20 years. It was so amazing to talk to you and hear the full journey and everything that you've done and you're working on.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Sam.