Recess LA founder Marie Monsod launches jewelry collection

At 111 North La Brea Avenue, housed in an Art Deco building, the Recess LA boutique has been a benchmark for vintage enthusiasts for the past 10 years. Born and raised in LA, founder Marie Monsod has added a new arrow to her bow with the launch of her first jewelry capsule collection.

“I didn’t have any experience in fashion and I had set out to become a lawyer. But something happened in my life. The death of a cousin made me change everything. As a fan of art and interior design, I decided to immerse myself in vintage curation,” explained Monsod.

In her vintage-furnished boutique, Monsod displays her collection of dresses, jackets and pants for customers aged 20 to 80.

“I love mixing and matching, so my selection ranges from pieces with no brand to very red-carpet pieces made by Jean Paul Gaultier, Valentino or Chanel, which designers like Beth Morgan or Lou Eyrich come for. My goal was to have a nice eclectic fun mix with a nice price point to stay affordable,” she continued.

Travelling the world, from Japan to the Paris flea markets where she dreams of settling, and consigning to loyal customers, Monsod also expanded her collection of interior design pieces, which take up around half the store.

“I used to go to open houses with my parents as a kid and always loved looking at the decors and furnitures,” racounted Monsod. “At home, everything is vintage and in my store it’s the same; from the lighting to the table, only the cash register isn’t vintage. I love the flamboyant mid-century and Hollywood regency style and the gold. But I also like sleek objects and furnitures. As for fashion, it’s all about mix and match.”
 
Aware of the lack of supply in jewelry, Monsod launched her first earrings project two years ago.

“Jewelry is very important. You can wear an ultra-simple outfit and all of a sudden, a necklace or a pair of earrings will elevate your look immediately,” explained Monsod. “I’ve always loved jewelry by Christian Lacroix, Bill Schiffer or Donald Stannard, which we distribute regularly. And Richard Kerr really inspired me for this project.”

To bring her project to life, the designer turned to Esme Hecht, designer and co-founder of Lunch at the Ritz. “Esme became my mentor,” said Monsod. “He launched his brand in the early ’70s and his experience in manufacturing was invaluable in building my own line. We worked closely together and this first collection was born.”

Each style features captivating, oversized shapes, from thunderbolts to geometric prisms, dangling from a signature dome base and patterned with hues like fuschia and emerald. Made in Asia from resin, her earrings are non-tarnish, hypoallergenic works of art, plated in 22K yellow gold and decked out in hand-laid Preciosa Czech crystals.

Priced between $225 and $295, the earrings are sold at Recess LA. Monsod is already thinking about future collections, especially for men, and a line of box bags.