Shopping With Kelly Bensimon

“I absolutely love accessories,” says Kelly Bensimon, posing on the corner of Prince and Mulberry streets in New York's Soho. “Shoes, bags, hats. That’s why I decided to start my third jewelry line—it’s called Kelly, and it comes to stores on Friday. I had two higher end lines—one sold at Barneys—Tyra Banks wore it on the cover of Elle and it was a sensation—and then another vintage-inspired collection sold at Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf’s, and Neiman Marcus. But after appearing on The Real Housewives of New York, I realized I was selling women an unattainable image. I was telling these women watching in Tennessee to just ‘shop vintage and have fun!’ and honestly, there is not that much great vintage or costume jewelry to be had in most parts of the country. They just have cowboy boots and big pouf skirts. There was a total disconnect between what I tell women to do and what is available to them, so I decided to make my first really affordable line—nothing over $300, and most things around the $50 range. These bracelets that I am wearing are part of the new collection—and they are so easy to wear and for everyone—for 14 and 40 year olds. I wanted it to be trend-driven, and to look expensive, while still being cheap.”

The new line, a collaboration with blingy brand Mouawad, was inspired, Bensimon says, by “Navajo women—but not in a canoe…in a disco or at some really fantastic party.”