Jennifer (whose birthstone is aquamarine) currently lives in Bronxville, NY with her husband and two daughters (whose birthstones are diamond and sapphire).
Occupation: Founder/designer Jennifer Alfano Fine Jewelry
Website: https://www.jenniferalfano.com
Twitter Handle: @JJAlfano1
Instagram handle: @jenniferalfano
1. What are three words that best describe you?
Impatient, curious, jewelry lover.
2. Tell us why you’re awesome in two sentences or less.
I am getting to do what I love. After a career in fashion magazines, I am able to take everything I learned and apply it to a new career.
3. What are your three biggest indulgences?
Celine bags, a glass of wine at the end of the day, travel with my family.
4. What’s currently your favorite…
Restaurant: Buvette and Momofuku Noodle Bar in NYC
Food: Always on the search for the perfect Neapolitan pizza
Cocktail: Ketel One gimlet straight up
Shopping destination/store: Net-a-Porter, Isabel Marant store in NYC, Kule Pop Up Shop in NYC
Fashion item: A well-tailored blazer or jacket preferably by Stella McCartney, Isabel Marant or YSL.
Place to hangout: I prefer spending free time outdoors on a hike upstate or walking Soho in the city.
City: Besides New York, Paris.
Travel item: Large Celine tote and a good book.
Beauty product: MAC Plush mascara, Embryolisse BB Cream.
Skincare product: Chanel Sublimage moisturizer. It changed my skin.
Hostess gift: A fun coffee table book if I know them well. I also buy embroidered cocktail napkins or beautiful votives when I find them to keep aside just in case.
Home décor item: Cire Trudon Abd El Kader candle that smells of Moroccan mint tea, tobacco and spices.
Book: Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion
Website: https://www.tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com, https://www.habituallychic.luxury.com, https://www.elin-kling.com,
Magazine: Having been a fashion editor for over 20 years, I love them all. I do keep all of my French Vogues.
5. What’s the ONE thing you absolutely can’t live without?
My husband and girls. Chocolate might be second.
6. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Lack of email etiquette especially when it comes to business. People think that not replying to an email is the equivalent of saying no. It’s not. Writing a polite email back stating you can’t make it, aren’t interested or what have you is. I’ve had CEOs of multi-million and billion dollar companies respond to me quicker (and respond personally) than most others. Maybe it’s a trait–acknowledgement and paying attention to every detail, that is a key component to being successful.
7. If you could have dinner with anyone (living or not) who would it be?
Louis Armstrong, Audrey Hepburn with Hubert de Givenchy, Joan Didion, Georgia O’Keefe, Jay Z and Beyonce.
8. What does it mean to you to have a strong, engaging brand and how has having one helped you?
Branding is important because you can use it as a tool to keep you focused. You have to continually look back at why you started your business and what you meant to convey with your brand so that going forward every new step you take relates back to your original idea or takes it to the next level. I believe today that strong brands grow out of doing one thing, and doing that one thing really well. If you start going off on too many tangents it can dilute the brand and confuse customers.
9. What is your #1 tip for fellow women entrepreneurs?
Patience. It’s something that I struggle with on a daily basis. Businesses don’t grow exponentially overnight. You have to be willing to take the time and effort to make it a success.
1. Chanel Sublimage Moisturizer
This luxurious moisturizer fights aging, based on individual skin needs.
$390, https://www.chanel.com
2. Large Greek Key Pendant
A beautiful 18K yellow gold Greek key pendant with either a diamond, ruby or emerald and an engraved date option.
$2945-$3010, https://www.jenniferalfano.com
3. Embryolisse BB Cream
Part skincare and part make-up, this cream illuminates the skin in a single application.
$39, https://www.embryolisseusa.com
4. MAC Plush Mascara
This mascara is formulated to instantly plump up lashes for an extremely voluptuous effect.
https://www.maccosmetics.com
5. Boyfriend Jean
Look relaxed and comfy in the coolest way in these cropped, low slung jeans.
$206, https://www.currentelliott.com
6. Abd El Kader Candle
Fresh mint, ginger and tea are a few of the scents that make this candle so fresh and irresistable.
$95, https://www.ciretrudon.com
7. Celine Tote
These stunning totes will keep you looking classic in all of your day-to-day errands.
https://www.barneys.com
8. Play It As It Lays
A ruthless dissection of American life in the late 1960s, Play It as It Lays captures the mood of an entire generation.
$11.94, https://www.amazon.com
[…] sincere thank you to Liz Dennery Sanders and her team at SheBrand.com for featuring me as a SheBrand Superstar on their blog yesterday. Sanders is a brand consultant/personal development coach who is […]