Finding the perfect bridesmaid gift can be a lofty undertaking, but Jen Badger Stojanovich’s line of customizable necklaces will leave even the pickiest of women craving more.
“Initial and monogram necklaces are so popular to give as bridesmaids gifts because they suit such a wide variety of tastes,” says Stojanovich. “I recently created a set of gold-filled necklaces for a bride to give her bridesmaids, mother, and future mother-in-law.”
Stojanovich handcrafts each piece, working mostly with gold and silver-filled pendants, wrapping wire, and semi-precious gemstones. And while it was her collection of charming necklaces that originally caught our eye, her most popular item is the British sixpence (you know, the part of the “something old, something blue” poem everyone seems to forget).
“I take authentic British sixpence and hand stamp the couple’s initials and wedding date on the surface,” she says. “I got engaged right around the time I started Jennifer Lauren Bijoux, so the two worlds found each other.” In fact, the 27 year old gifted one-of-a-kind designs to her own bridesmaids.
Drawing inspiration from magazines, blogs, and Hollywood starlets, Stojanovich’s own creations have the same feel as Jennifer Meyer’s diamond-encrusted pendants—but at a fraction of the cost. Most of her necklaces run between $15 to $35, while the sixpences start at $12.50. “I love looking at upscale pieces that celebrities are wearing to see what I can transform into something more wearable and affordable,” she says.
For a limited time, brides-to-be can save 15 percent by using the code WASHINGTONIAN. If you have a favorite local Etsy seller you’d like to recommend for this column, e-mail kforrest@washingtonian.com.
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Andrew Beaujon joined Washingtonian in late 2014. He was previously with the Poynter Institute, TBD.com, and Washington City Paper. He lives in Del Ray.
