Valuables: Juliana Salazar Is Here to Put You Onto Brooches

Meet Juliana Salazar— creative director, stylist, brand strategist and tastemaker. Her resume is stacked with diverse projects from styling for brands like Comme Si and Aimé Leon Dore to collaborating with Nike to bring the Nike Style Lounge™️ NYC to life, working with Ganni to establish their U.S. presence, conceptualizing the “Play RA” shopping experience for jewelry brand Roxanne Assoulin, and most recently partnering with Kimaï on a lab-grown tennis bracelet—it’s no surprise that brands tap Salazar for ideas.

The mood boards she curates on Substack feel like present-day Tumblr, and the creative inspiration she shares online puts followers onto her taste in architecture, music, design, and style; take for example, these crystal-studded Crocs she wore (pre-Simone Rocha Crocs). She has a selective eye, and her taste in jewelry is no different, namely when it comes to colorful, candy-like jewelry— a trend she was known for popularizing.

In the midst of a move from Los Angeles to London, Salazar takes our call from her hometown of Miami, where she is helping with the branding for friend’s store called Grove Grocer, a venture close to her heart. “Right now I’m very focused on taking on projects that I am really passionate about and that I really feel connected to in some way.” she says about new projects breaching into the lifestyle and hospitality industries, “My work and life are so intertwined, they’re never not going to be, so I think it’s just important to have a good time while I’m working.”

We chat about a funny connection— my friend (and fashion editor at GQ, Brandon Tan) now lives in the exact apartment she once lived in New York in 2021 while working as a freelance stylist and Social Media Director at Hirshliefers (Lori Hirshliefer being not only her previous boss, but also a recent subject of this very Vogue’s Valuables series!). “Does it still have the checkered floors?” she asks about the apartment, “I put those in!”

After speaking in length about jewelry, it’s clear she’s passionate about the subject. We talk about jewelry as a vessel for ordinary clothes to look non-slobbish, the versatility of a really good brooch as a jacket pin or a pendant, the conflict of gatekeeping, and how colorful jewels can actually function as an every-day neutral. Here, we delve deeper into Salazar’s jewelry style and personal collection as she gives Vogue a glimpse into her taste.

Vogue: How does jewelry play into your everyday life?
It’s funny because I think I’m quite low maintenance in that I don’t swap out my jewelry, I always wear the same thing. I feel like for most people my everyday jewelry is not low maintenance, I guess. I wear these little crystal earrings [Salazar points to a pair Completedworks earrings] even when I’m working out.

I also used to wear Kimaï diamond huggies every day, and an earring from my friend’s brand called Laoli. Since I’ve been moving around so much, my clothes are more simple so jewelry just makes me feel more put together and not look like a slob!

What are some of your go-to, habitual pieces?

I go through a lot of phases. I used to wear a bunch of colorful necklaces from Éliou and Gimaguas, and I would wear them every day even if it was multicolor, yellow, or turquoise— it didn’t really matter what else I was wearing. Especially in the winter I think I loved the irony of them even more. I feel… not I feel—I definitely pioneered that trend. I used to take simple, colorful earrings from a brand like Gimaguas and mix it with random actual pendants or charms and turn them into necklaces.

What’s the most recent piece you bought yourself?

I just bought a Wales Bonner brooch—it was definitely one of those things where as soon as I saw it, I was like, oh my God, I need it. I just thought it was so cool. Finally, it went on sale and I got it. I wear it on a jacket, I’ve also hung it on a necklace— I just like that I can rework it. I’ve really been into brooches a lot recently, I’ve found a few really good vintage ones from a flea market in Paris.

In line with your Substack, do you have any current mood board inspiration when it comes to jewelry?
Not really, but funny enough I was toying around with my Wales Bonner brooch on my pearl necklace and was obsessed with how it looked. A few weeks later, I came across this image from WB too which I am equally obsessed with.

As someone who shares a lot of their personal taste online, how do you feel about gatekeeping?

I am pro gatekeeping but I also try to always channel an abundance mindset and not pay attention to what happens after I’ve shared whatever thing in question. I find myself wanting to gatekeep things that I don’t want to be overexposed or “ruined” but unfortunately something going from unknown to zeitgeist or trend is a sign of success on some level so this is very conflicting for me.

What is your most sentimental piece?

Something I’ve managed to keep and not lose for a really long time is my mom’s ring that she gave me. It’s like a puzzle, and I always have to figure out how to put it back together. Every time someone sees it, they always ask me where it’s from. I kind of want to remake it.

What is your watch of choice?

Now I wear Cartier [this one is the Tank Louis, the style Princess Diana has worn]. I used to wear a different watch and actually I will say, now with a leather strap watch having to take it off every day to shower is definitely a new thing for me.

You recently collaborated with Kimaï to make a tennis bracelet, can tell us more about that?

I felt like all the tennis bracelets I saw were either really expensive or really traditional and felt kind of old. If I’m spending money on it, I want to wear it all the time, not to be locked away for special occasions.

I had the idea of doing it on a string because I was popular for wearing all these kid-like necklaces, so it was kind of the same idea. I also play tennis a lot, so it was nice to bring in all these elements of my lifestyle together.

What are some brands you’re excited about right now?

Completedworks. I really love everything they make. I have a lot of their pieces because they’re really great quality and I can shower in them. Laoli is great and also not super expensive for good quality. Éliou I love obviously because they’re my friends, but they’re also continuously evolving and I’m always super impressed by what they make. Timeless Pearly because they make really great cocktail stuff.

What is your dream piece that you’ve had your eye on?

That one I’m gatekeeping!