Must Have: Juan Carlos Obando Jewelry

In launching his first jewelry collection, L.A. designer Juan Carlos Obando decided to go an unconventional route: he put it in boutiques before announcing it to the press. “I wanted to first see how people responded to it,” he explains. As evidenced by his beaming appearance in our office this week, the answer is quite well. His hand-wrought brass and rose gold cuffs, collars, rings, and pendant necklaces resemble hardware parts, and have a cool, industrial appeal. They will look especially chic when paired with his peasant dresses for fall. “It’s my romantic way of doing Home Depot,” he says.