Exclusive - Kelly Bensimon from 'The Real Housewives of New York City' Dishes on Her New Jewelry Line

by Katie Hintz-Zambrano (Subscribe to Katie Hintz-Zambrano's posts)
Posted Aug 11th 2009 at 6:30PM

This real housewife has a real jewelry line. Are you buying? Photo: Theo Wargo, Getty Images

Kelly Killoren Bensimon from "The Real Housewives of New York City" is having another go as a jewelry designer after being called a bijoux copycat by Tuleste Market designer Celeste Greenberg over last season's owl-pendant designs. (For the record, Benisimon claims Greenberg did it for the press, and says the fight is over.)

Now the model/designer/reality star is moving beyond the negativity and onto a new collection, dubbed "Kelly," which she designed alongside jewelry giant Pascal Mouawad.

StyleList snagged an exclusive interview with Bensimon on her new venture.

StyleList: What was the inspiration behind your Kelly line?

Kelly Killoren Bensimon: I was sitting at the Anna Sui fashion show and I was looking at all of her Native American-inspired clothing and I thought, I love that look. But the bad thing about Pocahontas is that she's, like, in the kayaks.

So I took her out of the kayak and into the disco so she could have a little fun. The core of the line is Navajo and American Indian inspired, with big cuffs and bangles. There are also earrings and medallions, because I love the idea of layering medallions. It's all base metal and Swarovski crystals.

Kelly describes the look as Pocahontas hits the disco. Photos: Kelly Bensimon

SL: And we see a lot of serpent pieces. What's that all about?

KKB: I love the idea of the snake because it's mysterious and also alluring. I wanted to do something that was unusual, but classic. So when you look at it it's beautiful, but you look closer and it's a snake.

StyleList: Were you conscious of making the prices accessible?

KKB: After being the editor of ELLE Accessories I saw that there was a huge void in the market. I wanted teenagers to be able to go and buy a pair of bangles at a good price. You don't have to be rich to look good. You can buy a $30 pair of earrings and it can change the way you feel. And that's awesome.

Beautiful and dangerous -- we're willing to take the risk! Photos: Kelly Bensimon

StyleList.com: Do you have any big accessories dos and don'ts?

KKB: People don't think you can mix gold and silver, but I love to mix it up with one arm full of gold bangles and the other silver. You can really do whatever you want as long as you're confident.

Bensimon's line "Kelly" ranges from $32 - $336, just hit Intermix boutiques and IntermixOnline.com.

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Filed under: News
Tags: american-indian, anna-sui, Celeste-Greenberg, jewelry, jewelry-designer, kelly-bensimon, kelly-killoren-bensimon, Mouawad, navajo, pocahontas, real-housewives-of-new-york-city, snake-jewelry

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READER COMMENTS

(6)Add A Comment

Soho Accessories, 8-11-2009, 7:57PM

I wish her well...as well as Bethany seems to be doing..Good for them!

Reply »

Dr. DMS, 8-14-2009, 3:04PM

Naturally KKB has woven a snake into her jewelry design. That way it's both a portrait of the artist and a representation of her character- as that of a glittering sociopath. Even if you have a natural and perfectly reasonable aversion to snakes, it's possible that you might not initially recognize that her pieces are snakes. DR. DMS

PS. I find her distinction of "Navajo and American Indian" to be confusing since Navajos are American Indians (Indigenous Peoples).

She also says she got the idea at someone's fashion show, so it sounds as if, once again, a claim could be made for having appropriated someone else's ideas as her own.

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really???, 10-06-2009, 2:05AM

pocahontas was in a kayak? REALLY?

C A N O E...

but hell, its your story, tell it however you like...so it was terrible she was in a kayak, because her 90 year old husbands car broke down?

Michelle, 8-16-2009, 8:49AM

I am sure all she did was look in the mirror to get the idea for jewelry designs of a snake!

To quote her, her own self description: "So when you look at it it's beautiful, but you look closer and it's a snake."

As far as the snake jewelry it self, most women HATE snakes, so good luck with that, Kelly!

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Manhattan,, 8-18-2009, 6:17PM

I think this jewelry is not very attractive and quite ugly. similiar to the person who represents it.
I wouldn't pay $7 for the pieces.
Maybe if the designer were more honest, it would show in her work. She seems to make stuff up a lot. I wonder why ? ? ?

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crystal jewelry, 9-19-2010, 4:23AM

Most people can't afford to have several different real diamond and gemstone necklaces, rings, to choose from, but that doesn't mean you can't still wear jewelry that looks just like you do. crystal jewelry has taken off as one of the most elegant additions to Crystal necklace,Crystal bracelet, plus it is much less expensive than the same piece with equal sizes of diamonds or other gems. Crystal is not just clear like you may expect, there are just as many colors of crystal jewelry as are found in the real gemstones, plus the cut and polishing of the crystal makes them sparkle and shine and have that deep inner fire to Crystal necklace the bead or piece that draws the eye and makes a beautiful presentation. Look for solid construction and craftsmanship and Crystal bracelet stick to well known brands to ensure the best possible quality .

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