Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Designers: Chanel and Gucci for high-end; Rebecca Taylor, Trina Turk, Tory Burch, and Rich & Skinny for everyday.
Splurge: Designer shoes.
Local Boutique: Cha.
Luxury: Rolex watches.
Local Restaurants: Mi Ranchito and Café Napoli.
Bars: Café Eau, Three Sixty, Bar Napoli, and the rooftop at the Four Seasons.
Day Off: Spending time in Forest Park with my family and resting.
Weekend Getaway: My beach house in Nassau, Bahamas.
Vacation Spot: Italy.
Desserts: Carrot cake and red velvet cake.
Cocktail: Chocolate martini.
Websites: Gilt (gilt.com) and Beyond the Rack (beyondtherack.com).
TV Shows: Homeland and the Real Housewives series.
Musicians: Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake.
Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio and Charlize Theron.
Celeb Encounter: My best friend is Keshia Knight Pulliam, who played Rudy on The Cosby Show.
Inspiration: Fashion trends and the everyday woman.
Rule of Design: I only create things that I would wear myself. I wear my jewelry every day.
Unfulfilled Ambition: Get my jewelry line into a department store.
Opinion of St. Louis: It’s a great place to raise a family and establish a foundation.
Advice: Always treat people with respect. Treat others the way you would want to be treated.
GiGi—Minus a Musical
With a stressful career as a transactional attorney, Johnson needed a creative outlet. She followed her passion for design and taught herself how to make jewelry and twist wire. Eventually, friends and family began asking for the pieces. This spring, Johnson debuted her jewelry brand, GiGi (gigibyjeanne.com), available locally at Cha and Mary Jane’s. The handcrafted pieces run $45 to $60 for bracelets, $50 to $100 for earrings, and $50 to $200 for necklaces. Johnson uses materials such as semiprecious stones, Swarovski crystals and pearls, and sterling silver to create jewelry that makes a statement, from interchangeable bracelets to 8-foot-long necklaces.
