Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Designers: Tory Burch and Diane von Furstenberg.
Shops: Anthropologie, Nordstrom, and BCBGMAXAZRIA.
Splurge: Handbags.
Local Restaurant: Kemoll’s.
Best-Kept Secret in St. Louis: Creve Coeur Lake.
Hobbies: Biking and running.
Weekend Getaway: New York City.
Vacation Spot: Florence, Italy.
Dessert: Cookies and ice cream.
Musicians: Bon Iver and Mumford & Sons.
TV Show: New Girl.
Movie: The Pride & Prejudice version with Keira Knightley.
Blog: Atlantic-Pacific (atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com).
Comedians: Jimmy Fallon and Jerry Seinfeld.
Rule of Design: I only design what I would wear myself. It’s important to me to stay true to my own style and aesthetic.
Opinion of St. Louis Fashion: It’s not New York, but we’re getting there.
Inspiration: The little things in life.
Advice: Don’t be afraid to take a risk. Develop a thick skin, have a strong work ethic, and be patient and tenacious.
Living in the Present
In the months after her son was born, Jenny Present’s life took an unanticipated turn. After building a career as a proposal writer, she decided to find an occupation that allowed her to work from home, so she could spend time with her son. Making jewelry was always a hobby, and in 2008, she took it a step further by launching a jewelry line, jenny present (jennypresent.com). Since then, her personalized jewelry has appeared in publications including OK! and New York magazines. It’s now available both online and in boutiques across the country. Eventually, Present hopes to expand to other products, including handbags.
