Monica Rich Kosann is a master of mixed mediums: a jewelry designer by trade, but a storyteller at heart. She created her second collection of compacts and gifts exclusively for Estée Lauder this year, inspired by a visit to Hearst Castle in California. “If you walk around, it has all these exquisite statues of sea life, sky life, the heavens, and an indoor pool completely filled with mosaics from top to bottom,” she explains. “What always struck me about this is that if you were so lucky as to dive into this pool, you dove into the sky. And then if you floated on your back to look up at the ceiling, it was everything from the sea. So what I did with this collection was merge the sky and the ocean together.”
Hidden within each piece is an inspirational quote reflective of the item itself. “I’m all about storytelling, and every piece tells some sort of a story,” Kosann says. “You powder your nose and you look inside and see this quote, and it gives you a little kick in your step.”
Click through to hear straight from Kosann even more reasons why you’ll want to add these collectibles to your vanity.
Beautiful Love Locket Necklace
What is done in love is done well.
“I had to do some jewelry of course. I couldn’t resist. I love lockets; I think they’re sexy. They’re a little secret message holder that contains something only the wearer knows. In this particular case, it’s perfume. It’s a conversation piece and an element of surprise. I love the idea of carrying perfume in a locket, because I open it up and smell it all the time. It’s a nice pick-me-up during the day.”
Beautiful Whimsical Fish
All good things are wild and free.
“He is our cute little fish. Think about on how many levels this quote is true. It’s about life and how we live our lives—how we should be able to do what we want and feel good about ourselves. I love the fact that he’s blue, because the turquoise is symbolic of the water. I wanted to make it so that you pick up his face to open him. He’s supposed to make you laugh. The red cabochon eye makes him stand out and gives him personality.”
Lady of the Sea
We know what we are, but know not how we may be.
“The whole idea is she’s coming from the sky and is diving into the pool, and you can see all the tiles at the bottom of it. It’s like the three-dimensional going into the two-dimensional. I love the details; I love how her diamond tail is the push that opens the compact. And the quote explains that we are what we are, but our potential is limitless.”
Modern Muse Dancing Starfish
You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star.
“Now a starfish is not normally these colors. But he’s this whimsical, jiggly character—all of the legs move. I took inspiration from the night sky and all of the gases in the air that make it light up. All of the ruby cabochons are inspired by fire opals. This takes the evening sky and puts it into this magical sea creature.”
Modern Muse Shimmering Sea Urchin
A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
“I see this sitting on a woman’s dressing table. That’s why I made it white on white—I wanted it to look like a little jewel. A really romantic, beautiful piece for a nightstand or cosmetics table.”
Sea Goddess Mirror
It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.
“Every woman needs a good mirror. What I love about this one is that it’s a regular mirror on one side and a magnified mirror on the other. Every woman needs this in her purse so you can see if you have spinach in your teeth after lunch. And I love this quote. It’s all about how you see yourself.”
Swan Dreams Compact
I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.
“A swan normally swims down below the water, but here he’s merging with the sky. It’s something that’s very dreamlike and fantasy-driven. We can’t go back in time—whatever life is, it is. But there are certain things that are a constant in our lives: the sun comes up, the moon rises at night. You look at the stars, and it makes you dream. It makes you feel good. And in my mind, it’s just a reminder that life goes on. I love the idea of the fantasy of the swan flying in the sky, and the dark crystals are supposed to represent the night, while the clear ones represent the water.”
Modern Muse Golden Fish Necklace
You are not a drop in the ocean, you are the entire ocean in a drop.
“I had to make him move. He kind of squiggles. He’s one of my favorites. The best way I can describe him is to say that this is the piece that I’m going to wear. What I like about fish is that they only swim forward. Think about it: They don’t swim backward. So to me, they represent hope, looking forward and persevering. And I love this fish for Estée Lauder because it’s just cool, elegant and super chic. It has all of the elements of a great piece of jewelry: it moves, it has meaning, and it holds a secret.”
Pleasures Exotic Bird
He who has self-confidence will lead the rest.
“This bird is definitely sassy. She’s sort of a phantasmagorical, made-up thing. If you walk around Hearst Castle, there are statues of all these exotic birds, and so I decided to create this crazy bird that has diamonds on her beak, and she’s wearing pearls and a locket and a diamond necklace, standing on a hat box. She’s very fashionable. I took her and dressed her up to go out.”