Lana Fertelmeister *Photo courtesy of Lana Jewelry

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Chicago Style: Lana Fertelmeister, Designer and CEO of Lana Jewelry

A bona fide fashion phenom in her hometown of Chicago, Lana started her line of lightweight gold and dynamic diamond jewelry as a token of affection for the love of her life Rob Bramlette, over three years ago. Today, Lana's gold creations have graced the ear's and neck's of Hollywood's most coveted celebrities like Cameron Diaz, Angelina Jolie and Sandra Bullock and sell in over 100 specialty boutiques (think Fred Segal in LA, Distractions in Aspen, Helen Yi in Chicago, and Blue & Cream in East Hampton) and department stores nationwide, including Neiman Marcus, making woman, not only in Chicago, but Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Vegas, Scottsdale and Beverly Hills drip in gold and feel sexy doing it. We caught up with the busy designer to give us the inside look at her company Lana Jewelry, find out her favorite shops worldwide (she would know - she's jetsetting to new stores just about every month) and what's a true clothing addiction for her...

FACTIO MAGAZINE: Give us an inside look at your company, Lana Jewelry.
LANA FERTELMEISTER: I have been in the fashion industry for half my life in almost every aspect, I began designing and selling my apparel line about 6 years ago and then followed into fine jewelry, which is what I have become known for.  It is a joy to design in gold and diamonds,.. I mean really…my life is good!  Before my collection came out, I simply was not attracted to fine jewelry. It was intimidating, expensive and definitely not sexy. I felt that no one was designing for me or now my clients.  As a designer I thought, well if I can’t find what I am looking for… then a lot of people like me would want it too.  When my first collection came out in 2003, it really resonated with a lot of woman, who understood that many elements of luxury can be attainted and it did not have to be flashy, but elegant and sexy.  In three years, we are now in close to 100 stores nationwide, including Neiman Marcus.  It has been an incredible journey and none of it has come easy. It is hard work, mixed in with determination and a lot of heart. The jewelry has really been embraced by the world’s most famous and beautiful woman, who I proudly call my clients. Our company has been recognized and respected by fashion’s and business elite and I get to work with the people I love like my dad and my boyfriend Rob everyday. It really is a dream come true.

FM: Describe your signature style.
LF: I hope it is first and foremost tasteful, cool and sexy.

FM: What are your favorite shops worldwide? 
LF: Selfridges and Harvey Nic’s (Nichols) in London, Sonia Rykiel in Paris, Verve,
Rubin Chapelle, and ABC Carpet in NYC, Fred Segal and Paper Bag Princess in Los Angeles, Forty Five Ten in Dallas, Helen Yi, Krista K in Chicago and of course Neiman Marcus anywhere and anytime, ok… I am not going to pretend, everyone who knows me knows my favorite store is also Loehmann’s… there I said it.

FM: Where are some of your favorite places to travel and what do you always pick up for your wardrobe?
LF: I love to travel to Miami, Aspen, ST. Barths, NYC, Israel and London.  I always pack and buy jeans from all over the world- it is like an obsession. And, I have this other passion for buying perfume from every new place I visit (CosaBar in Aspen is great!), I have A LOT of perfume, and when I wear it I remember the place and time, I love that. 

FM: What are you always on the hunt for?
LF: Vintage Missoni, it is an addiction…

FM: What are some of the designer staples we’d find in your closet?
LF: Missoni, Gucci, Ungaro, Catherine Malandrino, Prada, and jeans of all flavors from Paige Denim to Levi’s. 

FM: What women and men (from which city worldwide) have great style and why? 
LF: That is really a hard question, because I don’t think of stylish people on the bases of their region really.  I think of them as simply stylish in their right time like Ali McGraw and Cher in the 70’s. Brigitt Bardot, Catherine Denevue, Kate Moss, Charlize Theron, Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz and Michelle Pfieffer.  What all of these woman have in common is incredible strength, power, sexuality and self assurance that makes them super stylish all the time over the world.  There are a few men that have wonderful style too, Tom Ford, Georgio Armani, Pierce Bronson, George Clooney and my boyfriend Rob… but as a city, I think Miami is the sexiest because of all the cultures and weather.  Chicago to me is a great fashion town too, with beautiful woman who have a lot of grace and sophistication when they dress, they aren’t always trying to hard and going over the top, and that is so refreshing.

FM: Do you think money and style go hand in hand or can style never be bought? Is it something you just have?
LF: Style actually can be bought, a.k.a. Nicole Richie, however the way you carry that style something the French call “ je ne sais quoi” or “charm” can NEVER be bought, not with all the money in the world.  In Russia, where I was born, I learned very early on about style from my mother and how to carry yourself, and what it means to buy a few pieces that are incredible quality and wear them forever with your head held high, it was never about access, but about quality and that is quite stylish.

FM: What does global style mean to you?
LF: Not sure?  There is not a global style; everyone thankfully has a style of their own in the world.

FM: What would people be most surprised to know about you?
LF: That I love to sing. I secretly want to sing in a smoky lounge, just like Michelle Pfeiffer in the “Fabulous Baker Boys” and that for almost half my life I was a pretty decent figure skater.

FM: Did you know when you founded Lana Jewelry that the company would rise to the success that it has?
LF: Not this quickly, I mean you dream every night about the possibility, but for it to come into a reality is incredible, but I am very honest with myself on what this all means, as a designer you are only as good as your present collection, so the pressure is on… I have not even scratched the surface… there is so much more to do. 

FM: What business advice and inspiration can you give to entrepreneurs?
LF: Fear is the only thing that stops anyone from achieving anything.  I can tell you this, I am not afraid to fail and I am certainly not too afraid of hearing “no” or getting a rejection. It just goes in one ear and out the other and I move on.  And once you get to that place, a leap into making something happen for yourself becomes a reality.  Madonna once said “Power is an aphrodisiac and I am a very powerful person, my drive in life is from this horrible fear of being mediocre”.  That is very inspiring to me and believe me no one wants to be mediocre, everyone has something to offer.

FM: What tips would you give women and men in general to be well rounded, balancing out life and business?
LF: Oh, I don’t know if I am the expert enough to give such high advice. Not sure if I am yet that well rounded and balanced myself. It is a lesson that I am learning everyday.  I do live by a firm rule in by own business, I don’t do business with people I do not like, I don’t think it is always about the money.  Ethics, character and values must all be in place when my business is involved.   I work out, I try to do a selfish thing once a month, like get a massage or shop with girlfriends, and I make sure to kiss and hug those I love as much as possible.

FM: Where do you see the brand and yourself in five years?
LF: I see Lana Jewelry expanding into the global market and opening our first flagship store. The brand will expand in all kinds of luxury items. And finally, I hope that I will become a parent and make my family and life complete.

Check out the jewelry at www.lanajewelry.com.

- Interview by Melissa Maynard, editor-in-chief/founder Factio-magazine.com.