Designer Sarah Hendler in her new jewelry showroom on Beverly Boulevard PHOTO BY SAM FROST
Sarah Hendler’s by-appointment jewelry showroom is a welcoming, laid-back and layered gem—just like her.
Sarah Hendler’s pavé spear lariat necklace with a round enamel toggle closure can also be worn as a bracelet. PHOTO BY SAM FROST
Sarah Hendler is a lot of things, but singularly focused is not one of them. When I visit her several months ago, the petite powerhouse is spinning with activity. As she shows off her first space—a by-appointment showroom set back behind a gate on Beverly Boulevard—she bounces from one topic to the next. Her son calls and they chat about his birthday plans for later that day. We discuss a lot of things before getting to the main topic, including expansion plans for Jon & Vinny’s—the beloved Italian restaurant run by her husband, Vinny Dotolo, and his partner, John Shook—the pandemic, her favorite Rachel Comey jeans, summer travel plans and a whole lot more. It’s chaotic and exciting and so much fun, and it all adds up to the wonderful world that is Sarah Hendler.
Hendler worked with production designer Ruth De Jong on her new showroom STUDIO PHOTO BY SAM FROST
Hendler, who is originally from Long Island, launched her eponymous fine jewelry line in 2016 during Paris Fashion Week, and since then, the brand has organically grown to become a go-to for celebs (Kristen Bell, Michelle Williams, Emily Blunt and more) and for clients seeking eye-catching pieces with a cool edge. Retailers like Goop and Moda Operandi carry her pieces—and some are carried at Th e Great. and Alchemy Works —but this is the first time the designer, who also curates estate jewelry, has created her own shoppable world. “I think the intimacy of being able to come in and look at the jewelry one-on-one and not have a lot of distractions works better for me,” says Hendler about deciding to open a by-appointment showroom instead of a standalone retail store. “I think it’s the wave of the future.”
The 10 point diamond cuff JEWELRY PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
In addition to her fine and estate jewelry collections, the showroom—designed in collaboration with Hendler’s good friend, production designer Ruth De Jong— offers an interesting mix of vintage clothing (dresses from Liberty House, perfectly worn gray sweatshirts and more), artwork and design books, all in a cozy, warm space filled with vintage furniture (lots found at Round Top) and for-sale decor, like pottery she found on Orcas Island. Curation is what Hendler wants to focus on going forward, although she’s not planning to stop designing her own pieces. “I’m definitely designing still, but I want to keep it at a slow, good, healthy pace for balance,” she says.
The Shirley spear cocktail earrings are made with semiprecious gemstones and white diamonds. JEWELRY PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
A jewelry case at the showroom displays all sorts of goodies JEWELRY PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
For now, the space is open for anyone interested in making an appointment, whether that be a group of moms, a stylist pulling looks for a client or an individual wanting to treat him or herself. “People can buy off my website or off Instagram,” says Hendler, “but to be able to walk into something that I’ve created—to go beyond Instagram or my website—is really special.” sarahhendler.com
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