Time to sparkleHere's something to talk about: The upscale costume jewelry from Sequin New York has become a staple on "Gossip Girl" this season.
The line is the creation of Minnesota sisters Linda and Kim Renk, who grew up in Winona. (Kim currently lives in New York, where the line is based, while Linda commutes weekly from Minneapolis.)
Before starting their company, which has boutiques in Palm Beach, Fla., Newport, R.I., and Chicago, Linda worked in product development at Target and Kim created costume jewelry. In addition to their own label, the sisters work behind the scenes to create jewelry for the high-end label Badgley Mischka as well as Target, Kohl's and Cache.
About two years ago, the Renk sisters fell for the show "Gossip Girl" and sent a package to the show's costume department. Since then, they've developed a relationship with costume designer Eric Daman as well as some of the stars of the show. Kelly Rutherford (who plays Lily van der Woodsen) came to their showroom.
"She's the exact opposite of her Upper East Side snob character -- approachable and down-to-Earth," said Linda. Other celebrities, including Christina Hendricks from "Mad Men," also have stopped by.
The Renks credit their success to a diverse client base. "We started at the high end with Henri Bendel and Anthropologie, but Kohl's was our third client. It's a democratic approach to fashion," said Linda.
On Thursday, you'll be able to accessorize like the stars of "Gossip Girl" for a fraction of the price. That's when the Renks will be holding their annual sample sale, exclusively in the Twin Cities.
According to Linda, you'll find offerings from the current fall and holiday season, including pearls at all price points and bangle bracelets. "They're an ageless gift -- women who are 16 and women who are 60 like them," said Linda.
