Lulu Frost: All in the Family
by Anita Sarko
 |
| "Bits and Pieces." These are samples being worked on that might become part of the permanent collection. |
Despite the name, there's nothing even remotely frosty about Lisa Salzer, the talented brainy beauty behind the buzzed-about jewelry line, Lulu Frost. The All-American Blonde is so warm, positive and upbeat, she seems more the bubbly cheerleader/ sorority girl type than the Ivy League-educated astute businesswoman she actually is.
Off I went to her sunny spacious LES studio. Within the VERY organized chaos of trays upon trays of necklaces, bracelets and earrings settled around stylish furniture, the first thing that caught my eye was what designers call an Inspiration Board. Lisa followed my gaze to the collage of cut-out images of clothing, accessories and models from fashion magazines on one side of the board, alongside drawings of jewelry on the other side and pointed out a blurry color-streaked photo of a thatched roof, under which people sat and stood amongst wooded tables and chairs. She explained that it was a picture Billy took in Tulum, on Mexico's Gulf Coast. “This was our first trip. It was our test.” She said, smiling. “It ended up with great jewelry: Very spiritual and African. It was inspired by nature, Victorian trade beads found at the 26th St. flea market and the happiness of new love.“ (Aw-w-w ...) And, thus, the Lulu Frost Tribal Collection came to be. How the name came to be was through Lisa's family nickname (“Lulu”) coupled with her maternal grandmother's last name. Elizabeth Frost managed Barbara Park's Park Place Estate Jewelry store in New Hope, PA. Though Lisa grew up in Huntington, LI, weekends were spent visiting her grandmother, who gifted the women in her family with deco and nouveau jewelry on holidays and birthdays. “That's what I mean when I say I grew up around antique jewelry.” |
 |
| TULUM, MEXICO. The photo from the trip and by the man that inspired the LULU FROST TRIBAL COLLECTION (photo: Billy Farrell). |
 |
| Printing drawers containing old found materials. |
| After graduating from Dartmouth College in 2004, where she studied art history and studio arts, Salzer completed the summer Bridge Program at the Tuck School of Business. “This rigorous training mentally prepared me and gave me the skills I needed to create Lulu Frost because it taught me business basics, such as Excel, accounting, marketing strategy and corporate finance.” Her admiration for the design and business genius of jewelry designer Philip Crangi inspired her to create different lines at various price points to appeal to different markets. |
 |
| Lisa's INSPIRATION BOARD with drawings of NEW COLLECTION. |
| “Diversification is the key to a sound business strategy and Philip has admirably done just that.” Following this philosophy, Lisa created not only the Lulu Frost collection, but also a men's collection called Johnny Frost (“that does really well in Japan”) and a lower-priced limited edition children's line made of “little found bits,” Little Lulu. Salzer's mom, Linda, came aboard as her buyer and spends weekends going to dealers. Trays and drawers are bursting with her finds. Besides Victorian shoe buckles and watch fobs lay liquor tag necklaces (“These sell really well at Fred Siegel”) and the original 1907 bronze numbers and letters from the room doors of the Plaza Hotel. Found at an architectural salvage shop, the Salzers bought 2,500 of them. “There are so many reasons why these are our best sellers: Lucky numbers, kid's birthdays, initials ... We've done endless variations.” |
 |
 |
|
| L. to r.: Lapis Seaglass and Amber Deco Necklace - $600; Bone and Amber Deco Necklace - $525. Available at Blue Tree, 91st and Madison Ave New York. |
| These former room indicators also led to a DKNY campaign celebrating Karan's 20th anniversary. Salzer was commissioned to create necklaces with the number “20,” the letters “DKNY”, as well as “PLAZA 20” (“to represent New York, Donna and The Plaza”) for both DKNY's Bryant Park runway show during Fashion Week and their Spring 2009 advertising campaign. Other collaborations have been with Alexander Wang, for his runway show several years ago, and with the infamous eyeglass/optician/optometrist diva Selima Salaun on a line of headbands, cocktail hats and turbinis called “Mini Millinery,” that recently debuted with a trunk show at Fred Siegel in LA. “I would like to explore all markets in the jewelry world, from large scale projects, like the line I recently created for Urban Outfitters, to my burgeoning fine jewelry line, Frost Fine Jewelry.” |
 |
| Clockwise from above: Tulum green long bib necklace - $360; Tulum deco earrings - $380; Tulum teal bib necklace - $430. All available at Bergdorf Goodman. |
 |
 |
|
| L. to r.: Tulum sterling bib necklace - $430; Tulum black long collage necklace - $550. Both available at Bergdorf Goodman. |
| Salzer's exceptional work has already been recognized by some heavy hitter trendcasters. She won the GenArt Best New Accessory Designer Award in 2005, has recently been selected as one of “The Vogue 100,” which identifies women throughout the country making an impact in their fields, and, this Spring, was named by “Glamour” magazine as one of their 70 “eco-heroes” for her work in creating sustainable jewelry. Lisa's next collection is taking shape on the aforementioned Inspiration Board. “These are close to the body with sharp pieces. They are less soft and tactile and more intense and geometric. They are about protection because we're living in anxious times.” |
 |
| Clockwise from above: From Classic Lulu Frost Collection: Victorian Cut Steel Button Earrings - $330, available at Plaza Too, Hudson Street, NY; Plaza Number Necklace - $300; Sage and black Vintage Collage Necklaces - $840. All available at Bergdorf Goodman. |
 |
 |
|
| Cut Steel Cuff Bracelet - $595 each; Art Deco Bracelets - $400 each. Available at Bergdorf Goodman. |
| On a far lighter note, Salzer has developed an interest in working within the bridal market. “I want to create gorgeous headpieces and jewelry for both brides and bridesmaids to continue in the tradition of 'something old, something new'. After all, the entire concept of Lulu Frost is reinterpreting the traditional into the modern while honoring the past.” Ahhh ... love IS in the air ... |
 |
 |
|
| Heart Necklace ($140); Blue Ladybug Necklace ($140). From the LITTLE LULU COLLECTION. This is the lower priced line and made from vintage Czechoslovakian glass. Available at Vert & Vogue in Durham, NC or through Lulu Frost directly (212.965.0075). |
 |
 |
|
| Also from the LITTLE LULU COLLECTION: Yellow Floral Drop Earrings ($115); Ivy Drop Earrings ($115). |
Bookmark this page
E-mail to a Friend