10 minute read

Marisa Mason Jewelry

STAR-STUDDED STAPLE

> No wardrobe is complete without a versatile leather jacket or two. For an easy, classic day look, I love to pair them with jeans, sneakers, a tee-shirt and a casual bag or layer your leather over a dress for an evening out. Add some jewelry, a small clutch bag and a great pair of heels and voila - you're ready to go!

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MAKE MINE CASUAL WITH A SIDE OF BLING

> Santa Barbara living is so conducive to casual dressing. Most days, my go-to is a good pair of denim and a soft sweater layered over a perfect tee. I sometimes elevate a casual look by adding accessories like this studded headband, glittery sneakers or crystal cuff. They provide the perfect finishing touch.

DUDS FOR DUDES

> Our menswear store within a store includes a full range of clothing accessories and lifestyle goods. It's a big hit with the men who shop it and the ladies who come in to buy for the guys in their lives. And it's a win-win for couples who enjoy engaging in a little retail therapy together!

"I wanted to build a place where women of all ages and shapes could feel heard, secure and leave feeling better about themselves." Erica Brown on the inspiration behind Dylan Star

GUEST EDITOR

Erica Brown, the owner of Dylan Star, infuses both fun and functionality into the shopping experience at her clothing and lifestyle boutiques. Both locations - one in the heart of the Funk Zone and the other in downtown Santa Barbara's Paseo Nuevo shopping mall - are brimming with a diverse trove of on-trend goods, including women's and men's clothing, accessories, gifts and lifestyle items.

According to Erica, creating an environment that boosts a customer's confidence when they look in the mirror is a top priority for her and the team of in-house stylists. The team also has a reputation for routinely converting even the most skeptical of shoppers, um, especially those who frequent the men’s department, if you catch our drift. Dylan Star also hosts private parties for up to ten guests if you fancy shopping with friends. And speaking of parties, the Funk Zone location often hosts parking lot events with pop-ups and live music.

There's so much to discover at Dylan Star - looks for everything from dressing for a day of wine tasting or winding down at home to beachy days or business meetings. Here, Erica shares a small sampling of her favorite seasonal finds that embody effortless Santa Barbara style.

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS

> We are big on gift-giving around here and can always find a good reason to pick up a goodie for a friend, co-worker or family member! That's why all sorts of giftable items - candles, jewelry, cards, housewares, decor items and more - are sprinkled throughout the store.

Where the south of France meets the American Riviera

3823 SANTA CLAUS LANE CARPINTERIA 805.318.9275

@CASSIS.COLLECTIVE

HELLO

911 STATE ST., SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101 TEL. 805.564.0004

footwear that is intentionally simple, purposefully timelessness, consciously crafted and super stylish. 24 East Mason Street, 805. 456.9798, seavees.com

shineUp

When it comes to classic West Coast style with a side of Santa Barbara, look no further than this Funk Zone one-stop shop for men and women. Quality-crafted clothing, shoes, accessories and lifestyle goods at affordable prices abound. And, owner and stylist, Dina Murillo, is typically on-hand to guide customers to a fashionable place that feels authentic. 14 Helena Avenue, 805.869.2414, shine-up.com

THE SHOPKEEPERS

The Shopkeepers occupies a hot corner spot adjacent to the Funk Zone’s best restaurants and tasting rooms. It’s home to the Waxing Poetic flagship store and an eclectic mix of highend clothing, accessories, housewares and general amusements. 137 Anacapa Street, 805.883.3122, shopkeeperssb.com

tileco

From Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo to Ventura and locations in between, this familyowned premier tile and stone company, has got the Central Coast covered. Tileco imports the finest ceramic, porcelain, marble, travertine and other natural stone materials and provides design services, consultations, samples, sketches and even site visits to help get the job done. 7 North Nopal, 805.564.1868, tilecodist.com

Waterhouse Gallery

Established in 1984, the Waterhouse Gallery represents some of the finest painters by leading California and Santa Barbara artists, many of whom are members of the California Art Club and Oil Painters of America. Waterhouse Gallery also specializes in figurative and urban cityscape paintings by nationally known masters. 1114 State Street #9, 805.962.8885

whistle club

Located in the heart of Montecito on Coast Village Road, Whistle Club showcases a tightly curated assortment of women’s apparel, accessories and gifts from a thoughtful selection of emerging designers and industry favorites. This locals' favorite boutique offers a premium shopping experience with a distinct focus on quality, integrity and design. 1235 Coast Village Road, 805.565.2800, whistleclub.com

WILDfloWER WOMEN

This artfully-curated boutique houses a covetable collection of clothing, accessories, and lifestyle goods for women, babies and girls. With multiple store locations - one in the Santa Ynez Valley wine tasting hot spot of Los Olivos, another in Santa Maria, and the latest in Pismo Beach, you can shop your way up the Central Coast. Shop premium denim from Paige, Mother Denim, and Joe's, boots and bags from Frye, cashmere from Subtle Luxury, and Repeat Cashmere and more. 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, 805.697.7377, wildflowerwomenboutique.com

THOSE WHO HAVE YET to discover

the wonders of Marisa Mason Jewelry located in downtown

Santa Barbara's Arlington Plaza are in for a delightful treat. The showroom and boutique, replete with beautiful hand-plastered walls (by the designer herself), antique display tables sourced from her father's Montecito-based antique gallery and displays constructed by her woodworker husband, is exquisitely populated with not only her eponymous collection of hand-hewn, brass, silver and gold creations but also a melange of other artisan jewelry, accessory and lifestyle collections.

With a strong aesthetic in her DNA (more on that in the Q and A), Marisa Mason is no stranger to good design. This interior designer turned self-taught, advocational jewelry maker and now career jeweler has built a solid brand that effortlessly weaves a soulful thread of themes into a diverse yet cohesive assortment of both fine and more affordable fashion jewelry. Read on to learn about Marisa Mason's full circle back to Santa Barbara, her love of all things handmade, the beauty of owning a small business and more.

Tell us a bit about yourself and the origin story of Marisa Mason Jewelry.

I grew up here in Santa Barbara with small business owning parents and always had the idea that I would start my own business. About 11 years ago, I started my jewelry line on a shoestring with no formal training and very little money! I had a tiny open studio in Oakland's Temescal Alley that acted as a type of retail store as well. I loved what I was doing, worked round the clock, and fairly quickly, we hit our stride.

What inspires and informs your design aesthetic and motifs?

I grew up as the daughter of an antique dealer here in town (Michael Haskell), and our house was filled with design books and antiquities. I always loved the character, textures and imperfection of so many of these handmade objects and the story they told. I think that informed my aesthetic growing up.

How do you go about curating other designers and goods to sit beside your collection?

I love finding outside designers who are doing something unique and outside of my personal area of design practice. I love curating the balance that can come from pairing one-of-a-kind, handmade items alongside everyday staples and easy giftable goods. Jewelry stores can feel formal and uninviting, and we are creating a casual environment in which folks feel at ease shopping.

What new designs or collections are you excited to introduce into the mix right now?

I am really excited about expanding my fine jewelry collection, engagement and wedding offerings. For outside lines I am loving Celine Daoust. Her jewelry integrates gorgeous unique stones with symbolic, one-of-a-kind designs that are even more stunning on. Clients have been excited about our permanent jewelry offerings as well - gold chain bracelets and anklets welded on- delicate with no clasps!

It seems you've come full circle, having grown up in Santa Barbara, spending time away and now planting your roots here. What drew you back to the area?

We have two young daughters and wanted to raise them near family, in a place where they can play outside and go a whole day without wearing shoes. My husband and I love trail running, surfing, and generally being outdoors, so coming back home has been a dream.

What is the best part of owning a local business in downtown SB?

I love our location- we are surrounded by incredible small businesses and have a view of the historic Arlington Theatre. The beauty and ease of being in our neighborhood rubs off on you, and our clientele always seems to be in a great mood!

1324 STATE STREET, SUITE C 805.708.0398 • MARISAMASON.COM

CLOCKWISE FROM UPPER LEFT: Sun, moon and sapphire coin necklace; the owner/designer in her showroom boutique; wide brim felt fedora; a sampling of the fine jewelry selection; brass serpent stud earrings; grey diamond slice ring; leather pouch wallet; men's 18k gold bands

FROM STARK WHITE & SOFT ECRU TO WARM SAND, NEUTRALS STAND-OUT WITH EYE-CATCHING DETAILS

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To The MAX To The MAX

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MORE IS MORE , SO PILE ON THE COLOR, TEXTURE AND PATTERN!!

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THESE TRIANGLE PATTERENED TILES ARE ANYTHING BUT SQUARE

THIS SEASON WE ARE TOTALLY EMBRACING LAYERS OF TEXTURE AND PATTERN, BLENDING NEUTRALS WITH COLOR TO CREATE A RICH MIX OF GLOBAL GOODNESS 4

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WOODY WOVEN DETAILS ARE SPRINGING-UP FROM FLOOR TO CEILING THIS SEASON.

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MIX IT UP! ENRICH YOUR SPACE WITH TOUCHES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

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sweet on subtle? tonal textures are heavy on style, yet still feel light and easy.

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add a pop of drama with darker accents throughout your home - indoors AND out!

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1. Ceramic butterfly, J. Woeste in Los Olivos. jwoeste.com 2. Tile, Tileco. tilecodist.com 3. Candles & 4. Table cloth, Folly. @ follyhome 5. Ceramic statue, J. Woeste in Los Olivos. jwoeste.com 6. Candle, Riviera Towel Co. rivieratowel.com 7. Pillows, The Fabric Merchant. thefabricmerchantco.com 8. Candle, The Shopkeepers. theshopkeeperssb.com 9. Book, The Crafter's Library. thecrafterslibrary.com 10. Sideboard & 11. Tray, Celedon House. celadonhouse.com 12. 3-D puzzle, The Crafter's Library. thecrafterslibrary.com 13. Rug, Bijou. bijouonthepark.com 14. Chair & 15. Mirror, Celedon House. celadonhouse. com 16. Tile inspiration, Tileco. tilecodist.com 17. Picnic basket, Bijou. bijouonthepark.com 18. Woven pendant, Celedon House. celadonhouse.com 19. Throws, Riviera Towel Co. rivieratowel.com 20. Porcelain vessels, J. Woeste in Los Olivos. jwoeste.com

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