Love Stories - Christie Chu

Woman seated on bed in a curtained canopy, wearing off-the-shoulder blue top, high-waist jeans, and necklacesOccupation?

Arts and culture writer, designer.

Woman seated with crossed legs wearing stacked rings and a gold cuff and high-waisted rolled jeans in a cozy indoor setting
Where do you reside?

NYC!

Large pale-blue painting above a cluttered desk, flanked by two tall stacks of books in a bright home officeWhat’s it like living and creating in the city you come from?

You grow up fast when you grow up in New York. I left to study abroad for high school and university. It was refreshing to come back after 7 years away because you experience the city in a different way and you appreciate it more. There is so much going on all the time, old and new friends pass through. The energy is unlike any other city. New York has long been a place of artists and it’s exciting to be a part of that cultural aspect of the city.

Woman sitting on a sunlit apartment windowsill looking out over a city streetAre there always inspirations?

Yes, definitely.

Angled view of a wrist wearing stacked silver cuffs with a tiger-eye stone, resting on a gray fabric sofaIf so does that correlate to a nostalgia?

Sometimes. Familiarity is something we can connect with. But in terms of design, looking towards the future while considering the past is what I’m interested in. It’s the antagonistic nature of things that draw me in.

Shop Tiger's Eye Meridian Cuff

Angled view of assorted Pamela Love jewelry on stacked wood showing a tiger eye gold cuff, rings, and earrings on a neutral backgroundDo you feel like jewelry can be nostalgic?

Yes, jewelry can be nostalgic. It is historically the oldest form of adornment.

What I find fascinating about jewelry is that it can be handed down from generation to generation. I see so many compelling pieces of jewelry on my friends that were given to them by their mother or grandmother. I myself treasure those few pieces handed down from the women in my family. There can be an immediate and intimate connection between the wearer and the piece of jewelry.

Shop The Essentials

Woman lying on a gray couch covering her face with her hands, wearing multiple rings and cuff bracelets, pink pillow behind her headWho are your favorites when it comes to designers of the craft?

Georg Jensen has a heritage and quality that can’t be matched.

Person standing barefoot on a cream shag rug with black abstract lines in a light wood-floored hallwayIs there a time and place for jewelry? Or what’s your motto on wearing jewelry?

I wear a thin gold necklace and my Georg Jensen Torun bracelet everyday. There are no rules or regulations. 

Woman kneeling and flipping vinyl records beside a floor lamp, wearing gold bangles and jeans in a warm-lit roomCurrently listening to?

I’m always in the mood for some 80’s synth pop. Right now I’m revisiting Heaven 17’s album The Luxury Gap.

Christie Chu leaning in a doorway in a sheer black top and beige skirt; close-up of her hand with gold cuff and rings over jeans

You are currently assisting PL-Any new concepts?

It’s exciting to observe the creative process. They have such a strong vision, I feel lucky to be able to witness and play a part in how things come into fruition. We are beginning to plan for the S/S 17 collection. It’s shaping into a lot of negative space and organic shapes, natch.

Woman standing on a window ledge in a bright industrial loft living room with large grid windows, sofa, and coffee tableNecklace or bracelet?

Both.

Woman touching her ear to show layered gold earrings and rings by a window with soft natural lightSilver or Gold?

Both. The best scenario is when they are combined.

Shop Machina Earrings

Woman in sheer long-sleeve top reading a book seated on a purple geometric blanket, wearing gold rings and a wrap watchFavorite PL collection?

Aspirational answer would be her fine jewelry. But I love her new silver and tiger’s eye collection.

Woman adjusting an earring while looking into a mirror in a softly lit room, wearing a sheer black top and cuff braceletStyle muses?

Rihanna and Audrey Hepburn. They both embody the times they live and lived in, respectively.

Woman reclining on a gray sofa, gazing toward a window in a softly lit living roomFavorite fashion designers?

Rei Kawakubo, Issey Miyake, Miuccia Prada, Dries Van Noten, Phoebe Philo. They all possess an enduring vision.

Photography by Jason Ross Savage
Interview by Cassi Gibson

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