JCK - JCK Asks... Alex Woo
Live: It’s the new chat board. Every Monday at 8 p.m. (EST), stylephiles take to Twitter to obsess over the outfits on The Carrie Diaries, The CW’s ’80s-set prequel to Sex and the City. On the premiere, young Carrie (AnnaSophia Robb) wore a sweet little gold “C” necklace—the precursor to SATC’s Carrie nameplate—which costume designer Eric Daman quickly ID’d via tweet as Alex Woo’s. “Carrie Bradshaw is a style icon,” says Woo. “I am thrilled that my Little Letter ‘C’ is speaking to such a big part of her character!” Not surprisingly, the prime-time placement has led to a bump in sales of the Little Letters. And we suspect it’s only the beginning for Woo, whose delicate jewels run the gamut from A to Z and beyond.
Number of years in the biz: 10
Family and pets: My husband and son
Describe your personal style Classic, modern, and bold. I like to pair the trends of the season with timeless pieces that really can be worn year after year.
The single piece of jewelry you’re most proud of: It’s like choosing a child—I don’t really like to play favorites. I love them all for different reasons.
First piece you ever designed: I was probably 8 years old or so. It was a two-tone pendant—silver and brass. I hand cut the metals with a saw and then made it shine on a polishing machine all by myself.
First job ever:Helping my dad sell jewelry during holiday weekends when I was in middle school.
How did you get started designing jewelry? My father is a master bench jeweler, so I was raised with a definite appreciation for gems, precious metals, and fine craftsmanship. But it wasn’t until I enrolled at Parsons to formally study jewelry design that I truly discovered my passion for it.
Jewelry you’re wearing right now: My Little Lotus in 14k yellow gold. I find myself always reaching for it when I need a little bit of peace.
Five items on your desk right now: iPhone; magazine(s); sketchbook; coffee; a photograph of my son. (When I look at that, it’s like a little moment of Zen.)
Exercise regimen: “Just Dance” on the Wii U—it’s my new enjoyment with my son.
What did you have for breakfast? A large coffee and a Chobani Greek yogurt.
Guilty pleasure: I love Top Chef! My favorite part is the Quickfire.
Drink (daytime/evening): Coffee and water are staples.
First website you check every day (not your own!): Gmail
If you weren’t designing jewelry, what would you be doing? I can’t imagine not being in the design industry. But if I had to choose, it would be something along the lines of a travel and food writer. It would be pretty amazing to be paid to travel the world, eat new food, and experience new cultures.
Favorite place you’ve visited: Morocco. I felt like I was traveling back in time, especially when I slept in a tent and rode a camel at sunset in the Sahara Desert.
Superstitious? I do believe in lucky talismans and in sentimental objects that hold meaning. My life path number is 8, and in the Chinese culture, 8 is also a very lucky number, so that is a number I wear often in my daily life. Speaking of lucky numbers… In 2011, a few Green Bay Packers bought my Double Numbers for their wives; the following year, a few of the NY Giants’ wives ordered their husbands’ numbers. And [Baltimore Ravens’ linebacker] Ray Lewis’ mom purchased my double numbers when I first launched the collection. So three years in a row family members of players who won the Super Bowl had purchased my numbers. Coincidence?
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