Pop-up bringing vintage costume jewelry to Worth Avenue - Palm Beach Daily News
Part-time Palm Beachers Connie Kay and Judie Simkins have been collecting and selling costume jewelry for 25 years in pop-up shows in Philadelphia, New York and on the island.
There is still nothing like selling a piece of jewelry and seeing the woman’s reaction when she puts it on, Kay said.
“We enjoy making people happy,” she said. “When a woman buys a piece of jewelry, she’s happy.”
Kay and Simkins, who usually organize two pop-ups each year on the island, will be hosting the first this year from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Marco Cimmino, 209 Worth Ave.
The collection will feature jewelry from the 1920s to the 1990s including many rare Chanel pieces jewelry that the two women have collected.
When they’re not actively selling the jewelry, the women go on the hunt to boost their collection — from trade shows to flea markets to house sales — looking for signed pieces from top designers.
Kay and Simkins are collecting vintage, costume jewelry from the past, but they still have to stay on top of the latest trends to keep up with what their customers want.
Some of the most popular jewelry now includes necklaces, pendants and drop earrings. But they say, for example, back when Madeline Albright was secretary of state, pins were some of their hottest sellers.
Though they’re happy to see returning customers, they also like when tourists are just wandering by and come in to see what they have to offer at the pop-ups.
“We have our following, but we like the new faces,” Simkins said.
Even after two-and-a-half decades in the business, they don’t see themselves setting down in their own shop. Kay and Simkins like to be able to sell the jewelry at a price range from $150 to $2,500 and can because they don’t have the overhead costs of some stores.
They are planning a second pop-up in Palm Beach this year, but haven’t picked a date yet, Kay said.
