What would Lee Radziwill wear today? It’s not a question most of us ask ourselves when getting dressed in the morning, but for vintage curator and founder of the jewelry brand Juju Vera, Julia “Juju” Ferentinos, it’s a frequent consideration—a source of inspiration for her own style.
With her signature kaftans and tasseled earrings, the impeccably dressed Radziwill is just one of a handful of women whose refined elegance has shaped Juju’s penchant for well-crafted essentials and unique adornments that evoke a sense of emotion. The worldly wardrobes of Marella Agnelli, Jacqueline de Ribes, Peggy Guggenheim, and Frida Kahlo also inform her everyday looks—and it’s this admiration for style icons of a bygone era that defines her taste. “These were women who always had an effortless confidence and elegance about them—a signature and an individual style,” she says of her fascination with these particular figures.
Before launching her jewelry brand last summer, Juju honed her eye by sourcing vintage pieces for films, publications, and private clients around the world, regularly frequenting the Saint-Ouen flea markets in Paris, the Lagunilla booths in Mexico City, and small specialty second-hand stores in Brera, Milan. “I was building a collection of timeless treasures that were always centered around proportion, mystery, and nostalgia,” she says of the pieces she’s drawn to. Given her love of the hunt, it should come as little surprise that each piece Juju gravitates toward—not to mention designs—tells a story.
Whether it’s a treasured tasseled Rafael Sanchez golden egg-shaped clutch, a prized vintage tweed Chanel jacket picked up in Copenhagen, or a simple black cashmere turtleneck from J.Crew that serves as a blank canvas for her bold jewelry creations, there’s always an element of discovery—and a wink to the past—in how she dresses.
There’s an art to wearing vintage in a way that feels current, and Juju effortlessly bridges past and present with a true high-low approach. She turns to high-street and contemporary labels like Leset and Éterne for elevated everyday staples, The Row and Khaite for impeccably tailored pieces and quality leather goods that stand the test of time—then seamlessly pairs these with her cherished vintage finds and her own jewelry designs. “Women in the past used to adorn themselves. I feel like we lost some of that magic along the way, and I want to bring that subtle romance back,” she says.
