It just so happens that the Manhattan-based designer behind the pared-down, modern jewelry line Brvtvs pals around with some pretty creative girls. Caroline Ventura also, conveniently, has a model-esque appearance that comes in handy when there are lookbooks to be shot or portraits to be painted, and she’s more than happy to lend a hand—especially when it comes to supporting these three crazy-talented women. Inspired by the understated vibe of this work? Then you’ll be all over the bracelet that Caroline created for us in honor of our birthday month. Check it out here. Lynne Hiriak“Lynne has an amazing line called Cardigan—I’ve been in her lookbook the last three seasons. I call her Yoda—she’s a huge help and inspiration to me. She’s worked for everyone, she’s done everything in the fashion world, and she knows every single person in New York. She makes really cozy sweaters, and, whenever it gets below 70 degrees, they’re the first things I wear. This season, we shot the lookbook upstate the week before Hurricane Irene. I love that polka-dot one.” Samantha Hahn“Sam is an amazing illustrator. She does whimsical illustrations with watercolors. They’re feminine and beautiful, but they’re also really simple and restrained, which I like. A lot of her subjects are women. She just did a show called “A Thousand Ships” with famous literary characters like Helen of Troy, Daisy Buchanan, and Scout Finch, and there was a section of portraits of her friends, including me.” Ilana Kohn“Ilana is my newest friend. I met her only a few months ago—I read about her on Of a Kind, actually, and made a note to reach out to her. But Ilana emailed me first, asking me if I would be interested in shooting her lookbook. She achieves the right mix—she does a lot of boxy, tomboyish cuts, but the patterns she chooses are really feminine. Plus, I’m not a classically trained jewelry designer, and Ilana is self-taught as well. I have a great camaraderie with her and great respect for her because of that—everything she has done, she has done on her own.”

Caroline Ventura, the designer behind the delicate gold jewelry line Brvtvs, is one of those people who seems to know everyone and everything. She just got back from Montreal—a city that makes for the perfect autumnal escape, especially considering all the pork fat and poutine—and is beyond eager to share her eight must-hits. Also worth noting: She went on the trip with her husband, a friend who’s a sommelier, and another who’s an editor at Food & Wine, so the meals were quite an affair. Lawrence“We actually went to this super-cute brunch spot twice! They have crazy-delicious fresh apple juice that is the most beautiful blushy pink color—like no apple juice I had ever seen. I asked them what kind of apples they used, but they looked at me like I was nuts.” (lawrencerestaurant.com) Les Etoffes“The owner of this shop, Diana, is the nicest, cutest ever. She stocks some harder-to-find brands like Apiece Apart and Christophe Lemaire. It’s a few doors down from Lawrence, so that makes for a nice one-two punch.” (lesetoffes.com) Liverpool House“This spinoff of Joe Beef has fare that’s a little—but not much—lighter. There is a chalkboard menu (all in French), and the pot de crème is the best I’ve ever had. I ordered two.” (joebeef.ca) Jardin Botanique“There was this crazy Chinese lantern show going on in one area of the botanical gardens. It was really strange—in a good way—walking around hearing everyone speak French but looking at very Chinese objects.” (ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin) Society of Arts and Technology“A friend is opening a restaurant on the third floor of this center that is integrated with some of the shows they are having there. It’s serving really unique small plates. I particularly enjoyed the sign for the bathroom.” (sat.qc.ca) Marché Jean-Talon“Even though fall had already begun in Montreal, this farmers’ market had so much variety.” (marchespublics-mtl.com/Jean-Talon) Au Pied de Cochon“I might want to warn the vegetarians to look away. I almost fell on my ass three times while we were there because the floor is so slick with pig and duck fat, and I was wearing these new Dieppa Restrepo shoes.” (restaurantaupieddecochon.ca) Scandinave Les Bains“This is an amazing bath house. They have different soaking pools and a dry sauna, but I was all about the adult nap area— the U.S. needs to get on this trend ASAP. ” (scandinave.com/en/montreal) Caroline made us an edition you don’t have to take off for airport security: an edgy-but-sweet gold bracelet. Check it here.

You know how high-school girls are—they’re so into soldering. No? Well, California-born Manhattan-resident Caroline Ventura was. “My dad was in the movie business, so he would have to fix all of the circuitry on his video equipment when it broke,” she explains. “I would go play on his workbench when I was little and watch him solder. And then I taught myself how to use the iron and blowtorch.” Caroline has now carved out a niche making the sort of classic, delicate jewelry designs you can wear (and get compliments on) every day, and it turns out her father’s movie making career encouraged her entree into the jewelry world in more ways than one. “I went to Rome with my dad the summer before I started sixth grade—he was filming a movie and lived in Italy for almost a year. I found it really cool that this modern city existed alongside all of these completely ancient things,” she says. “The craftsmanship and the amount of pride people took in their work back then—I think it’s really important. With my pieces, I want to get across that they’re made for someone, that they’re special.” The name for her line comes from her affection for the capital of the Roman Empire and also the first styles she made: creative takes on friendship bracelets that incorporated weaving techniques used by samurais. “I was making friendship bracelets, so, as a joke, I named my company after someone who is one of the worst friends in history.” Caroline’s first creation for Of a Kind was such a hit that she’s made it a partner in crime. It’s a rad gold bracelet—get it now!