Heritage X The August Diaries Is Giving Us All The Retro Jewelry Vibes (Win!)

In her signature style, Jill Lansky of The August Diaries has mixed elements of ’70s vintage with East Coast elegance and refinement for her new collaboration with Vancouver-based jeweler, True Curated Designs. With luxurious materials of solid gold, tourmaline and dark green malachite, the pieces that make up the Heritage collection make a statement, while retaining simple and functional silhouettes. The opulence is quiet and nostalgic—these are the types of pieces you can pass down for generations to come. We chatted with Jill to learn more. —Noa Nichol

What made you and Tori of True decide that round three was in order, now?

The success of our collaborative collections have been amazing (see Deco and Alchemy) so when Tori approached me for another collaboration, I was genuinely excited. Tori’s guiding principle at True Curated is to embrace luxury jewelry as part of your everyday life—whether during workouts, in the shower, on vacations, and beyond. I resonate with this philosophy because I believe that investing in a luxury product should mean integrating it seamlessly into your daily routine, rather than reserving it solely for special occasions. Personally, I wear my solid gold, diamond, and gemstone Heritage pieces around the clock, and their exceptional quality truly stands out.

What pieces does the True x The August Diaries Heritage Collection include? 

There are seven pieces in the Heritage Collection. There are four earrings, which make up such a good ear stack: the Gold Hoop earring, which were borne out of my need for the perfect chunkier everyday hoop that I could never find; the Green Tourmaline huggie hoop, which I’ve never seen before and think are the coolest hoops ever. There are also two studs, one with lab grown diamonds, affordably priced ($129 each) and a classic gold ball stud, which I thought rounded out the earring collection. We also have a unique necklace, which has a different clasp that was designed to be worn in the front (although of course can be worn two ways), with a matching bracelet. Finally there is the signature Signet Ring with an exquisite green stone. Signet rings have become a constant in each of our collections and this one is arguably my favourite. 

What does the range symbolize? 

It is very much about quiet opulence, almost like the jewelry was passed down from your great grandparents. These are the kind of pieces that will always be in style, and that look luxurious without being fussy. 

Where did the design inspo come from this time?

I was very inspired by the 1970s, as I always am—it’s my favourite decade for style. I was also inspired by the equestrian Ralph Lauren vibe from the 1990s. I wanted a stylish mix of those two aesthetics. 

How would you describe the aesthetic of the collection?

It has elements of ’70s vintage with East Coast elegance and refinement. 

What is the process like, designing (collaborating on) a jewelry collection? Challenges? Wins?

Working with Tori is awesome; our design process and flow is incredibly streamlined. I’m hands-on from start to finish. As a predominantly visual person. I shoot over my sketches (albeit not very good ones lol) and some inspo pics, and Tori skillfully translates them into jewelry pieces. She’s super open to my ideas, letting us creatively brainstorm our way to the perfect design. The biggest challenge for me is that because I am such a visual person, it can be difficult for me to picture what a piece will look like until I see it, either in a rendering or in person.

For the beautiful campaign images, you shot with an actual real-live horse outside! What was that like? Any nerves? Do you like horses or have a special connection with them?

The photoshoot was one of the most amazing I’ve ever participated in! I was pretty nervous beforehand, as there were many unpredictable variables (the weather, a live animal, the jewelry arriving 1 day before, etc). But all of the people involved were SO wonderful, and Allison Kuhl, who shot the campaign, was so easygoing and adaptable, which is important when you’re shooting with a live animal. I had envisioned a specific look for the horse shots in my head. Since working with live animals is unpredictable, you’re never sure what you’ll capture. Surprisingly, the shots turned out even better than I had imagined! I also loved being around a horse again. I used to ride when I was younger, and have always loved horses, so being able to ride and interact with them was amazing. It made me want to start riding again! 

What are your fave pieces from the collection, and do you have some top styling tips for us?

Ohhh this is a tough question since I wear every single piece every day. The Gold Hoops and the Green Tourmaline huggie hoops are some of the most standout pieces to me, since we made them for a particular gap that we saw in the market. Also, the Signet Ring is such a classic piece—it looks like a family heirloom that has been inherited from previous generations.

We can’t let you go without asking: what do you see as being some top accessory/jewelry trends for 2024?

Green! I’m obsessed with the dark green of the signet ring and our Green Tourmaline huggie hoop and I think that will continue to be a major trend for 2024. I also think the thicker Gold Hoops will continue to trend as they’re so versatile—you can wear them with everything from sweatpants to a formal look. 

Win! A Pair Of $449 Heritage Green Tourmaline Huggy Hoops!

Congrats Shannon M. of Toronto, ON, who will receive a pair of $449 Heritage Green Tourmaline Huggy Hoops from the True x Heritage collection! Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadailymedia. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.