Macon Brown's Vine Street boutique Shine at the Mix carries jewelry collections by Meg C., Vanessa Mooney, Luv AJ, Jenny Bird, Maria Black and more
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Just in time for jewelry’s favorite national holiday, independent jewelry boutique Shine opened its doors to the public on Feb. 14, inside the new mixed-use facility Mix on Vine.
The shop, a partnership between Lexington native Macon Brown and Mix on Vine owner Karen Piazza, focuses on affordable, stylish and unique jewelry –– pieces that are sophisticated and special while remaining accessible. Brown says that most of Shine’s inventory ranges between $10 and $300, with an average price point of about $50; she adds that it was important to her to include “something everyone can afford to walk away with.”
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“I’m trying to be really conscientious of price point,” Brown said, adding that while the trendier items are priced to sell, they are all of the highest quality she could find.
“The handful of bigger ticket items, I believe, transcend trend,” she added.
A Lexington native, Brown spent a decade in New York City, where she got a fashion degree from Parsons The New School of Design; she also worked beside a variety of notable stylists and interior designers in that city, as well as in Los Angeles, including Michael Kors and Bettina Duncan at Fred Segal.
In the months leading up to the store’s opening, Brown spent lots of time researching jewelry collections––not just looking for pieces that she loved, but for lines that aren’t carried elsewhere in town and would appeal to a wide range of Lexington women.
“I tried to focus on great basics, coupled with really special pieces that are staples for the long haul,” she added.
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At Shine, details that include elegant layered chains, clean geometric shapes and dainty spikes take precedence over traditional precious and semi-precious stones, with the store’s overall aesthetic echoing its collections: equal parts funky and luxe. Instead of traditional countertop display cases, inventory is displayed on mannequin hands and in delicate beveled glass cases; vintage mirrors, filigree treasure boxes, hanging terrariums and other well-thought-out details add to the visual interest and coziness of the shop.
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All of these elements contribute to the overall “jewelry shopping experience” that Brown hopes to achieve –– an experience Brown feels should be a special one.
“My concept was to create a retail experience that actually envokes some emotion,” she said. “Jewelry is special –– it's close to you, you hand it down, you give it as a gift to someone you love, or you treat yourself.”
“It's a purchase that condones a certain intimacy,” she added.
Photos By Mick Jeffries
Shine at the Mix
301 E. Vine St.
Suite 160
Tues. - Sat., noon - 6 p.m.
(859) 303-4239