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Sucré Couture Founder Dishes On What It Takes To Launch A Nostalgic Jewelry Brand
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There's a certain energy that exudes from a creative woman with a clear vision and energy you feel as soon as you interact with her. It’s contagious and fills up the space with elements of empowerment, honesty, and confidence.
As soon as I sat down to chat with jewelry founder Kimberly Fomby Jefferson, there was an energy takeover, seeming new yet very familiar. It wasn’t but a few moments later that I recognized where I felt that feeling before; it’s the same one I experienced when I came in contact with Sucré Couture, the proactive and nostalgic jewelry brand founded by Kimberly. Over the past year alone, Sucré Couture has been featured in ESSENCE, British Vogue, and New York Magazine, to name a few.
It was my pleasure to sit down with Kimberly during one of her busiest seasons to chat with her about the why behind her brand, her key tips for successful marketing in today’s saturated world, and a few tips for others who battle with imposter syndrome. If you’re unfamiliar with this powerhouse, here’s your chance to find out more! You can also shop this amazing brand in our ElevateHer xoNecole shop here!
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Kimberly Fomby Jefferson
Credit: Valley In Film
xoNecole: For our readers who aren't familiar, can you give a bit of backstory on your journey to becoming a jewelry designer?
Kimberly Fomby Jefferson: My journey to becoming a jewelry designer humbly began in 2011 with $79 worth of jewelry supplies and wholesale jewelry, a Wix website, and a camera phone to take photos in a DIY lightbox made from cardboard. Between being a mom, getting an MBA, and going to a part-time marketing job, I'd be pulling together collections, promoting on social media, and selling a few trunk shows here and there.
Year after year, I'd keep at it, meeting people who eventually became amazing friends and mentors who encouraged me to continue growing Sucré Couture in the most authentic way possible.
The more I grew and gained an appreciation for my gifts, culture, style, and upbringing, the more I evolved as a jewelry designer.
xoN: What was the motivation behind launching Sucré Couture in 2011?
KFJ: Jewelry has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. As young as six or seven years old. My mother always told me to keep a pair of earrings on, or my grandmother and great-aunt would gift me dainty gold and white gold necklaces and rings as keepsakes. Even the men in my family, my father, and grandfather, were really keen on thick gold chains, heavy rings, watches, and nugget bracelets.
Naturally, my exposure and affinity for jewelry followed me throughout my life, including when I decided to launch the brand at the tail end of my residency in New Orleans. I was fresh out of college, expecting a child with my now husband, and wanting to do something creatively fulfilling. I also come from an entrepreneurial family. It's no surprise to many that I followed suit.
xoN: From the jewelry to the social media content to the editorial shoots, the Sucré Couture vibe exudes effortlessly across the board. In a world where marketing is key to any e-commerce success, what are the three strategies you've implemented to ensure seamless branding?
KFJ: Know your brand and whom you're creating it for. While, at the same time, remaining authentic to the brand and why you launched it. Because truthfully, the right people will fall in love with your brand anyway.
Be as organized as possible. Keep all of your assets and content in one place for your team. Make it easy for yourself or anyone to grab what they need to produce good content.
Lead with a campaign strategy that sets clear creative expectations at the very beginning and keep everyone informed on it.
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Kimberly
Credit: Valley In Film
xoN: What does success look like to you?
KFJ: I love this question. Especially since it's come up so much for me within the last few months. Success looks like a beautiful community of heavily engaged people, a brand legacy that continues well into the future, and Sucré Couture editorial jewelry and other items that people have coveted as souvenirs of our collections for decades.
xoN: What has been your biggest challenge as a Black woman entrepreneur?
KFJ: Hmmm, my biggest challenge, and win at the same time, as a Black woman entrepreneur, has been the journey. It's no secret that Black-owned businesses, and even more so those of Black women, do not have the same access to resources as others. So I've had to get creative and roll up my sleeves to make things pop off and shine. With my knowledge bank, talents, and with the support of my team and community, Sucré Couture has managed to navigate challenges gracefully.
xoN: What has your biggest failure in this industry taught you? Please give us a brief scenario of the failure and how you found the lessons within that.
KFJ: Fortunately, through the support of a fantastic community of other entrepreneurs, friends, and family, I do not perceive anything I have encountered in the industry as failures — only lessons. A wise woman once told me, "Write off failures as professional development." As an entrepreneur, you must be willing to fall and get scraped and bruised up, only to get back up and try your best not to make the same missteps.
On this note, my biggest lesson has been checking all the facts and not skipping steps. Check your contracts and plan, plan, plan because, baby, the devil is in the details.
xoN: What is the #1 piece of advice for anyone who wants to start and launch a successful jewelry brand?
KFJ: My number one piece of advice for anyone wanting to start and launch a successful jewelry brand is to do it from the heart. Make wearable art with the same love you have for the brand. Get personal and vulnerable by how you engage with building it. Sit with it. Pick it apart. Don't be afraid to start anew and rebrand. Be genuine, and the rest will flow through your product and storytelling.
My second piece of advice is to get your feet wet in every single part of your business. From digital marketing to operations to photography to web design and development, good business owners, in general, should be able to roll their sleeves to pitch hit to keep the momentum going, if necessary.
A third piece of advice is to be coachable. Don't be afraid of constructive criticism—especially from a qualified source. If you have some good business advice that makes sense, I'll surely listen. In adjunct to this, you can't take everyone's advice either. Chew up the meat and spit out the bones. Trust your gut. You know your business better than anyone else.
Credit: Valley In Film
xoN: As someone who has been in the industry for over a decade, I'm sure you've had times when you felt stagnant, complacent, or overlooked in regard to your brand. What is the #1 piece of advice for anyone who feels like potentially giving up because they haven't reached 'success' yet?
KFJ: Girl! Keep pushing. My great Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Jean, more than a decade ago, told me that it would take a minimum of 5 years to see a business bloom into its full potential and to keep chipping away at the brand. That's a gem that I always hear in the back of my mind. I'm glad I listened. Paying it forward to whoever is reading that needs to hear the same thing.
xoN: Why was it essential for you to have an all-woman team behind Sucré Couture?
KFJ: Women naturally possess an innate sense of eros, which must be reflected within the brand. Sucré Couture is deeply rooted in a love of self and love of Black culture, and our all-women home team got that down to the core. It's been tilled and nurtured by gifted hands.
xoN: What's the future look like for Sucré Couture? Any new exciting projects our readers should know about?
KFJ: The future for Sucré Couture is about to get more experiential and profound than ever. While I can't share all the details, provocative, nostalgic, and raw art is central to the experience. And more Sucré jewelry, of course!
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Feature image by Valley In Film
Courtney is a contributing writer, based in Puerto Rico by way of Tennessee. Interested in the intersection of fashion and culture, she has an affinity for fashion, empowerment, and really good tacos. Keep up with her on Instagram (@hautecourtxo).
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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Feature image screenshot/ xoNecole YouTube
Forget About Filters. Try The Cloud Skin Makeup Trend Instead.
Okay, so I know that I can’t be the only one who has seen those AI bikini pics that seem to be popping up more and more on Instagram. What’s truly wild to me about them is not the portraits themselves but the comments. What I mean by that is the number of people who have no clue that what they are looking at isn’t exactly real.
Know what I think was the gateway drug for the illusion? A lot of these filters. Boy, the way filters have folks thinking that what they see is what is happening…off social media is a trip. And to be real about it, like King Solomon once said, there isn’t anything new that’s under the sun. Before social media filters, there were camera lenses — both on- and off-screen — that also “softened up” people’s looks.
Thing is, though, no one can be behind a camera forever. Eventually, folks are going to see them, live and in living color and so, if they still want their face to appear absolutely flawless, what ever should they do then?
One solution? It’s a makeup trend known as cloud skin. If you’ve never heard of it before, I’ll explain.
What Is Cloud Skin All About?
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Although I wouldn’t exactly say that I’m afraid to fly (been on far too many flights for that resolve), at the same time, I must admit that flying isn’t my top 10 favorite things in life to do. Still, there are moments, while I’m thousands of feet in the air, that I do appreciate the experience. Like when I’m above the clouds, the sun is about to set, and the clouds look both fluffy and radiant at the same time.
Believe it or not, that is where “cloud skin” gets its name — it’s all about cultivating a matte skin look without it looking dry or caked up. Another way to look at it is it’s where matte and the dewy skin look “meet up” and find some common ground on the same face.
From what I’ve read and researched, a make-up artist by the name of Dominic Skinner actually coined the term and, according to him, “It’s all about specifically placed powder, a touch of foundation, and a facial oil to prime the skin.” When he was quoted as saying this, it was back in 2020; however (surprise, surprise), thanks to TikTok, cloud skin has experienced a resurgence in popularity and is predicted to be one of the most popular cosmetic looks for the next several months.
Why Cloud Skin Is Such an Appealing Make-Up Trend
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And why is cloud skin something that you should consider for your own face (at least every once in a while)? To me, I think it’s a dope approach to makeup if you’re looking for a way for your skin to look youthful, even-toned, and delicate without having a pack on a pile of layers of foundation in order to do it. Plus, even if you’re not an expert at applying makeup (or you don’t have a ton of time on your hands), the steps are relatively easy, even for a novice.
Another perk is, if you apply each step correctly, your skin will remain well-hydrated, your face will look picture-perfect and you won’t have to worry about using a filter when you do make a social media post.
These all sound like huge wins to me, so let’s get into how to actually achieve the cloud skin look.
5 Steps to Achieving Amazing-Looking Cloud Skin
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1. Hydrate your skin. It doesn’t matter how well you apply the other four steps if you overlook this one. That’s because, there is no way around the fact that if you want your skin to look dewy and fresh, you are going to need to make sure that it is well-hydrated. You can do this by applying a moisturizing serum or a lightweight moisturizer. Just make sure that it’s more water than oil-based. Oh, and in order to “lock everything in,” follow this up with a skin primer.
Primers are the unsung hero of make-up looks because they do everything from “fill in pores” (temporarily) and soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to make sure that the cosmetics that you apply are able to last for a longer period of time. If you need help selecting one, TikTok has posts for days on the topic. Just go to the app and put “best primer make-up Black women” in the search field.
2. Apply a semi-matte foundation. Now you’re ready to put on your foundation. It’s important that it has a semi-matte finish to it because that is what will help to “blur away” any imperfections that your skin may have. Come to think of it, you may actually want to go with a foundation that also has concealer in it, just to keep the application steps down. Oh, and definitely apply with a damp cosmetic sponge instead of your fingers — that will help to create the cloud effect too.
3. Next up: blush. In my opinion, these days, blush isn’t given enough of the respect that it deserves. Not only does it add a pop of (subtle) color to your face, but it helps to contour, hide imperfections, and even bring out the best in some of your facial features (like your cheeks and chin). That’s why I think it’s dope that it’s a part of the whole cloudy skin process. For this look, opt for a cream or liquid blush in a color that will bring out the best in the next step: bronzer.
4. Definitely add a touch of bronzer. Although I personally try not to wear make-up often (beyond mascara and lipstick), when I do, especially during the warmer months, I am definitely gonna apply some bronzer. In my opinion, few things can make your skin look sexier in a really short amount of time. Bronzer also has a way of making your skin appear absolutely radiant. The hack here, for us (Black women), is to go with a warm and rich hue, one that is a shade or two darker than your complexion, and to preferably apply it with a brush; that way, it’s not too heavy on your face.
5. And now it’s time to “bake” your skin. Final step, do what is known as “baking your skin” which simply means that you set the work that you’ve just done with a translucent or finishing powder (and the help of a foundation brush). This is what ensures that your final result will last for hours at a time (you can read more about how to bake your skin here).
BONUS: Gloss those lips up. If you Google the whole cloud skin look, you may see a lot of women with a matte lip color to boot. My two cents? Go with a glossy look instead. There’s something about the way that the gloss plays off of the bronzer that really sets everything off in excellence!
There you have it — a way to look like you’re using a filter…when you’re not on a screen.
Enjoy sis. Enjoy!
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