Misty Incontrera and Nancy Koen find friendship and commonality with their jewelry collection, B.Stellar.
A trip to view the world-renowned art at the Nasher Sculpture Center is a must for any resident or globetrotter. The Nasher Store is the bonus. Always a stop-by for great finds, this small, highly edited shop at the entrance of the museum culls the best from artists and artisans, and many are from the area.
After a browse through thoughtfully chosen art books?many of these are titles from the Nasher Collection and their exhibit catalogs?take time to discover handbags, ceramics, Oiva Toikka?s glass birds, and jewelry. Of particular note is the display case for B.Stellar Jewelry.
Dreamed up by two bellwethers of fashion, Misty Incontrera and Nancy Koen, the B.Stellar collection combines the elements of the natural world. Interesting yet simple forms in metal matched up with gems create a striking blend of the earth?s bounty with modern structures. Every piece is handmade in Dallas with each style named after family, a friend, or influential women like the highly successful model Chandra North and gallerist Joyce Goss, while some are named after innovators they admire like Nancy Nasher, Kelly Wearstler, and Georgia O?Keeffe. No matter the name, all the creations are essentially one-of-akind because no two stones are alike.
While Misty and Nancy are certainly soul sisters?their paths aligned as stellar 20-somethings ?working it? in the design and fashion industries in Dallas?they certainly bring their own individuality to the table. Misty is the designer and also creates all the branding. She was an art major at the University of North Texas where her skills were honed as a painter. She says her artwork mirrors the similar shapes and lines found in the collection. Nancy is the numbers gal helming the business side of the young company from sales to logistics. Make no mistake Koen?s title of COO doesn?t hide her perfect sense of panache. She used her Bachelors Degree in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing from the University of Southern Mississippi to catapult her into the Dallas apparel and accessories market.
Albeit different strengths, their common love for art and fashion culminates in their successful brand now in 30 stores across the country, plus their own online store. ?Art and architecture inspire all of our designs,? the enthusiastic founders say. Adding, ?We have a love for minerals, stones, and natural elements too.?
As to what makes this partnership work: ?We had very similar childhoods that aren?t the norm for most people, so this has created a unique bond that?s not found in many friendships.? Both attended Catholic boarding schools. Today the two find parallels with ?lines, shapes, colors; positive and negative spaces inspire us. Art expresses one?s feelings or perspective on life; a peek into someone else?s passions. B.Stellar is ours,? the friends say. –P
Above: Misty Incontrera and Nancy Koen inside The Nasher Store where B.Stellar Jewelry is sold. Below: (right) Frankie necklaces with lapis, malachite, and Tiger?s eye; (right) grey freshwater pearls and a four-inch brass arc give the Lauren necklace a whole lot of look.