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Arts & Entertainment

Spotlight on Jewelry Designer Debra Fabian

The local jewelry designer creates feminine pieces with a modern vintage feel

Debra Fabian has always had a flair for design. The Arlington-based jewelry designer studied fashion design in college and kick-started her career as an intimate apparel designer in New York City. She developed her passion for accessories while working full-time and soon she was designing and selling jewelry to Manhattan boutiques. But it wasn’t until she relocated to Northern Virginia with her husband in 2001 that she turned her hobby into a jewelry design business.

Fabian’s jewelry collections can be purchased from her online store and at various Bloomingdale’s trunk shows, Hitched Bridal Salon in Georgetown and New to You in downtown Falls Church. The jewelry designer met Christina Novak, owner of New to You, when she first moved to the area.

“We hit it off and became good friends,” Fabian said. “I love Christina and I love clothing. I’ve always loved consignment shops. I love dressing high and low and mixing old and new.”

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Fabian sells her jewelry at when Novak hosts an event or a cocktail party. She also recently started working at the shop on Fridays. “It gets me out to meet people and it’s my fashion outlet,” she said. “It’s good networking, too.”

The jewelry designer makes pieces with a modern vintage or “classic with a twist” feel. She uses semi-precious stones, cultured freshwater pearls and sterling silver to create elegant, sophisticated jewelry.

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Customer Laura Knox said that Fabian takes a fresh approach to jewelry design without being too trendy. “I know that when I invest in one of her pieces, I will wear it for a lifetime,” Knox said. “She exudes effortless style reminiscent of Coco Chanel.”

Fabian recently added a fine jewelry line to her collection in 14k gold and fine silver. Her favorite pieces are wire-wrapped, 45-inch necklaces with semi-precious stones that can be doubled or tripled or worn as bracelets.

Her customers range in age from 20 to 70 years old. “My jewelry hits many generations,” she said. “My customer is usually an established woman who appreciates handmade pieces. She is definitely someone who is looking for something that’s made domestically and that isn’t mass-produced costume jewelry.”

Customer Katie Tenoever said that each of Fabian’s pieces has its own character and the ability to give sparkle, depth and fun to any ensemble. “I think the versatility and beauty of Debbie’s jewelry comes from her innovative creativity and her sense of fun and whimsy, combined with a practicality that can zone in on exactly what works for each individual,” Tenoever said. “She can look at someone’s picture and immediately know exactly what works for them and for their lifestyle.”

Fabian’s jewelry has been featured in In Style, The Washington Post, Condé Nast Traveler and ABC’s The Bachelor: Paris. She would like to continue selling her pieces through her website but hopes to expand to more trunk shows for department stores and specialty boutiques.

Debbie simply has an amazing eye,” customer Cecile Marsh said. “She knows how to balance the classic and the new, and the result is jewelry that is lavish yet fun. There's nothing ponderous about her work. Instead, you get movement, lightness and unexpected combinations of beautiful stones. And I benefit from her good taste, because wearing her work means I get an awful lot of compliments!”

Click here to shop for Fabian’s jewelry or stop by New to You on Fridays to meet the talented jewelry designer in person.  

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