Come with me behind the brand as we get ready for one of the biggest nights of my year — the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Greater Los Angeles Awards. This one jumps between three moments: the speech I wrote and didn't need, the stack I built to wear, and the night itself.
That morning: Before I'd even touched my curling iron, I sat on my couch and wrote myself a little acceptance speech. Just in case. (Foreshadowing: I lost. The speech was still good.) While I was getting ready I even pulled out my little keepsake from winning an ACE Award earlier this year for good luck — different award, same jittery, grateful feeling.
That afternoon:Two gowns, one closet, a lot of back-and-forth. My friend Estée Stanley had passed along a fuchsia rental gown for me to try first — big, dramatic, ball-gown energy. Gorgeous, but a little too much dress for this particular room, so I hung it back up for its own night. I went with a sleek black column gown instead, rented from Janet Mandell — serious enough for a room full of entrepreneurs, still body-contoured and sexy, because that's how I like to do serious. Do not knock a rental gown.
That night: My husband, my kids in their tuxedos (their words, not mine, but they cleaned up nice for a school night), and my whole support team walked in with me and was cheering as loud as anyone in the room.
I didn't win this year. But I got my name on a jumbotron, hugged my team, and watched my kids watch me do this. That's a win in my book.
Shop the Stack
Here's what I actually had on, in the order I put it on:
- She's An Icon Ear Cuff — the whole ear moment. I doubled up two of these on just one ear for a sparkly, asymmetrical look.
- Hello Gorgeous Drop Earrings — layered underneath the ear cuff stack so the whole ear read as one continuous line of diamonds.
Styling Tips From the Night
- Let one ear do the talking. Instead of matching cuffs on both sides, double up on just one ear and let your hair frame it. Reads more editorial than a matched pair.
- A quiet gown lets loud jewelry win. Keep the dress simple so the stack gets to be the actual statement.
- A rental gown earns its keep with the right jewelry. Borrowed, rented, or yours forever — the stack you build around it is what makes it feel like you.
