Sourced from beepybella.world, photographed by Genie Kausto.
According to jewelry designer Isabella Lalonde’s Instagram bio, she’s ‘half fairy, half alien’. Naturally, you would assume that the jewelry cultivated by a mystical being would be otherworldly. Beepy Bella is exactly that. Founded in 2019, the New York-based passion project of Isabella is only a glimpse at the ethereal dreamscapes of fairy tales held hostage from her childhood in her mind.
Beepy Bella’s jewelry is hard to miss on social media and refuses to be ignored, adorning the necks of a star-studded list: Devon Lee Carlson showed off her Beepy jewels on her latest Vogue feature; Sav Hudson is a loyal customer; Iris Law donned the brand’s classic dangling shroom earrings; and Luna Blaise showed off her strawberry pearl necklace on her Instagram story.
Beepy Bella recently took over Times Square during New York Fashion Week, declaring her elven jewelry and surreal creative direction to the bustling city in glorious, unrelenting 4K. And of course it doesn’t hurt that the goddess herself, Isabella Lalonde, is a champion of street style and an eclectic fashionista in her own right. Let’s tell it like it is – we all know the recipe for undeniable success when we see one.
What sets Beepy Bella apart from a saturated market of pearl-studded accessories is a nostalgic combination of oddly shaped, characterful pearls and custom, one-of-a-kind fairytale-esque glass charms created in collaboration with other small artists. My initial reaction to Beepy Bella’s jewels was one I’d imagine having upon witnessing the first alien landing on earth: it is obscenely beautiful and mystifyingly strange. There is detail so intricate it’s hard to behold, and along with that a wicked urge to touch something suspiciously enticing – as if it might sting you or poison you, or both.
Join Sheesh Magazine and step inside the fantastical world of Isabella Lalonde to uncover this real-life fairy tale in action. We discuss how Beepy Bella works in tandem with small artists, style tips, her inimitable quarantine project and how her inspiration is symbiotic with her childhood memories.
Q: What inspired the creation of Beepy Bella?
ISABELLA LALONDE: “Mushrooms, fairies and the mystical moments in my imagination from when I was younger. I am also inspired by sci-fi films and fantasy. Beepy Bella started as an art project and with the encouragement of my friends and community, it grew to become the brand it is today.”
Q: How would you describe Beepy Bella’s style? Would you say it’s a reflection of your personality and closet?
ISABELLA LALONDE: “The style of my brand is a direct reflection of my own personal style. Much like nature, Beepy Bella style is a mix of textures and shapes coming together to create an organic eye catching look. I communicate my personality with others through my self expression in fashion. This is the root of everything, including my brand.”
Q: What draws you to the world of fairy tales and the mystical?
ISABELLA LALONDE: “I consider myself a daydreamer. Fairy Tales represent a life beyond our own reality. I’m drawn to the idea of fantasy. I aim for my brand to inspire others the way fairy tales inspired me growing up.”
Q: What’s a day in life like for you whilst working on or designing a new piece of jewelry?
ISABELLA LALONDE: “On the days I design, I wake up and open my curtains wide, flooding the studio with natural light. After I’ve made a coffee, I sit at my desk and strategize. I usually design, uninterrupted, while my head is clear and my body is calm. As soon as I begin work, the design process flows from there. I love to get in rhythm with myself and allow the process to take me on a journey. If I’m honest, I barely look at the clock until the sun has gone down.”
Q: Your works feature ethereal woodland fairytale-themed charms with an incredible amount of detail. How do you materialize your vision for each charm as well as source them?
ISABELLA LALONDE: “I spend hours researching everyday, whether it’s old movies/magazines or artists who I admire. I like to think that I am able to tell stories through my jewelry. Each piece materializing itself from the research and inspiration that it comes from.”
Q: How does Beepy Bella contribute to the small artist community?
ISABELLA LALONDE: “I consider myself an artist as much as I do a designer. Being a part of the arts community is really important to me, and therefore, my brand. Since the start, I always loved collaborating with other artists (mainly from IG) on necklaces. I’d usually have them make the pendants and I would string the full necklaces so there was a dialogue happening between our energies in the final designs. Aside from creating most of my own content from home, I also commission artists to create fun illustrations, claymations and 3D renderings for my brand. It’s really fun to build a community through my brand and be able to work with creatives in so many new ways.”
Q: Who or what inspires you?
ISABELLA LALONDE: “Imaginary worlds inspire me.”
Q: If you had to put together an outfit that embodies Beepy Bella, what would it be?
ISABELLA LALONDE: “I love knee socks, clashing patterns and funky shoes. The more patterns the better. Generally speaking, an ideal Beepy Bella outfit is playful, eclectic and expressive.”
Q: Tell us a bit about Beepy Bella’s Fairy Tales.
ISABELLA LALONDE: “I’m so happy you asked about this project! Beepy Bella’s Fairy Tales was my passion project during the first months of quarantine. I’ve always loved book making and creating retro graphics, so this book inevitably came about when I was sitting around my bedroom. I was initially inspired to create a book of unused images that I’ve made for Beepy Bella, but just never posted on Instagram. As an artist, I keep up with my practice by creating images/content for my brand and a lot of the outtakes never were seen before. I thought it could be a good idea to put them all together in one book for others to have. I was also able to design new graphics and involve so many creatives. I ended up opening the submissions to the public and was able to include a lot of pieces from my online community. I learned a lot in that process and definitely can’t wait to make my next book.”
Q: Lastly, what is one thing you want customers to know about the woman behind the brand?
ISABELLA LALONDE: “I’m planning to adopt a tree frog this month!”
Dive deeper into this magical realm by shopping Beepy Bella’s collection and keep up with the latest cottagecore fashion on the Instagram’s of both the brand and Isabella Lalonde.
