Valerie Michele on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Valerie Michele. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Valerie, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I find so much joy in the simplest little things lately. It really doesn’t take much! My daily beach walks have been the highlight of my days. I love feeling the ocean air on my face and watching the water glitter in the sunlight. It catches my eye every time and somehow always feels brand new. These quiet moments have turned into a peaceful ritual that helps me reset and reconnect with myself. The movement of the waves and the sparkle on the surface fill me with creative energy and inspiration.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
For those who don’t already know me, I’m Valerie Michele, a jewelry designer, fashion stylist, and founder of Valerie Michele Design and The Crystal Cruiser. I live in Orange County and draw inspiration from coastal adventures, global textures, and the everyday magic I find in color and nature.

Valerie Michele Design is my jewelry line of bold, one-of-a-kind pieces made from pearls, shells, gemstones, and materials I’ve collected through travel and curiosity. Every design is crafted to feel like a wearable keepsake, something that tells a story and helps the wearer express their own unique energy and style. It’s a mix of vacation ready, artful, and personal.

I also run The Crystal Cruiser, a mobile jewelry workshop that brings hands-on creative experiences to events across Southern California. From retail and resort pop-ups to birthday parties and bridal gatherings, we set up bolo tie bars, bracelet stations, and all kinds of custom interactive jewelry making. Guests get to design something fun, personal, and meaningful. At its core, it’s about connection, creativity, and a little bit of magic.

What makes both brands special to me is the focus on joy and self expression. Whether someone is buying a finished piece or making one from scratch at a pop-up, I want them to feel seen, inspired, and excited to wear something that truly feels like them. Right now I’m focused on growing both brands, expanding my retail and resort partnerships, and continuing to share the creative process behind the scenes.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One moment that really shaped how I see the world happened during a solo walk I took years ago while in Hawaii. I had been moving through life at full speed, always planning and producing, and I didn’t even realize how disconnected I had become from myself. One morning, I woke up before sunrise and walked down to the beach with a towel and no real agenda. Maybe I would go for a swim. Maybe I would just sit in the sand and let the water brush my feet. The tide was low, the world was quiet, and the water shimmered in a surreal, dreamlike way. I just stood there for a while, completely still. It was the first time in a long time that I felt truly present.

Something shifted in me that day. I realized how much beauty there is in slowing down, in observing, in letting the world show up for you instead of always trying to control it. It was the beginning of a mindset shift that led to my jewelry practice and eventually to launching both of my brands. Now I try to create pieces and experiences that bring people into that same feeling of presence and wonder. It’s not just about jewelry, it’s about how we see the world, how we connect, and how we remember to pause.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell her, “Keep being wildly you. That weirdness you think sets you apart is actually your superpower.”

That bold spirit, creative drive, and expressive edge were never meant to blend in. It all becomes the foundation for something beautiful. The way colors are mixed, risks are taken, and ideas are brought to life, none of it is accidental. That energy was always leading somewhere meaningful. The world doesn’t need more copies. It needs original hearts, original hands, and original stories. Keep trusting that inner fire. It’s going to light up everything ahead.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I’ve always admired Betsey Johnson, not just for her designs but for who she is. She’s been my idol for as long as I can remember. Her boldness, creativity, and complete disregard for playing it safe have always inspired me.

What I love most is that she has stayed true to herself through every chapter. She brings joy, individuality, and a sense of fun into everything she does. She never watered herself down to fit into the fashion world. Instead, she made the world brighter by fully embracing her personality. That kind of authenticity and playfulness is something I deeply admire and try to carry into my own creative work.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’ve always done what I was born to do. Even as a kid, I was the one covered in paint, layering accessories, rearranging rooms just to make them feel more “me.” I never felt the need to follow the traditional path or fit into someone else’s version of success. Being the black sheep was never a bad thing to me, it gave me freedom.

My creativity has always led the way. I didn’t wait for permission. I trusted my eye, followed inspiration, and kept building a life where I could be expressive, loud with color, and deeply intentional with what I create. There were times when people didn’t understand it, but that never stopped me.

Now, I get to wake up and design pieces that tell stories. I get to host workshops that bring people together. I’m not following a formula. I’m creating something that didn’t exist before. That, to me, is exactly what I was meant to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://valeriemicheledesign.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valeriemicheledesign/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValerieMicheleDesign/
• Other: https://www.thecrystalcruiser.com/