Ylang 23's Joanne Teichman On Her New Plaza at Preston Store

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

It's not yet open, but the new Ylang 23 is getting ready for its close-up. We recently talked to the woman behind it all, Joanne Teichman, to find out more about her new bauble paradise, which is closing its Galleria store and opening its new one on February 8.

Why did you choose the Plaza at Preston Center for the new location?
We love the location and tenant mix, from Sprinkles Cupcakes to True Food Kitchen and R+D Kitchen. We spend a lot of our weekend time there, and have always run into clients and friends. It's a natural choice.

Ylang 23 is well-known in the e-commerce world. What's your philosophy on how people buy jewelry? What role does the boutique experience play in the shopping process?
Women buy what they love and want to collect. They pay attention to the originality of the designs and the beauty and detail in the jewelry, and the top designers we carry deliver on those. Our boutique experience is fun and we encourage women to try on our jewelry and add to their existing collections, whether they were purchased from us or not. We don't sell a piece of jewelry; we sell the look and attitude.

What are some other future plans for the company?
We are so happy planning our spring events with designer visits and finally having the space to accommodate a crowd, not requiring guests to drive more than a few minutes from home.

Can you talk a little about how you find new designers? Would it be accurate to say your taste is reflected in what you sell?
We are so loyal to many of our designers we have carried for years, including Cathy Waterman, Irene Neuwirth, Todd Reed, Sydney Evan, Nak Armstrong, Ten Thousand Things, Armenta, Jennifer Meyer, the list goes on. We have added more original designers recently, and either we seek them out or in most cases, they pursue us. I have to love what we buy. Ihave no interest in buying just because a designer may be popular or a top-seller.

Who is your favorite jewelry designer?
Please! It's like picking children—can't do that. But i will say that you will find me wearing more often than not Cathy Waterman, Irene Neuwirth and Jennifer Meyer, most notably her nameplate necklace with my kids' names engraved on one side and Charles on the other.

What's your favorite piece of jewelry you own?
My favorite piece is an 18-karat Lacy bracelet, which was my mother's, and has dangling from the clasp a gold four-leaf clover. I always think of her when I wear it.

What's your personal jewelry style, if you will. Do you like simple pieces or more intricate?
I love simple pieces and love to pile it on. an armful of bangles, and layers of gold necklaces with lucky charms.