Meet Dana Bodourov

“Making jewelry started as a hobby but with much approval from friends and strangers alike she decided to pursue it and eventually graduated from FIT with a degree in Jewelry Design along with a Next Generation award via the accessories council. She now has her own hand-crafted jewelry line called RILA, inspired by elements found in nature and artifacts rooted in history. She works out of her studio apartment which she shares with her musician boyfriend, Jack Tatum of Wild Nothing.”

♫ LISTEN TO dana's PLAYLIST

ON HER MORNING ROUTINE

The first thing I do in the morning is drink lots of water, with a camu camu (it’s natural vitamin c). Then I get ready and maybe eat breakfast if there is time. I’m not much of a morning person but I’m trying.

on supplements and vitamins

I take a lot of vitamins to manage chronic health conditions. For calcium, I strongly recommend an algae based one- not limestone. I take New Chapter Bone Strength, slim tabs. For multivitamins, a raw food based vitamin is best. Don’t take a synthetic version. I’ve heard raw food vitamins are best because your body digests them as though they are food so more nutrients are absorbed. I’m no doctor, but thats what I’ve heard. The only downside is you have to take more pills a day than just one. I like Garden of Life's Vitamin Code Women's Raw Whole Food Vitamin Supplement with Probiotics. It can be taken on an empty stomach without any upsets. I also take their B12. They have a calcium supplement that’s pretty good.

The best probiotic I’ve tried is Bio-K plus. I like the fermented rice one since I can’t do dairy or soy. Its kinda pricey but if I’m feeling sick or depleted I’ll have a whole one and it works. I’ve heard that iron supplements are not recommended. Best to get iron from food like spinach or cooking food in a cast iron pan.

ON her sleeping tip

There was a time when we were falling asleep to Brian Eno’s ‘Apollo’ on the regular. If you want something relaxing to listen to, I highly recommend it. That and rainymood.com.

Sweater, Thrifted ; Pants, Citizen Vintage ; Bracelet, Faris & Corey Moranis, Ring, Blessed Poppy ; Earrings Annie Costello Brown

The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton, Fierce Attachments by Vivian Gornick, Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers by Leonard Koren

“Stylistically I tend to be a little tom-boyish with occasional girly moments. I wear a lot of button-down shirts, and stripes. Mostly I just want to be comfortable.”

— on her style

ON her path to being a jeweler

I’ve always been creative and interested in art, photography, making things in general. At one point I thought I wanted to be a fashion designer, but I was horrible at sewing and pattern making. I tried jewelry and really connected to the material. I like the feeling of working in metals and wax- it feels more like you’re making a tiny sculpture rather than a fashion item. Eventually I’d like to make bigger things, when I have more space!

on where she shops

Most of my clothes are second hand. I like to shop thrift and vintage when I can because what you’ll find that way is unique, has a positive impact on the environment and if you know what to look out for it is often higher quality for way less money. And I also enjoy the process of looking. Of course there are certain things I have to get new, like underwear, socks, shoes, etc.

on her home style

I put a lot of thought into the posters/art that we have on the walls of our apartment but furniture wise it’s all just thrown together new and old. We’ve got a couple vintage and foreign movie posters (found on Ebay), drawings and paintings from friends, wall hangings I made and lots of plants.

on her beauty routine

My beauty routine is currently very clinical looking. It’s basically whatever my dermatologist prescribed for my skin, a very basic moisturizer CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM Ultra Lightweight, and SPF. I also use Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs & Rosewater, Neocutis Peche Redness Control, Revision Skincare Papaya Enzyme Cleanser.

I don’t wear a lot of make up, except that I always do my eyebrows and wear mascara. I like Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zings and their Benetint lip + cheek stain. Every few months I’ll also go and get a facial from Hillery Skylar in Williamburg. She is seriously amazing.