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When the team at Tacori invited me to visit their atelier, perched on a bougainvillea-lined street in Eastside Los Angeles, I felt like I had won a contest. As a self-proclaimed diamond girl, getting an inside look at where Tacori’s pieces are designed and made is probably how regular people feel about being backstage at a HAIM concert. Upon arrival, I was invited to stack on as many infinity bands as my fingers could handle, and as I layered pendant necklaces, I fantasized about having such a luxe stash in my jewelry box IRL.

And for the record, I’m not the only one who has a mad thing for diamonds here at Who What Wear: Our co-founder, Hillary Kerr, is also completely infatuated with excellent jewelry. Below, watch our catch-up with Nadine Tacorian, COO and design director of the Tacori jewelry empire, as she answers our most pressing questions about all things diamonds—and scroll down to hear about the launch of our Who What Wear x Tacori jewelry collaboration we finally get to hint about.

What does it take to be the next big thing? Whether you say innovation, irreverence, or lots of flash, it’s undeniably the elusive It factor—that can’t-look-away but also can’t-quite-put-your-finger-on-it instinct—and we’re doubling down for It Girl, It Brand, our latest series, speaking to who and what is on the edge of being huge.

This month, we paired actress Brigette Lundy-Paine with New York–based brand Collina Strada. What’s the reason behind such a pairing, you ask? September happens to be a noteworthy month for the two sartorial risk-takers, with the season two premiere of Atypical, Lundy-Paine’s groundbreaking Netflix series, and Strada’s serene S/S 19 showing at New York Fashion Week. With eyes on both, we can assure you these are two exciting names to know right now.

Sitting in the lobby of the Bowery Hotel in New York City, I open my weather app: Thunderstorms are expected. I anxiously await the arrival of Brigette Lundy-Paine—the subject of this month’s It Girl, It Brand story and star of the Netflix dark comedy Atypical—hoping she beats out the storm. As soon as the thought crosses my mind, though, a torrential downpour begins. Shortly thereafter, Lundy-Paine enters the hotel, unphased by the elements and decidedly chipper for her 9 a.m. Saturday call time. It was just the energy we needed on this gloomy August morning.

After a two-hour shoot that consisted of rolling around in bed (a dream Saturday-morning scene, to be sure) and lounging dreamily in a bathtub outfitted in looks by New York brand Collina Strada, Lundy-Paine joins me again downstairs for our interview. I’m immediately captivated by the 23-year-old as we talk about everything from season two of Atypical, which premiered last week, to the source of her undeniable confidence and eclectic fashion aesthetic.

Photographer: Lumia Nocito | Photography Assistant: Sophia Wilson | Hairstylist: Seiji | Makeup Artist: Natasha Smee for Exclusive Artists using MAC Cosmetics | Stylist: Raymond Gee | Market Editor: Lauren Eggertsen