Randi is the Founder and Owner of For Future Reference, the industry’s premiere U.S. brand development agency representing independent fine jewelry designers for both wholesale and PR. She leads all aspects of marketing, branding and public relations for all of her clients, working with them on editorial voice, visual presentations, trade shows, and advertising. This month, we sat down with Randi to talk about her love of all things vintage, living a low impact life, and the special role that jewelry can have.

To start, can you tell us a little bit about where your love of jewelry came from?

I have always been obsessed with accessories, and apparently it started at an early age. My mom loves to remind me of the year when I was about 5 that I refused to leave the house without some sort of belt, even with a bathing suit. The apple doesn’t fall far, though, and my daughter Goldie has been rocking a headscarf nearly every day (always matched perfectly to her outfit) for the better part of 2026. When I moved to NYC after graduating college with a print journalism degree, my end goal was to work at a fashion magazine. But on a whim I took a meeting with a jewelry trade publication,National Jeweler, for a position as the fashion editor. Landing that job definitely changed my life. 

How would you describe your personal taste in jewelry? How does it interact with your day-to-day style choices? 

In general, I’m a maximalist, but I’m also an editor at heart. So that means a mix of color, texture and pattern; but with an eye to discern that it isn’t messy. I prefer statement pieces that tell a story, usually in yellow gold, and most often choose jewels that other people won’t have, either because they are one-of-a-kind, custom or vintage. You can see this same philosophy play out in my house, where I make the most of a 1920s bungalow with bold choices in large pieces of furniture, mostly vintage. For many years I’ve dreamed of putting a major sectional sofa in my living room – one that would lend itself to lounging but also act as a focal point – and I finally found my soulmate in a 1960s Selig with original Jack Lenore Larson fabric in a range of swirly greens, yellows and golds. You might not expect it to work with the other art and accessories in the room, but I think it’s perfect. 

A big part of what you do at For Future Reference is help jewelry designers develop and tell their brands’ stories. How did you hone in on branding as your zone of expertise?

Starting out as an editor was really incredible because I was able to become a student of fine jewelry. I was able to meet professionals from all sides of the industry, travel to trade shows around the globe, visit gemstone mines in remote countries, talk to major retailers, and just generally teach myself about the history of the subject. Once I started working for myself, I wrote a book and then started doing marketing and PR for brands, and realized that what I really wanted to do was to use my overall knowledge of the industry to help independent designers turn their fledgling ideas into real brands. As an editor, I had seen so many talented designers fail because they didn’t have the right business partner or the ability to afford PR, so I wanted to create an agency that offered all of those things in one package. It’s so gratifying to see talent recognized and to be a mentor on that journey.

Not to get too cheesy, but can you tell us the story of one of your favorite pieces of jewelry?

It’s hard to even know where to begin! Let’s just say that when the LA fires broke out, the priorities were my daughter, the dog, and the jewels. I’m so lucky to be able to make so many custom pieces that really reflect my taste, and I’ve curated an assortment of vintage and estate jewels that are totally unique. But one of the pieces closest to my heart is a charm necklace I put together myself using a vintage torque, vintage gold beads as spacers, and all of the new and old charms I’ve collected over the years. It’s a mix of brands I’ve worked with, keepsakes from travels, initials, zodiacs and pieces that represent me and my family. It’s like a self-portrait in jewelry form. 

Put us on to some of your favorite new designers. Whose jewelry are you loving these days?

Let’s be honest: I’m going to shout out all of the independent brands that For Future Reference represents because I truly think these women are the absolute best of the best. Harwell Godfrey’s unique take on geometry and pattern using inlay and precious stones is award-winning; Jade Ruzzo is the gold standard for understated luxury and forever pieces with a chic edge; Vanessa Fernandez is an exceptional bench jeweler and sculptor that handcrafts everything herself at her Miami studio; HOWL by Tini Courtney is genderless, architectural and just generally the coolest cool-girl jewelry around; and Circa 1700 is the ultimate form of storytelling with vintage-inspired pieces that include hidden messages and mechanical elements. 

At west~bourne, we’re big on making low impact, high reward moves. Buying vintage is a great example of that — often the pieces are more interesting, and of course, they’re easier on the Earth. Can you tell us about your relationship with vintage jewelry?

I’ve been a collector of vintage for many years: not just jewelry, but I also drive a vintage car, wear vintage clothes and own vintage furniture. I see the value in beautiful old things, for the history they carry, for their uniqueness in today’s beige world, for their ability to stand the test of time, and for the way they were made with craft and care. A few years ago, I started to think about how to bring the kind of vintage jewelry I loved out into the world, and For Future Reference Vintage was born alongside my incredible partners Excalibur Jewelry. I’ve always been drawn to unsigned pieces – one-offs that aren’t branded – and we decided that we’d see if we could create a market for these pieces in our favorite stores. The concept really hit, and we’re so thrilled to be carried in department stores including Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdales, and a wide range of fabulous independents across the country. We are really seeing a younger customer connect with vintage or pre-owned as a category because not only is it good for the planet, but it also helps us tell our own story without having to buy what everyone else has or covet only brand names. Vintage jewelry specifically carries emotion. I always love to think about what parties these pieces have been to or what happy occasions they were given on. It’s a joy to be able to carry that on to another generation. 

Any tips for sourcing the best pieces for the thrifting beginners out there?

I think a great tip is to hit up a more curated vintage market if it’s available in your area. In LA, I never miss Pickwick Vintage or A Current Affair because there are really knowledgeable vendors who will be able to give you the background on these pieces if you are more of a newbie. Plus, the more you interact with others, the more you’ll learn about pricing, negotiation and what things are worth. 

We are obsessed with your daughter, Goldie, and her style. Obviously, taste runs in the family, but we’re curious about the reverse: what inspiration or lessons is she passing on to you?

She’s the icon in the family! She’s actually more of a fashion risk-taker than I am, and probably a better stylist overall. While I tend to go for simpler outfits and then accessorize, she can take individual pieces and pair them in a million different ways to create true ensembles. I’m never allowed in her room when she gets dressed, and I’m not allowed to look until she’s done. I can’t tell you how many times she’s appeared and I’ve said: “Wow, that’s a really incredible look that I wouldn’t have put together.” Her response is usually “Well, obviously.” I loved dressing her so much when she was a baby, but I think the real lesson for me has been backing off and letting her do her own thing and be her own person. 

Being a founder, a mom, and a partner, we’re sure things can get a little busy (we know the vibe). What’s something you do on a regular basis that’s just for you?

I live at Runyon Canyon and I hike basically every day. I do a loop that takes a little over an hour, I go by myself, I put on my headphones and my weighted vest (so cliché!) and I listen to mostly memoirs on audiobook. This is my time for myself, outside in nature, and I actually don’t even have phone service so I can’t take work calls or answer emails. I think not having to get into a car to work out makes a massive difference. If anyone wants my memoir recommendations I have a list a mile long, but my very recent favorites wereFamesick by Lena Dunham,Arsenio by Arsenio Hall,You With the Sad Eyes by Christina Applegate,The Uncool by Cameron Crowe andSay Everything by Ione Skye. I love listening to people read their own stories. 

Last one, because we have to ask everyone this—what’s your favorite way to incorporate avocado oil into your life?

I’m a gin martini kind of gal, and you can never go wrong with a few drops of avo oil as a finishing touch. I know that Cami does it the right way with a pre-mixed infusion, but if I’m short on time it’s the perfect savory finish to my favorite drink.