Where are you from and where do you live now?
I am from Santa Barbara, California and now live in the East Village, Manhattan.

What do you do?
I am getting an MFA in Poetry at Columbia University.

What are your goals?
To finish reading every book I own so I can add more!

"I’d imagine my goals are the same as most people: to expand my perspective, to ask better questions, to live with less fear. But most of the time I’d probably just say the latter. My dream is to discover new possibilities of expression within language."
 

 

 

What about Poetry?
I wish people were less afraid of it. Poetry is for everyone! It’s a lot like music. I think sometimes it’s just a matter of finding the right place to start.

What was the last book you read and what are you reading currently?
Paul Auster’s New York Trilogy. Poetry-wise, I’ve been really into Jack Spicer, Bernadette Mayer, Ted Berrigan. I’m taking a class on flash fiction too, which so far has been a trip. We read some Diane Williams, and WOW! She’s been a huge discovery for me, also Barry Hannah.

 

Paintings by Sofia's father, David Florimbi

 

What inspires you?
I find myself looking to film a lot. I get so absorbed in the world it creates. I love when that feeling lingers. I’ve found it really generative for my own writing—the dialogue, the imagery, a certain perspective…

What is your favorite music?
I just got turned on to Karen Dalton, she’s GREAT. Mulatu Astatke, Tom Waits, Bowie, Patsy Cline, Harry Nilsson, Leonard Cohen...I never get sick of these guys.

 

 

Painting by Sofia's father, artist David Florimbi  

 

Who is your favorite artist? Seen any great exhibits lately?
Oh SO many! El Greco, Cocteau, Egon Schiele, Rothko, Sigmar Polke,...the Louise Bourgeois retrospective at MOMA killed me, as did the Florine Stettheimer show at the Jewish Museum. The Hilma af Klint show at the Guggenheim was insane!!! Instagram does not do it justice. It’s impossible for me to choose a favorite artist. There are too many, and agh! I don’t like to play favorites. I will say though, the artist who’s made the greatest impression on me would have to be my father. His paintings are visions. They mess with your eyes. You get sucked in trying to figure it all out, and don’t want to leave.

  

 

Origins Ring, Artemisa Ring I, Thin Gold Cuff, Thin Toggle Bracelet,  Maja Cuff II, Disco Box Chain, Ear Band Posts, and Disc Charm Hoop

  

What are the top 3 places you have traveled to?
Corsica, Lago di Garda, San Miguel de Allende.

Where to next?
Istanbul, Buenos Aires, New Orleans.
 
How do you unwind or de-stress? 
Recently I’ve really gotten back into riding horses. I try to ride as often as I can, though it’s been difficult since relocating to the city full time. Otherwise I like to take long, meandering walks around my neighborhood, especially around dusk. It’s so much fun getting a glimpse into other people’s apartments, their lives. It feels very Rear Window, and I always come home feeling refreshed and inspired.  

 

 

 Maja Hoops and Disco Box Chain

 

Do you unplug from devices- night time or weekends?
I consider myself a bit of a hermette (in so many ways), but most particularly when it comes to social media. It’s a whole thing...I’m still working on ways to reduce the anxiety it gives me. So far my solution has been total disengagement, but I recognize this is not a viable long-term solution. I love the 24/7 access to information a smartphone can offer, but on the flip-side, I hate how accessible we’re expected to be in exchange. When I forget my phone at home, I feel liberated. I often find myself trying to fall off the map for long stretches of time, but then it’s always a nightmare plugging back in.

 

 

Girona Wrist Wrap, Naked Dangle  Earrings, Rounded Bangle III, and Disc Charm Hoops 

 

Meditate? Bath? Ecstatic dance?
I live in the bath! My favorite is The Total Reset: you get the water unbearably hot, as close to way too hot as possible. Then you add an unholy amount of Epsom salts (I will shamelessly use the full 2lbs). Force yourself to fully submerge (except for your head of course) and close your eyes. It is neither fun, nor easy. Try to stay this way for as long as you can, like at least 20 minutes. It’s an aggressive, full-body meditation. When you get out, you’re a rag-doll, so be prepared. Once I fell asleep on my bathroom floor and woke up in a cold sweat. But if you can manage to get yourself to bed, it’s insane; the next day you feel like a brand new human, like you’ve freshly emerged from the womb.  

How do you take good care of yourself?
I started taking oregano oil daily. I never get sick, even with all the dramatic seasonal changes and nights of debauchery that come with life in the city.  I’m also pretty committed to Pilates; I try to go at least 3 times a week. I had this phase where I tried all these different crazy fitness fads but honestly, it was terrible. None of them felt like something I could commit to long-term, and it was a relief to finally realize that pushing my body to do something it hated would never really work out. I also have this app on my phone, Yoga Studio, that I’m obsessed with. I use it for travel, or when I have to miss a Pilates class, or when it’s too hellacious outside to schlep myself to the studio. You light some incense, dim the lights, and boom! You’re in the most private yoga studio in the world. 

 

 

Thin Rounded Hoops III, Oblique Pendant on Ball Chain, Pacha Wrist Wrap, Oblique Bangle Thin, Thin Gold Stacking Rings Gyro Cuff, and Artemisa Ring

 

Style icon, why?
Anjelica Huston in Manhattan Murder Mystery, and Bibi Andersson and Liv Ullman in Persona. I like characters and the way their personalities can be articulated through how they present.
 
What is your style credo?
I pretty much have a uniform. It’s very boring, but it’s easy and makes me feel the most like myself.

"The Vaquera Cuff in Black Napa was my first KC piece. I remember thinking, I will never take this off, it’s a part of my arm now.  All my girlfriends kept asking about it, and for awhile it was my go-to gift. It was like a gateway drug. Now, I mix it up more, but I still get so many compliments whenever I bring it back out.  It’s only gotten better with age."  

  

Naked Dangle Earrings, Disc Charm Hoop, Thin Rounded Posts, Oblique Posts, and Disco Box Chain, 

  

What accessories do you like to wear during the day?
I tend to feel naked without some type of hoop.  I like pieces with movement to them.  Recently I’ve been wearing a lot of the Cagancho Cuff in Black which I layer with an Oblique Bangle Thin. I always reach for a cuff when I want to look a little groovier. I like how they can be dressed up or down, depending on your look. 
 
What accessories do you like to wear at night?
The Girona Wrist Wrap in Black Napa! I love its organic take on a bondage-y aesthetic. It’s something you don’t really see that often, and it really epitomizes what I think of as sexy. I love the more dramatic pieces.  Anything sculptural, or that can stand on its own, like the Naked Dangle Earrings.

 Which KC piece do you like to gift your friends?
KC is actually my go-to for gifts. There really is something for everyone; it’s so easy to customize according to your friend’s personal preferences.  Especially with the jewelry, you can always find something that integrates well with a whole range of aesthetics, but that also feels individually tailored and unique.

"What I appreciate most is their versatility; I can’t think of any situation, any environment where they wouldn’t work. Versatility is by far the most important factor when it comes to accessories for me.  My wardrobe is pretty pared down, so I appreciate the way I can mix it up while still keeping a sense of consistency. I’m pretty wear and tear, so I really appreciate their durability, and how they somehow manage to get even better with age. They’re pieces I never get sick of, ones which I find myself returning to again and again."

 Photos by Kendall Conrad using an iPhone X 

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