Ann Dexter-Jones emerges from the boudoir of her light-filled, airy, artfilled, book-filled home. It’s the pitch-perfect ideal of what a loft in Manhattan’s SoHo should be. She’s as fresh as an English rose, still, not looking a day older than when I first became acquainted with ADJ some 22 years ago and counting.
She remains that glamorous yet grounded and effortlessly chic fixture of fashion, music and high society. The better half of the rock ’n’ roll royal (and Foreigner founder) Mick Jones, she’s an amazing mother who’s spawned no less than five Mensa-level genius offspring who’ve themselves become household names in the pop cultural zeitgeist including, of course, superstar music producer Mark Ronson; singer/songwriter/ DJ Samantha Ronson; fashion designer Charlotte Ronson; musician Alexander Dexter-Jones and actor/director/writer Annabelle Dexter-Jones. I so want to come for Thanksgiving dinner—I mean, who wouldn’t?
ADJ’s idea for empty-nest syndrome was to rejig the mindset and focus her passion on a bespoke, handcrafted line of artisanal haute joaillerie—bracelets, earrings, necklaces and pearls honed through gold and sterling silver, many a nod to carbon diamonds, rubies, sapphires and pearls. An exuberant iconoclastic collection inspired, no doubt, by her globetrotting lifestyle.
On this glorious sun-splashed early summer New York City afternoon, she is barefoot, in a pair of jeans and men’s-style button-down white shirt. Her neck, not surprisingly, is graced with an elegant rope of diamonds; her fingers and wrists with gold statement pieces; her jeans are from Khaite; and the shirt, again no surprise, is from The Row. ADJ remains the doyenne of elegant nonchalance. And so we popped the bottle of Moët and, for the next 90 minutes, talked shop, so to speak.
Well, first of all, congratulations on the breaking news, Ann! You’ve been asked by a major talent agency (UTA) to begin penning your memoirs. Amazing.
Yes, it’s still very early breaking news, George. It’s exciting, and it all happened so organically and is still in its early stages, but it’s truly exciting. It just feels like a natural progression.
Well, if it’s anything like the audacious debut of the Ann DexterJones bespoke line of jewelry 11 years ago, this memoir will be as seminal. When we think back to 2009 and the launch of your line, when you had the audacity to debut the collection during that year’s Art Basel fair in Miami Beach, one can only assume your statement’s intent from the get-go was that this is not just fine jewelry, this is art.
That actually wasn’t a conscious statement of mind—that was all serendipitous. Debuting the line during that art fair that, too, was just organic. But I do consider my jewelry wearable art.
And there’s a certain machismo, a rock ’n’ roll flex to the core of the collection. The signature Cubanlink-styled sterling silver, pave-diamonds studded ID bracelets, for instance, and the chunky, odd pearl danglers—and immediately thought Matthieu Blazy should be calling Ann DexterJones for a Chanel collab incorporating your take on pearl earrings.
What a thought, GW—tell him! [Laughs]
The ADJ range with the earrings—love the sophisticated crescent-shaped drop earrings in solid gold, sparkling with diamonds and rubies. Not to mention the butterfly-shaped inspired earrings that make any heart flutter, so light and yet studded with sparkling yellow sapphires. Butterflies, long seen as a symbol of transformation and energy shifts—and yours are absolutely divine.
And you have to remember that all these pieces are individually handcrafted, featuring the finest metals and precious stones with the help of some of the best craftspeople in New York City. And I love my baroque pearls because they’re also atypical.
There needs to be a Chanel collaboration, Ann. Call up Dame Anna! She lives up the street. Does your famous Oscar- and Grammy-winning music producer son Mark Ronson own any pieces?
Funny you mention that. When Mark worked on that hugely celebrated album with Bruno Mars, and then Chris Martin and Coldplay called him to ask him and Bruno to make a surprise cameo with his band at the Super Bowl that year, he called me up... “Mum, I’m so excited, I was hoping you could create something for both Bruno and me.” So I had two of the signature ID bracelets with the best carbon-produced diamonds, and on the back, inscribed: “we crashed the Super Bowl Bruno.”
The moment I realized that I ought to design for others was probably that moment when a reporter from The Los Angeles Times approached me at some event, asked about the bracelet I was wearing, and then asked to do a story on me, and then and there, something clicked. I always say nobody needs another piece of jewelry, but when they see mine, they must want one, too. And, yes, I do have a lot of male clients.
I love it. And your 40 years of studying Reiki also played an integral role in the design narrative.
I design with the idea that these are pieces that are key to your soul. I’ve studied Reiki for more than 40 years.
Here’s my most favorite Mick Jones + ADJ sighting ever. It was in LA circa 1995; I was in residence at the Sunset-Marquis. I remember being poolside, basking in the glorious late afternoon golden Hollywood sunshine, and I look up and see Mick and Ann emerging from their poolside room to take in the pool scene. Oh! My Gawwd! They were so cool, exuding all that rock ’n’ roll royalty. ADJ is chicer than even Jane Birkin ever was, and there she was, legs crossed, comfortable in a simple white T-shirt and short skirt, with that ADJ head of hair. It’s as if Marisa Berenson and Sonia Rykiel had a hair tryst to create that signature look of yours. The entire moment, the scene, the setting that afternoon glow by the pool of Hollywood’s celebrated hotel, especially loved by the icons of rock ’n’ roll and there was Ann and Mick! I’ll never forget it.
We never stayed in the Sunset-Marquis bungalows like everybody else. We loved staying in one of those cheesy rooms by the main pool so we could swan in and out right there.
That’s exactly where I saw you. BTW, I love the big-face watches.
We call those the Wilson Pickett watches—the Midnight Hour—and Kate Moss also owns one. It’s an homage to the classic Wilson Pickett song. And I always have a slogan for all my pieces, and this one is—keep the dial always at midnight so you never have to leave the party.
No wonder Kate owns one.
And what about these pieces I like to call the black-tie Warhol bolo state, the piece, which was a commission with the Warhol people, which started as a commemorative piece done on the 25th year of his passing. The sterling silver bolo with a bow-tie clasp.
Queenious! I must own one—one day. By the way, what was The Foreigner classic that Mick wrote about you? Wasn’t it “Cold As Ice?” [Laughs]
No, that was the ex-wife—I can’t go into that story, but I’ll tell you this one. Early in our relationship, he was always asking to marry me, and I always said no, I’m not ready yet. I didn’t feel the need to be married. I told him I’d have his baby, but I didn’t need to be married. A few months later, I’m in my bedroom in London, and I hear Mick screaming, “You gotta wake up! You gotta wake up, I’ve written a song!” Of course, I told him to go away, I need my sleep. But he walks into the bedroom and starts warbling the early chorus of “I Want To Know What Love Is.”
And the rest is history. You’ve long said, “My most precious jewels are my family and friends.” I hope I’m one of them, Darlinka. The collection isn’t found in any brick-and-mortar store. It was once sold at Barneys New York and Collete in Paris. Sadly, both no longer exist. So if, say, Sombr’s stylist were to call with a request for that turquoise diamond-clad silver ID bracelet, to order a stack to grace his skinny wrists for the next red carpet calling, who would his people call?
Simple. Direct all inquiries to anndexterdesign@gmail.com. Isn’t that original? [Laughs]
It’s absolutely genius. Just like you, ADJ.
