Lauren Monteagudo grew up in the abundant city lights of Miami, where fashion was the rising extra in a backdrop scene defined by music, culture, and attitude. Having no formal education in the fashion industry, Monteagudo immersed herself into the small but rising fashion world of this major coastal city. “I knew that fashion networking was very limited in Miami,” says Monteagudo wearing a loose white tank-top and faded skinny jeans. “But, I also knew that it was out there and that I had to make things happen. Knowing that I had to make moves on my own only fed my passion” she adds. Monteagudo, at 24 years old has received much acclaim for her newly launched fashion jewelry line, AU 79. The emblem might ring a bell from your junior high years of Chemistry class. It’s Monteagudo’s innovative concept stemming from the symbol in the periodic table of elements for Gold – AU 79, that becomes the piece de resistance in an otherwise jaded world of jewelry design. The jewelry is compromised of pieces made from 14K gold, and all are available in three different metals: white, yellow and rose gold. With a signature shovel charm, she aims to dig her way through the clutter and reach the woman on-the-go. A woman who cares about her look, but could care less about perfection. “This line was really made for a woman to feel comfortable and fabulous,” says Monteagudo. “I think that when a woman is able to find a balance between the two, confidence radiates – and nothing is sexier than confidence.” Her line has already caught the attention of young Hollywood and has been seen on the likes of reality TV star Lauren Conrad. “It was a pretty cool feeling,” says Monteagudo, of seeing her jewelry on a celebrity. “Your hard work finally pays off and you feel this immense sense of relief, like ‘yes, they get it too.’” Monteagudo admits that her current focus is promoting the AU 79 line, which has been a long time in the making. “All my energy is on this line right now,” she says. But adds that she has a box of ideas that she can’t wait to unravel and share with the world. “There’s so much I want to do right now, but if there’s something that I’ve come to learn is that patience is not only a virtue but a beautiful necessity,” says Monteagudo. When asked what she hoped that AU79 would accomplish for young women, she noted, “I hope the pieces become a must-have, and inspire woman to become go-getters of their dreams and ambitions.”
-Melanie Garcia
