Your Invitation
Join Katie Lowes, Isabelle Fuhrman, Danielle Panabaker, Mandana Dayani, & more inside The Retaility’s Summer Solstice celebration
held in collaboration with Lightbox
Photography by Emma McIntyre & River Callaway
“Speech!” chanted Katie Lowes, during our lifestyle platform’s Summer Solstice brunch with lab-grown jewelry company Lightbox.
Lowes clinked her silverware against a glass of sparkling water in attempt to help quiet a room that included Natalie Morales, Lindsay Price, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jaime Ray Newman, Danielle Panabaker, Nikki DeLoach, Kelly Rizzo, Nichelle Hines, Mandana Dayani, Nina Parker, producer Hilary Shor, & stylists Tara Aquilina and Kimmy Erin. Everyone immediately looked Lowes’s way, prompting her to laugh: “Wow, I’m really loud!”
With that, The Retaility’s founder Lindzi Scharf addressed the group. “I've done a handful of these now, and it still doesn't feel normal for me to do any of [this],” Scharf said, smiling. “Thank you guys so much for being here. It means more than you could possibly know.” She continued, “Long-form storytelling is what's in my heart, and it still has a voracious audience. I'm so appreciative because so many of you have been featured on the site, some of you are about to be featured, [and] some of you I hope to feature in the future. These events were born out of bringing people together from the web pages of the site but also…”
Scharf paused, then turned serious. “If people weren't going to put me in a room to get dressed and smile, I decided to create my own room. Because as many of you also know, it was an interesting time in my life that unfolded [shortly after the site’s launch],” she said, alluding to the passing of her late daughter, Evan. “It's important to get dressed, and it's important to smile.”
“I also clearly want to thank Lightbox for making today possible. You're supporting long -form storytelling and independent journalism, and you’re doing it beautifully and optimistically.”
“It’s so pretty,” Lowes said of the pieces on display.
“I want it all!” added Hines.
Price and Scharf were among those who wore lab-grown diamonds by Lightbox at the event. Price paired her stunning Hawthorne Hoop earrings with a look by Simkhai.
In celebration of its new summer collections, Lightbox presented a curated display of its latest fashion jewelry, highlighted by the debut of a vibrant yellow lab-grown diamond from the Soleil capsule.
The edit featured modern hoops, huggies and studs, alongside rolo chains, mixed metals, tone-on-tone silhouettes, kinetic rings and earrings, and a perfect-for-layering medallion pendant — plus the brand’s signature solitaire studs and diamond tennis collections.
Launched in 2018, Lightbox is an innovative lab-grown diamond company offering premium fashion jewelry at accessible prices. Lightbox lab-grown diamonds are available in pink, blue and white and are grown using 100% renewable wind energy. Each piece of Lightbox jewelry is handcrafted with stones that are renowned for their quality and low carbon footprint, and with a transparent and inclusive approach, Lightbox offers consumers extraordinary product at exceptional value.
The event featured a custom coffee cart and Proper Health’s lavender lemonade, a necessity given the unseasonably hot day. Price brought over a pitcher of the pretty purple beverage. “It’s Amanda Kloots’s company,” she said, kindly pouring a glass for Scharf and Rizzo.
The Little Hat-catered menu included Cardamom Crepes with whipped honey brown butter, albion, and strawberries; Chia Seed Pudding with coconut, almond granola, and blueberries; Gravlax Board with beet cured Atlantic salmon, pickles, marinated fromage blanc, and toasted sourdough; Gem Lettuces featuring local lettuces, chicory, heirloom radish, pecorino, chive, parsley with a walnut vinaigrette; and Farro Salad featuring K&K Ranch golden raisins, arugula, parmesan, mint, pistachio, and lemon vinaigrette.
Scharf opted for a dress by Veronica Beard; Panabaker stunned in Anna Quan; and Newman wore a delicate floral number by Zimmermann.
Guests were gifted the ultimate summer sparkle — a dainty anklet with bezel-set diamonds delicately stationed along a chic, effortless chain.
The intimate brunch was also held to celebrate The Retaility’s latest “In Conversation” interview subjects, including Morales and Erin, whose feature will be released next month.
“One last thought,” Scharf said, addressing the crowd. “Hilary Shor, you say I always sound like I'm gonna cry. How’d I do?”
“You did good,” Shor said. “It’s okay, I'm gonna show you how it's done later.”
“Cry, girl, cry!” someone called out.
Scharf laughed. “I do want to cry because everyone’s here.”
