This Jewelry Brand Is Making a Whole New Case for Self-Gifting

Ever thought about finally jumping into a career in the fashion industry (or making a career change in general)? Exciting? Yes. Totally terrifying? Also yes. Especially if said change involves a move across the country to one of the world’s most intimidating (and expensive) cities, and exchanging a steady paycheck from a tech giant for a solo start without a guaranteed income. You might think “crazy,” “brave,” or “no freaking way”—all thoughts we had, too, until we sat down with someone who did exactly that.

Krystal Bick of This Time Tomorrow is pretty much as fearless as they come, and she’s living proof that pulling the trigger on working for yourself can be seriously rewarding (and the fast-track to learning a whole lot about yourself). We caught up with the writer and entrepreneur to talk about her new life in NYC, how it felt to quit a job other people would kill for, and why, when it comes to her Forevermark jewelry, she’s all about buying pieces that celebrate who she is rather than what she’s done. Prepare your pens and paper: These tips are worth jotting down.

Krystal wears a dress by Mara Hoffman, shoes by Dior, Diamond Stackable Rings from Forevermark Tribute™ Collection, and Diamond Layering Pendants from The Forevermark Tribute™ Collection.

ON HER DREAM OF MOVING TO NYC:

“I had always dreamed of living in New York City—an obsession I blame on both Carrie Bradshaw and Annie Hall. After a detour to San Francisco post-college landed me smack-dab in the middle of Silicon Valley for a few years, I eventually made the long-awaited hop over to New York City, and I haven’t looked back since.”

ON HER PRE–SELF-EMPLOYED JOB:

“I worked in social media marketing at Google for a number of their products on the shopping team. It was an incredible five years. I worked with and learned from some amazingly smart people.”

ON WHAT IT REALLY FEELS LIKE TO MAKE A CAREER CHANGE: 

“I’d be lying if I said the choice didn’t scare the hell out of me. Even after years of working closely with my blog management team to make sure I was on track to be in a good place to do so, it still didn’t come as a light decision to make.”

ON TASKING THE RISKS THAT COUNT:

“Worst-case scenario, if you don’t like it or realize it’s not for you, or just plain-ass fail at it, what’s the worst that’s going to happen? You’ll have tried, and you’ll figure something else out after that.”

ON HOW SHE STARTED HER BUSINESS:

“This Time Tomorrow was created on a whim eight years ago as I was about to graduate college in the midst of a recession. I stumbled upon the fashion-blogging community almost by accident but was hooked instantly, and wanted a place of my own to express my personal style, exercise my photography muscles, and give a home to my writing.”

ON HER BEST ADVICE FOR ENTREPRENEURS-TO-BE:

“First and foremost, do your homework. Make sure you have a business plan in place with several contingency plans as well. As much as possible, try to pad that piggy bank (because the day will come when you may need to dig into it), but ultimately, let the fear of the risk drive you forward.”

ON FINDING HER UNIQUE PLACE IN THE INDUSTRY:

“Over the years, I’ve honed my point of view and think of it as a destination for a girl like me: discerning, curious, and expressive; looking for sophisticated yet fun style inspiration and cultured lifestyle tips; and, above all, a place to connect with other like-minded women.”

ON HER GREATEST SURPRISE ABOUT WORKING FOR HERSELF:

“The fact I can wake up each morning excited to work on the business I’m building is something that never ceases to make me stop and smile.”

ON HOW HER FRIENDS WOULD DESCRIBE HER:

“An empathetic old soul. With too many shoes.”

ON THE MOST COMMON MISCONCEPTION OF WORKING IN FASHION:

“Fashion feels much more approachable and democratic [than I thought]. I truly believe there’s a seat for everyone at the table.”

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING MENTORS:

“I have a number of previous managers and peers at Google who I consider mentors, and I have a number of amazing style influencer friends who are killing the game right now. I look up to them immensely.”

ON HER ADVICE FOR WOMEN JUST STARTING OUT:

“I think my biggest lesson from my 20s was embracing the beauty of starting over when you need to. It’s scary and it’s nerve-wracking, but it can also be the biggest (and important!) pivot you’ll make, going after that life you deep down know you want.”

ON HER PERSONAL QUALITIES THAT HELPED HER SUCCEED:

“Tenacity, grit, and humility. I can’t stress humility enough, actually. Being able to recognize that you can’t do it all and that you actually need someone else’s help is a huge step in working for yourself.”

Krystal wears dress by La Ligne, shoes by Chanel, Diamond Stackable Rings from Forevermark Tribute™ Collection, and Diamond Layering Pendants from The Forevermark Tribute™ Collection.

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TOOTING YOUR OWN HORN:

“It can be about celebrating what you want to celebrate, even if there isn’t a ‘milestone.’ [That’s why] I love the idea of self-gifting jewelry. It’s a beautiful and meaningful way to celebrate yourself that can literally be worn on a daily basis.”

ON THE BEST GIFT TO GIVE YOURSELF:

“I think there’s something very rewarding about being able to look down at a piece of jewelry and remind myself of how hard I’ve worked to get to this point, and there’s this tangible acknowledgement of the risks I took."

“That’s what I like about building a collection [of jewelry]. You can build it uniquely so it feels like layers of your personality. You can visualize the pieces that add up to your perseverance.”

ON HER GO-TO JEWELRY:

“Dainty and delicate. Layered necklaces, my go-to stacks of rings and bracelets, and, if I’m feeling fancy, a pair of statement earrings.”

ON HER SHOPPING METHOD:

“There’s fun to be had in experimenting with new styles and trends, but ultimately, at the end of the day, I want to make sure I’m building a wardrobe of staples I love.”

ON HER FOREVERMARK JEWELRY:

“What I love particularly about Forevermark [jewelry pieces] is that they’re timeless and effortless, and I’m all about finding pieces I can invest in and wear for a really long time, like a great set of stackable rings. I feel like everything is very understated but cool and elegant, and minimal in a way that still feels impactful.”

ON HER JEWELRY PHILOSOPHY:

“Wear your favorite jewelry every day. Life’s too short.”

ON THE BEST PART ABOUT NYC:

“I love New York for its ‘center of everything’ feeling. I love that at any time of day, I can walk outside and find something amazing, new, and different happening pretty much at any corner.”

AND ON THE WORST PART:

“Getting a storage unit for my closet was inevitable. I always knew Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment was far from the norm; I just didn’t realize how far from the norm it was.”

ON THE ONE THING SHE MISSES FROM HOME:

“As far as the West Coast, I miss the accessibility to nature. I used to be able to hop in my car in San Francisco, drive 20 minutes north, and be surrounded by the most amazing redwood trees. It was breathtaking and humbling.”

ON HOW HER STYLE HAS CHANGED SINCE MOVING TO NYC:

“I've never been afraid to take risks with my stylistic choices, but what I love about New York is how much this city fosters that personal creativity. Just walking outside my door most days, I witness some of the best street style around. It’s a sartorial playground with no rules.”

ON EAST COAST VERSUS WEST COAST FASHION:

“There’s an inevitable ease and comfort that gets prioritized with West Coast style, whereas East Coast style prioritizes self-expression.”

ON HER FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP:

“I scour a lot of my go-to sites and shops pretty often, usually frequenting Reformation, Shopbop, and The RealReal. There’s also an amazing vintage shop in the Village I love popping into for amazing accessories, Madame Matovu.”

ON HER MUST-HAVE SUMMER TREND:

“Lately I’ve been loving all shades of lilac.”

ON THE ONE THING THAT MAKES AN OUTFIT:

“I’m a firm believer in accessories making an outfit—you can be wearing this very simple, classic black dress but play things up in your personality with your accessories.”