Stellene Volandes is the editor in chief of Town & Country and the Editorial Director of Elle Decor. She is the author of Jeweler: Masters, Mavericks, and Visionaries of Modern Design. Her second book, Jewels That Made History, will be published by Rizzoli in Fall 2020.

Creative director, Matt Berman’s eclectic career has spanned almost two decades. He started his career at 22 working under the legendary art director Regis Pagniez who brought European flair to the American masses with the launch of the Elle Magazine in New York in 1986. Under Mr. Pagniez’s guidance, Matt learned first-hand the secrets of classic Swiss magazine design and the importance of arresting imagery.

After Elle, Matt was chosen to serve as the creative director of what would be known as the most successful launch in magazine history – the creation of John F. Kennedy Jr’s George Magazine. The European influence that Matt embraced during his formative years working at Elle can be seen clearly in the bold design and iconic covers of George Magazine. The debut cover of Cindy Crawford dressed at George Washington photographed by Herb Ritts established Matt as a photographer’s art director creating one sell-out cover after another, collaborating with talent like Mario Sorrenti, Ellen V on Unwerth and Craig McDean.

After the passing of Mr. Kennedy, Matt spent five years in Paris expanding his career from magazines to brand consulting. Matt worked on projects alongside of masters Azzadine Alaia, Christian Lacroix and Alber Elbaz. He collaborated with celebrated editor Anne Chabrol, redesigning titles for The Marie Claire Group as well as serving as a special projects creative director at the legendary newspaper Liberation under its founder, Serge July. He teamed up with Le Monde fashion editor, Laurence Benaim in the creation of the glossy Stiletto Magazine while simultaneously heading up assignments for Paco Rabanne and LVMH.

Matt returned to New York in 2006 to serve as creative director of the Bergdorf Goodman magazine. Corralling top talent like Cerdic Buchet, Max farago and Alasdair McLellan to establish a new way to look at the classic American Brand. Matt continued to consult with brands doing projects for Tommy Hilfiger, Hennessy, and Tods until being tapped by Patrick Wade and David DeMattei overseeing all creative channels at Lucky Brand Jeans in Los Angeles.

Today, Matt consults on a wide range of luxury brands combining his rich experience with a 21st century understanding of digital age strategy and execution. Matt and the team of The Matt Berman Studio conceive of campaigns that are not only smart and visually iconic, but function effectively across the platforms of digital, packaging, in-store design, film and social media

As the Chief Creative Officer and Public Relations Director of Fred Leighton and Kwiat, Rebecca Selva directs the curation, styling and design of two renowned jewelry brands.

When Selva joined Fred Leighton in 1992, it was an illustrious jewel box of vintage collectibles with an esteemed following. Her vision raised its profile, elevating Fred Leighton to a global brand, synonymous with glamour and rarity. For more than a quarter-century, Rebecca’s passion and unmatched eye for design has enabled her to work with and sell some of the most notable and important works of jewelry from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.

Credited with bringing antique and vintage jewelry to the red carpet, and expanding its relevance to a global audience, Rebecca’s curatorial eye and innate sense of styling has forged relationships in Hollywood and beyond, establishing her as a most respected figure in the jewelry industry. A close collaborator to costume designers, editors and curators alike, Selva’s extensive knowledge of period jewelry, art history and her ability to express the modernity and wearability of vintage jewelry, has shaped the visual narrative on screen for Marie Antoinette, The Devil Wears Prada and Sex and The City, through the lens of jewelry and its relevance today, creating iconic moments in fashion and film.

A rich understanding of history’s most important jewelry eras imbued with boundless imagination, Selva has helped build some of the most important private jewelry collections. She also spotlights exceptional new talent, such as jewelry designer Lauren Adriana, introducing them to the market through Fred Leighton, championing the next generation of modern masters.

In recent years, Rebecca has expanded her role giving creative direction to the design of Kwiat’s diamond collections and important one-of-a-kind jewels.

Selva holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bryn Mawr College where she studied Economics and Art History. She later earned a jewelry design degree from FIT and completed the Sotheby’s Works of Art course, an intensive program in the fine and decorative arts departments of the international auction house.