Cass Dimicco on the Aureum NYC pop-up and Nordstrom launch

Cass Dimicco is the founder and creative director of Aureum, a fashion brand that sells luxury accessories, such as belts, jewelry and eyewear. Inspired by vintage design, she wanted to create luxury jewelry to wear every day.

Aureum means “Gold” in Latin and the brand’s items are plated in 24-karat gold or silver. It’s what Dimicco calls “a little dose of everyday luxury.”

Today, she’s celebrating the brand’s fifth anniversary — and the first anniversary of “The Art of Accessorizing,” the brand’s expansion into eyewear and belts — with a pop-up boutique in New York, open until tomorrow at 251. Rue Elisabeth.

Aureum: The Gallery, as they call it, brings an artistic touch to Soho. It focuses on the power of accessories to elevate minimalist looks and give them a cozy feel with furniture, artwork and accessories.

Since their inception in 2019, some of their biggest milestones hit seven figures in their first year of business, being worn by Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber, and expanding into quality Italian belts.

“The brand was created at a time when I was approaching my 20s and wanted to start dressing in a timeless and chic way,” Dimicco said. “I was tired of chasing trends, and once I created a capsule wardrobe for myself, I felt like accessories played a crucial role in elevating each look.”

The brand claims to have spent “zero dollars” on influencer marketing and celebrity partnerships, saying all endorsements are organic. “As you can imagine, talents like Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley all have a world of options at their fingertips,” Dimicco said. “When I see them choosing Aureum, it gives the brand credibility that we are doing something right. This comes from women who style for themselves, which makes it even more special that they personally choose our pieces.

Aureum, which Dimicco runs alongside partner Matthew Hoyle, recently partnered with Nordstrom to introduce its line of leather belts, called Aureum Fine Leathers. The collection will be sold in 10 of their stores across the country, and . Aureum also sells at Shopbop, Neiman Marcus, FWRD and Revolve.

Their vintage-inspired style is reminiscent of jewelry and belts from the 1980s, as well as minimalist eyewear from the 1990s. These are sophisticated items, and some can blend well into an understated luxury outfit, but others are remarkable pieces with unique metal finishes.

“Since the inception of the brand, we have always prioritized the quality of our products and the same goes for our fine leather belts,” said Dimicco. “We have exhaustively researched the highest quality Italian leather and partnered with a manufacturer who meticulously crafts quality, cutting-edge belts.”

The New York pop-up presents 10 new belt models. Designs include chocolate suede studded belts, burgundy croc style and classic styles. “Aureum was created in our New York apartment and is still the city with the most customers,” Dimicco said. The pop up is filled with wooden furniture by Andrianna Shamaris, including a console table, sculptural chairs, benches and other artistic elements, as well as accessories curated by the LES collection.

Their belts range from minimalist classics to statement belts with larger buckles and studded designs. Statement belts have made a comeback recently, but it doesn’t stop there. “I think with the rise of minimalist and classic clothing, a leather belt is an essential piece to look more polished,” Dimicco said. “Our statement belts are a simple way to add interest to a look as simple as a t-shirt and jeans. Our belts are so universal and can be dressed up or down and styled in endless ways.

Aureum’s jewelry ranges from chunky earrings to bold rings and bracelets. Their best-selling jewelry includes gold earring designs, like the Irina earrings and the Cait earrings.

Aureum does not depend on its logo to share its message. It is one of the logo-free brands that emphasizes luxury craftsmanship. “I think more and more people want accessories that maybe not everyone can be seen in,” she said.

The brand wants to move away from the “influencer brand” culture to stand out in the luxury accessories market.

“We are not an influencer brand, many of our customers have no idea who I am and we want to keep it that way,” Dimicco said.

Next, Dimicco plans to turn Aureum into a fashion house, so stay tuned to find out where clothing will be added to the mix.