IN CONVERSATION WITH ELYSE GOYEN, COO, REAL FINE STUDIO — LOS ANGELES

CEE CLEAR x Elyse Goyen 
Chief Operating Officer, Real Fine Studio Los Angeles.

Rooted in a love of timeless craftsmanship, Real Fine Studio creates modern heirlooms designed to be worn every day and treasured for years to come. As Chief Operating Officer, Elyse sits at the intersection of operations, growth and brand building, helping shape the growth of the Los Angeles-based jewellery brand. We spoke to Elyse about building a brand, staying inspired in a fast-moving world, and what never leaves her CEE CLEAR.

WHO IS ELYSE GOYEN?

Elyse: An Australian living in Los Angeles, COO of Real Fine Studio, lover of beautiful objects, old things, good hotels, great lighting & a very full calendar. Proud daughter to the most amazing parents; sister to the best brother, who is also conveniently my best friend; EG to my nearest & dearest! 

I’m happiest somewhere between a spreadsheet & a flea market. I love the balance of building a business while staying deeply connected to beauty, taste & storytelling. I don’t believe in saving things for special occasions: I burn the good candles, use my best china, wear diamonds daily & think beautiful things are meant to be part of everyday life.

YOU'RE COO OF A RAPIDLY GROWING BRAND. WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE DAY-TO-DAY?

Elyse: Every day looks a little different, which is part of what I love. My role sits across operations, sales, production, team management, trunkshows, client experience & the commercial side of the business. Some days I’m deep in numbers & finance, other days I’m in engagement appointments with clients or flying to another city for a trunkshow. Ultimately, my job is to make sure the brand can grow without losing the intimacy, care & attention to detail that makes Real Fine feel special.

WHO IS THE REAL FINE STUDIO WOMAN?

Elyse: She’s self-assured, confident & has an appreciation for quality, craftsmanship & beautiful things. She’s cool without trying too hard - nothing feels forced.

She knows what she likes because she’s taken the time to hone her taste & develop her personal style. She’s not really interested in trends; she’s drawn to pieces that feel personal, timeless & meaningful. Jewelry she can wear every day, that only gets better with age, tells her story over time & eventually becomes an heirloom to pass down.

YOU'RE OFTEN TRAVELLING BETWEEN CITIES, MEETINGS AND MARKETS. WHAT ARE YOUR PACKING NON-NEGOTIABLES?

Elyse: Chanel ballet flats, good denim, Donni kick flare pants for travel days, crisp button-downs… it’s a lifestyle at this point. My Mary Poppins Toteme belt bag; it fits absolutely everything & is the perfect personal item! I also never travel without a LV pouch filled with my wallet, passport, AirPods & chargers for absolutely everything!

I never, ever travel without a book – right now I’m reading Start With Yourself by Emma Grede — & Twinings tea bags! No matter where I’m going, my English Breakfast comes with me. 

& of course my luggage isn’t complete without my jewelry… obviously! 

HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE SIMPLE WHEN YOU'RE ON THE GO AND MOVING BETWEEN TIME ZONES?

Elyse: First & foremost, my OmniLux literally comes EVERYWHERE, I don’t care if it’s just an overnight trip, you better believe it will be packed.

I swear by collagen & colostrum - my team would tell you I’m borderline obsessive about taking my supplements! Par Olive Marine Collagen, Perelel Women’s Daily Trio, ARMRA Colostrum & Pique Daily Immune Liposomal packets are always in a CEE CLEAR when I travel!

In terms of skincare, I’ve learned not to overcomplicate it: hydration, Vitamin C, a good moisturizer & SPF… I am Australian after all & it’s drilled in from a young age (“Slip, Slop, Slap” anyone?). I travel monthly, so I’d rather look fresh & rested than overly done. I also think jewelry does a lot of the heavy lifting - a good pair of diamond studs or tennis necklace will make you look pulled together in about ten seconds!

IN A WORLD THAT MOVES SO QUICKLY, HOW DO YOU STAY INSPIRED AND CONTINUE TO FIND NEW IDEAS?

Elyse: I’m really drawn to things that feel layered & collected over time - whether that’s interiors, design, architecture, art or jewelry. I’m acutely aware of my surroundings & I try to look for beauty & inspiration everywhere: in nature, old magazines, interior books, art galleries, antique markets, travel & hotels.

I don’t know if the best ideas come from trying to find something completely new. I think they come from paying attention, collecting references, trusting your eye, honing your taste & interpreting things in a way that feels personal.

I think the best ideas often come when you step away from the noise.

IF SOMEONE WAS BUYING THEIR FIRST REAL FINE PIECE, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM TO INVEST IN?

Elyse: I’d say start with something you can wear every day, but I am also a big believer in sentimental pieces for milestones! Our Heirloom Signet is so special because it feels personal from the beginning - we have an option to pick your stone & engrave, which makes it all the more meaningful. I have mine in Ocean & love how much it feels like me, it’s something I wear everyday & feels like an important piece of who I am - I feel naked without it. 

Ultimately, the best first piece is always the one you don’t want to take off! I think a classic tennis bracelet or diamond studs are an incredible first investment piece! 

WHAT'S INSIDE YOUR CEE CLEAR?

Elyse: My team would tell you I am a walking pharmacy, so my day-to-day choice is the Mini CEE CLEAR, always stocked with the essentials - Advil, Tylenol, Zyrtex, tissues, tampons, Lucas Paw Paw, Tide pens & a million other things someone always ends up needing.

When I travel, I use two Small CEE CLEAR pouches: one for my supplements & one for skincare. It keeps everything organized & easy to find. Ironically, I don’t actually own a travel jewelry box - so earrings, necklaces & rings are usually traveling somewhat precariously inside ziplock baggies in a CEE CLEAR pouch too!

HOW DO YOU BALANCE CREATIVITY WITH COMMERCIAL DECISION-MAKING?

Elyse: I think the best brands need both. Creativity gives a brand soul, but commercial discipline allows it to grow. We never want to create purely from data, but we also have to understand what our clients are responding to, what they’re wearing, what they’re asking for & how they’re living.

Ultimately Eliza & I are the client, so the sweet spot is equal parts instinct & insight - or, as I like to say, value & vibes. 

WHAT'S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU'D GIVE TO SOMEONE BUILDING THEIR CAREER OR BUSINESS TODAY?

Elyse: Be the person who gives a shit (if I’m allowed to say that). Care more than everyone else. Be curious, be useful, be willing to do the unglamorous work, & don’t underestimate how far consistency & follow-through can take you! 

So much of building a career or business is about becoming someone people can rely on - someone who notices the details, takes initiative, solves problems without being asked & follows through on what they say they’re going to do. 

 

QUICK FIRE

Yellow gold or white gold? Yellow! 

Early flight or late departure?
Late departure, you will rarely catch me at the airport before 9am.

The piece of jewellery you wear most?
My diamond studs & tennis bracelet literally don’t come off.

A place that always inspires you?
Paris… & Pasadena haha! I honestly find inspiration everywhere.

Best coffee or matcha in LA?
Hyped: Maru. Slept on: Highlight Coffee.

Your most-used app?
You know it’s Instagram… but in recent weeks, Substack! 

Current podcast recommendation?
This might be a hot take, but I don’t really listen to podcasts.
However, “Jazz in the Background” is always playing.

The best career advice you've ever received?
Two pieces of advice really stand out to me, one was from my first boss
& one was from my first mentor.

1. Make every client feel like they are the only client you have.
People remember how you made them feel - the care, the attention,
the follow-through. That level of thoughtfulness is everything.

2. You will always be juggling multiple balls -
you need to know which ones bounce & which ones break.
Not everything can have the same urgency, but the art is in
knowing what can wait, what can be delegated & what absolutely
cannot be dropped. This is true of both work & life!

Follow Elyse on Instagram and Substack
Follow Real Fine Studio, Los Angeles.