Chari Cuthbert has not slept much since Michelle Obama’s speech on Monday, the first night of the four-day Democratic National Convention. “It’s like that really good dream when you wake up and you’re like, I had a dream that Michelle Obama wore my necklace at the DNC, and then you’re like, Michelle Obama actually wore my necklace,” she said Tuesday morning. The former first lady was one of the few who managed to meet the challenges of a virtual convention, in both her speech and her presentation. She spoke with urgency and clarity about the challenges the nation faces, all while wearing a necklace that said “VOTE.” It made the viewer look twice, the small but clear letters pulling one in as Obama delivered her message. And, as is her way, she promoted an American brand in the process. Cuthbert is a Los Angeles–based jewelry designer and her company, ByChari, has been popular with the influencer set, especially those who are mothers, since its founding in 2012. (Some fans spell out their child’s name or initials in the lettering, or simply proclaim themselves a “MAMA.”)Before Cuthbert drove home from her L. A. office Monday night, the calls for interviews, texts from friends and family, and flurry of social media posts spilled over. It was overwhelming. “I sat at my desk and just cried. It was like everything you’ve ever worked for all came rushing in in, like, a minute,” Cuthbert said. “Mrs. Obama is wearing your necklace. I mean, that
[More]
