Always Accessorized Mom on the Street: Betsy Hill
Whether running kids to practice or running her own business, stay-at-home mom turned jewelry designer Betsy Hill is our Always Accessorized Mom on the Street.
Meet Betsy
Betsy Hill is the designer behind Tilton Street, the Memphis-based jewelry company that specializes in unforgettable statement earrings.
In the midst of home life with her husband John and their four kids, Betsy began creating jewelry as a creative side project. When word spread about Tilton Street's gorgeous hoops and fabulous statement pieces, Betsy became busier than ever working from home. Now she's developing Tilton Street's brand, cheering on other #girlboss companies, employing refugees, giving back with a military discount, and donating a percentage of profits to a local Memphis cause.
Always Accessorized Style
Which three words best describe your style? Well, I feel like I'm two people. My two jobs make me feel like a chameleon. The mom in yoga pants scurrying my kids around could care less what I look like because it's all about efficiency and comfort, and frankly, not about me at all.
But, as the jewelry designer, I get to embrace for a few hours that I'm young and fun. That's when I talk about things that I'm interested in and scout out the trends to incorporate them into my own life. Two totally different styles!
So: I would say Comfortable, Unexpected, and whichever role I'm in at the moment—Always Accessorized.
Where are your favorite places to shop? Well, Tilton Street is for sure my most favorite place to shop for accessories! And since I need convenient shopping I love anything online. I got my staples from Nordstrom for a long time because of free returns. I follow fashion bloggers on social media and shop from their recommendations for my fun trendy items that I add to my staples. Recently, I've enjoyed supporting fellow mom designers: one is BURU, another is Gal Meets Glam, and a new favorite local Memphis designer is TIENA.
Who’s your favorite style icon? Jackie Kennedy, hands down. Love her.
Always Accessorized Style Advice
What’s your best style advice? Collect your staple pieces, then research the trends at the start of a season and grab just a few items that you can add to the clothes you already have. You won't break the bank! Also, as a busy mom, with a fried brain much of the time, I love taking out the guesswork. I print out pictures of cute outfit combinations and have them in my closet to give me ideas. It's perfect since I'm always running late and need to throw something on before a girls' night without a thought!
What article of clothing or accessory would you not want to live without? Statement earrings. DUH. Do I even need to explain myself? I will anyway! You can be wearing a completely plain outfit, but when you add some amazing earrings . . . not only will you be feeling fierce all night, but it's also a way to be different. I love having earrings that no one else has!
Which trend would you want to see make a comeback? '70s fashion! AND scrunchies and headbands!! And they HAVE come back and I'm embracing it with my whole heart. All three of my daughters go to school with scrunchies on their arms now and I love it.
What should NEVER make a comeback? Bangs. Maybe just because they look terrible on me. (Editor's Note: We think her bangs are adorable!)
What fashion did you love at the time, but now cringe when you see old photos? My freshman year in college my sorority sisters and I all wore solid color Ralph Lauren polos with polka dot silk ribbon belts. This should never come back in style.
What’s your best style secret? Definitely Spanx, a great highlighter makeup, and big colorful earrings. They can distract from anything else going on—all eyes go straight to those beauties! Also, I've learned from being in the jewelry business that brunettes need not wear black earrings. Brunettes should wear white or bright colored earrings. Blondes should wear black earrings; lighter colors won't show up as well. Don't waste your time buying earrings that can't be SEEN!
Stilettos or flats? Stilettos when I play designer, flats when I play mom. Loving my Golden Goose shoes for an in-between look.
Always Accessorized Family
What’s your favorite way to spend time with your family? Just all being together. Both my husband and I are entrepreneurs who work a lot. And because our kids' sports schedules are crazy, we divide and conquer in order to get everyone to their activities. So, when we can just be together as a family, it is heaven for me. At least until it's time to break up a sibling fight.
What’s been your best family vacation? Going skiing in Park City, Utah. We love it there. It's our happy place. It's so fun to bring our kids into our favorite hobby, and I look forward to many years to come skiing as a family of six.
Best advice you’ve received: Make sure to have family-only vacations, with only our family unit, without kids bringing friends along. We've found it to be the most bonding experience. I love seeing the joy our kids get from being with each other.
What’s your go-to family dinner? When the shipt shopper brings me a rotisserie chicken. And also Chick-Fil-A on gymnastics night.
What’s your favorite restaurant? Grappa in Park City, Utah.
Always Accessorized Life
What’s your favorite show to binge watch? Gossip Girls and Desperate Housewives. (Don't judge.)
What’s your favorite beach read? I'm reading Becoming by Michelle Obama right now. I love girl power: the kind where you love being a strong woman and watching woman reach their goals and being treated with respect, the apolitical kind.
What’s the best song to dance to when nobody’s watching? Anything my 10-year-old daughter puts on Alexa. I love our family dance parties.
If you could spend a day with anyone from history, living or deceased, who would it be? Jesus. But also, my husband's ancestors were pirates, supposedly. So that would be pretty cool too.
What’s at the top of your travel bucket list? Ahhh! Napa Valley, and also Italy!
What’s your favorite way to unwind at the end of a long day? Kids to bed on time, and asleep! Then I'm sitting on the couch with my husband; my signature Tito's with fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice in one hand; a few new beads and some pliers in the other (I'm always working on fresh designs!); watching a great thought-provoking movie like, recently, If Beale Street Could Talk. The story was gut-wrenching but it was incredibly moving.
Your Always Accessorized Style
What a great example of practical yet fabulous style! Betsy's look is versatile enough to work from gymnastics practice to meetings with vendors, to Girls Night. We love the way her passion for style and business pairs with the obvious joy she experiences in family time together.
Even in a plain outfit, with whatever else is going wrong, follow Betsy's lead and grab some big, colorful statement earrings from Tilton Street! Things are looking up already.
And for more stylish moms, be sure to check out FamilyApp’s Mom on the Street Channel.
