We're just ga-ga over the quirky style of VeraMeat Jewelry: cowboys, astronauts, dinosaurs, knights in shining armor, knuckle busters -- what's not to love? Amy Sedaris, Miranda July, and Tilda Swinton are also fans of the line. We chatted with owner & designer Vera Balyura to find out more about her fashion inspirations & must-haves.

What inspires your work? Friends walking NYC streets, vintage toys & brains, space-the final frontier, ghetto science.



Who are your favorite designers? Marc Jacobs, Jil Sander, Erin Fetherston, Prada, Zac Posen & Yohji Yamamoto. I'd love to get a Vivienne Westwood men's suit cut for me. Oh, can't forget traveling sales rats & pigeons.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? For lips Lorac Sheer Luck lip stain, Prescriptives Vineyard lipstick & Rosebud perfume co. lip salve. For eyes a smokey eye, but not with black -- buy copper or dark rose. For clothes a leather jacket with hood, black leather fingerless gloves, a silky messy t-shirt, black j brand 10-12" jeans or Built by Wendy lillington ink jeans & head wrap of any sort. Plus a Mink Deville/Jack Ladder inspired Italian Shoe.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers? Make what you yourself want to wear. Don't be pressured to follow trends, set new classics.

Where can people find your work? Shopflick.com & verameat.com which has stores listed as well.

Anything else? Thanks so much for checking out my VERAMEAT!

We love all of the amazing independent designers out there and we wanted to find out more about what makes these creative types tick. If you do too, check out more of our Indie Designer Interviews.