Adornment + Theory

Viviana Langhoff founded Adornment + Theory in Chicago in 2017. She had studied fine art and design at the Art Institute of Chicago and worked for jewelers in both fine and art jewelry. The name pairs adornment, the history of jewelry from the first civilisations, with theory, the studio practice of living artists. The shop shows both. Langhoff's own fine jewelry sits beside pieces by Jennie Dowie, Jules Kim, Alicia Goodwin and Laura Wood. Custom work and engagement rings are a large part of the business. The store describes itself as a company powered by and for women and people of color. Its first year closed with a pop-up event with tattoo artist Kelsey Moore, for which the line stretched two blocks. In May 2021 the Logan Square shop doubled in size to an 1,100 square foot showroom so that events no longer spilled into the street. Instore Magazine has twice profiled the store in its America's Coolest Stores coverage, in 2018 and again in 2022. That year Langhoff was also one of 13 designers in the De Beers Code of Origin Radiance project at the Las Vegas Couture show. The shop has since moved to a new storefront at 1433 W. Chicago Avenue, where it continues to host events for its community of artists and clients.