Natalie O. enters Palm Beach with Urban Zen residency

Natalie O. Fine Jewelry will launch a seasonal residency at Donna Karan’s Urban Zen in Palm Beach in mid-November, marking the brand’s first retail presence in the market.

Running through April 2027, the residency will feature pieces from the Café Society, High Street and La Serenissima collections, including the Harlow Cuff. Founder and designer Natalie Katz O’Brien will also be available for custom design appointments throughout the season.

The move adds a Palm Beach location as the brand continues to develop its New York business. For O’Brien, it also builds on longstanding ties to South Florida.

“Palm Beach has always been a special place for me. I grew up spending our winters in Boca, and for the past 15 years, I’ve spent so much time here with my daughter riding in Wellington,” she told FashionUnited. “I’ve always loved walking along Worth Avenue, so there’s a real personal connection for me.”

The residency gives Natalie O. a seasonal setting to introduce its collections to new customers and work directly with clients on bespoke commissions. Custom options will include birthstone-led designs, astrological pieces through the Soulmates collection and the reworking of existing heirlooms.

The brand’s collections draw on different cities, with Café Society referencing Paris, High Street taking inspiration from London and La Serenissima from Venice. Its jewellery is made in 18-karat gold, according to the company.

O’Brien sees a connection between her existing customer base and the Palm Beach market.

“There are so many similarities between New York and Florida in the way people appreciate style, elegance and getting dressed in a way that makes you feel good about yourself. I think there’s a natural connection between the two,” she said. “Expanding into Palm Beach gives me the opportunity to meet new clients, build relationships and spend time with people who connect with the way I see jewelry and personal style, while continuing to grow our presence in New York.”

The residency places direct interaction with the designer alongside the ready-made collection. O’Brien described those conversations as central to how she develops relationships with customers.

“For me, nothing replaces meeting someone in person, hearing their stories and seeing how they wear the pieces. Being in Palm Beach allows me to do more of that in a place where I feel completely at home.”

Urban Zen, founded by Karan, brings together fashion, home furnishings and artisanal craftsmanship within a broader lifestyle retail concept. For O’Brien, the seasonal partnership also represents a personal transition.

“For me, this residency is an opportunity to grow as an artist and as a person, while reconnecting with a place that has been part of my life for so long,” she said. “It brings together a little bit of my past and a little bit of my future, which feels very special.”