Stories On Style | Maria Dueñas Jacobs
Courtesy of Taylor Jewell
It is a great pleasure to introduce this month’s Stories on Style guest, Maria Dueñas Jacobs.
Join us as we chat about the inspiration behind Super Smalls, Maria's favourite family holiday traditions, the most important pieces of advice she and her husband hope to pass on to their children, and much more.
Celia X
Balance
Maria it is a pleasure to meet you - we are all such fans of Super Smalls and your beautiful brand. As an accessories aficionado and former Accessories Director at ELLE, you have long had an eye for extraordinary pieces. Tell us, how did it all begin? What sparked the idea for Super Smalls?
It started with my daughter Luna. She was 5 and always wanted to play with my jewelry. She had no idea it was valuable, she just thought it was beautiful. I went looking for play jewelry for her and nothing looked like the real grown-up thing. As an editor, you’re trained to find the extraordinary, so I wanted to give kids that same gasp adults get opening a Tiffany blue box.
From there it grew into crafts, dress-up and play. We come at it from a fashion angle and a mom angle, so everything feels luxe but at an attainable price, always with a sense of humour. The two things we hear most are ‘I wish this existed when I was little’ and ‘This is so thoughtful.' And it is, because a lot of thought goes into every single product.
As a mother to three running a hugely successful business, how do you strike the balance between work and motherhood?
Every working mom gets asked this, and what I've become comfortable with is giving myself permission to admit there's no such thing as perfect balance. I'm a mom, a wife, a business owner, a friend, and I also need to take care of myself. That's a lot, but it's not unique to me. So I plan ahead as much as I can, with lots of calendar invites, and when I can't make something, I explain why to my girls. Being a mom will always be my priority. I won't get it 100% right, and that's okay. I want my daughters to see that doing your best is enough.
Favourite way to unwind?
A great book, or my most wholesome favourite pastime: doing a puzzle while my oldest daughter plays guitar and sings.
What does a perfect evening in New York City look like to you?
My oldest just turned 13, which is a huge reminder of how fleeting this time is, so it's anything with my girls. Sometimes that's a concert or a Knicks game. But I also love what Jerry Seinfeld calls "garbage time," the ordinary moments you'd normally throw away. Playing Monopoly, watching a movie, cooking together at home. Those moments are just as special to me.
Where are you for the holidays and what are your favourite family traditions?
We spend the holidays in New York. We celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah, so there's a lot to celebrate. It starts with picking out the tree together. I've been collecting ornaments since college and I write the year under each one. Now the girls buy and collect them with me, and they love unpacking them all, laying them out and decorating the tree. That's always a really special time. Now that they're older and have more opinions about the decor and the menu, getting ready for the holidays has become a real family event, and we just keep adding more decorations every year.
What’s the most important piece of advice you and your husband want to pass onto your children?
That's a question I could talk about for hours. But a few things I try to instill in them: lead with heart, be kind to yourself and to others, work hard, and always have a growth mindset. Because life can be wonderful and magical if you let it be.
Courtesy of Taylor Jewell
Family Time
Favourite family activity? Like I said, we love games, we play all kinds. More recently we've started taking the girls out to nicer restaurants to try new foods. Travel is also a big passion for all of us, so anything that exposes them to new cultures and gets us talking is time well spent.
Favourite bedtime story? Cleo Wade's What the Road Said. I gift it all the time, and the girls know it by heart. With my 10-year-olds, we started the Keeper of the Lost Cities series and we're on book five. I read it to them and we're all hooked. It's so fun to be in a storyline together and have that special moment right before bed.
Five essentials every mother needs?
1) Time with girlfriends. It's really about carving out the time. It's hard, but if you plan ahead and make it a priority, it goes a long way, whether it's a girls' trip or just a coffee with a friend after drop-off.
2) Exercise you actually enjoy. It took me a long time to understand how important this is. Everyone likes something different, whether it's dance, yoga or running. I've recently gotten into padel, and it's been really fun to learn. I'd encourage everyone to keep trying until they find the thing they love.
3) A good calendar. For me that comes in two forms. The Skylight calendar has been a game changer at home. I put in all the after-school activities and upcoming trips so the girls can see what's ahead, and they add their own important dates too, like Olivia Rodrigo's album release. Then there's my own calendar on my computer and phone, jam-packed with everything personal and professional. Between the two, I try to keep it all straight.
4) A sense of humor. Don't take yourself, or anything, too seriously. Things will go wrong, kids will be kids, and being able to laugh about it gets you through so much.
5) A good night's sleep. I can't function without it. When I can't sleep, I put on a Headspace sleep meditation, and my Oura ring helps me keep an eye on how I'm sleeping.
Style
We love your style – what is your approach to dressing? Both your own wardrobe and the children’s.
For me, it all has to feel natural. Comfort is always important, and I wear a lot of sneakers. I love updated classics with a little wink of something whimsical, like a pin on my denim jacket or some fun jewelry. My goal is always for a look to feel a bit effortless.
As for my daughters, they have their own style now, and we've officially hit the territory where they don't care what I think. They appreciate my style, it's just not theirs. Right now all they want to wear is pajama pants, Uggs and a spaghetti-strap top, and I've given up asking them to wear anything else. It's their era, and honestly, it's a cute moment in time.
Courtesy of Jeff Thibodeau
We would love to hear how you plan to style the children for the following occasions?
I.A beautiful Autumnal Day in the city
A classic wool sweater like the Sylvia Merino Girl Jumper or Angela Merino Girl Cardigan paired with jeans is always a great look for fall and so fun paired with our cold weather accessories!
ii. Thanksgiving
Something comfortable but still a little dressed up, like the Raquel Fair Isle Girl Knitted Dress.
The Perfect Autumn Day
Courtesy of Taylor Jewell
Maria's Thanksgiving Look.
Courtesy of Cassie Robinson
Go-to gift ideas for a new arrival? For both parents, siblings (!) and their littlest arrival!
For parents, a great meal. For siblings, a fun activity or craft kit (like our mini bead kits!), and for the baby, a personalized blanket or a favorite book.
Discover Super Smalls
We always like to round up the conversation by asking, what’s next for Super Smalls?
We’re on the verge of some exciting partnerships in 2027, and looking to continue to grow the Super Smalls iconic trademarks - our signature yellow boxes, gems, and imagery all contribute to what everyone can recognize as a hallmark of our fun aesthetic, and now we’re thinking about building that out more!
www.supersmalls.com
Follow Super Smalls
@super.smalls
