Welcome to Bling Things, Vogue’s monthly spotlight of jewelry bijoux, handpicked by our resident jewelry expert. Each month Daisy Shaw-Ellis, Vogue’s jewelry director, will select two things that are so good she can’t keep them to herself.
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I’ve been fully immersed in pearls of late. Maybe it’s this year’s Met Gala theme (“Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”), maybe it’s that they’re everywhere on everyone, and I love it, or maybe it’s that they pair perfectly with a warm-weather wardrobe. Either way—just like chain necklaces—there can never be too many pearl earrings. I like the simplicity of this pair by Sophie Buhai; they’re a subtle statement piece with a refined quality. Buhai’s pearls have been running through my mind since seeing Annabel Dexter Jones use her own pair for her character on Succession, and a member of the jewelry team wore the same pair for an event recently. The price is pretty great, too!
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Speaking of gold chains, what a fabulously perfect gold paperclip necklace. I love the length of the paper clips—elongated and feminine—in the short, collar-like length. Dreaming of layering immediately with my other, longer chains this summer.
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I am a fan of mixing and matching earrings, even buying singles. This approach works the best when you have more than one piercing in each ear—but can work if you don’t as well, I promise. I’m eyeing this Repossi single heart hoop as a sweet new addition to my collection of singles. It’s a heart camouflaged as a hoop; you can only see its full shape from the side. It makes the shape less twee and more grown-up, and the angles catch the light in fresh ways that bring something new to the ear.
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During and since the pandemic, I have become a huge fan of jewelry with meaning. Whether it be a necklace laden with sentimental charms or a ring with my birthstone, these pieces of jewelry provide me with an extra bit of power and strength. Marie Lichtenberg’s lockets are a fun and unique take on this type of jewelry, and the colorful strands are perfect for summer. I look forward to layering this piece with other necklaces and creating an even more meaningful necklace stack.
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We’ve earned it—it’s spring! There’s a lot to get excited about with the new season: the promise of warmth. The promise of travel. The promise of leaving work while it’s still light out. On a personal level, I’m thrilled at the promise of my first spring break trip since college—although this time around, it’s with three kids and zero wrist bracelets, but I digress. The jaunt to warmer climes means I’m adding these Lizzie Fortunato pearl-drop earrings to my cart. Yes, pearls are seasonless and a constant trend—deep research here lest you’re new to the Vogue Jewelry page. But these pearls have a spring in their step, pun intended. They’re breezy and begging to be worn for cocktails in a tropical location (earrings, I promise to do so!) and will serve all summer long.
I recently had the pleasure of sitting with Kirsty Stone (Retrouvai’s designer) at the Gem Awards, a.k.a. the Oscars of jewelry (or that’s how the industry describes them). Stone, nominated for Jewelry Designer of the Year, graciously decked me out in her giant, beautiful, and colorful showstopper pieces. She’s also a grand master of smaller, quieter, very clever pieces. I love this puzzle piece for everyone and to wear to everything. I especially love it as something to be earmarked, forwarded, or self-purchased for Mother’s Day next month (or honestly, any day—let’s be honest) for fairly obvious reasons. Without getting sentimental, let me tell your partner/parent/best friend/child to embrace the sentiment for you.
February 2023
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You really can’t go wrong with any piece by Lisa Eisner—her jewelry is sculptural, informed by nature, and just downright cool. I love these earrings with black jade from Wyoming (Eisner’s home state) for their combination of strength (in color and form) and femininity (in the delicate drops). I’d style these just as much with jeans and a T-shirt as a suit or minimal dress. Need another reason? In the grand scheme of stones with meaning, black jade wards off the negative and protects the wearer—who doesn’t need both of those things in their lives these days?!
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Fashion month has kicked off in New York, and everyone I know is frantically getting their looks together for the shows; will it be hot, will it be cold, and which of the Bling Empire: New York cast will we bump into at the shows? I stick to my staple brands and style, so I am all set on the clothing side. However, I need to discuss with you guys a dream piece of jewelry. Please meet the green donut 14k gold, malachite, and diamond bracelet from jewelry designer Mateo. This is the perfect bracelet, and here is why: If you are a black-hue-only person, the green malachite will pop in a sea of dark silhouettes, not to mention the diamonds linking it all together will shine for you. If you are a colorful-hue kind of person, the green will work well with shades of blues, yellows, and reds—you catch my drift. It’s luxurious with daywear and the perfect addition to a cocktail dress. I was also inspired by all the editors sporting Mateo to the Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala recently, in a room full of amazing brands, and still standing out, which is worth a shout-out.
January 2023
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A stack of bracelets isn’t a new concept. By now you’ve likely got the classics: metals, maybe a pearl bracelet, maybe some colorful beads. But a touch of sparkle in a wrist stack and a touch of color? That’s something. This Mateo New York pink sapphire tennis bracelet is a worthy addition. And unlike a classic diamond tennis bracelet, this is set in yellow gold.
I love a charm collection. Various trinkets and whatnots are clustered around my necklace on a daily basis, from my great-great-grandmother’s jade to my mother’s emerald to a small gold abacus (I like to think I am ready to count at any given time!). Each one holds a special and fun meaning to me. I am currently building a necklace with various charms collected from my travels and all my favorite bits. I have four so far and am in need of one more to make it a playful five-charm necklace/semi-choker. So you can understand my delight when I found Lauren Khoo ’s adorable gummy-bear charm with its own companion dog next to it—and in gold! My favorite candy, a pet dog…say no more, take my credit card! The bear itself is small, approximately 20.5 x 11 x 9mm, and hangs on an 18-inch gold chain, which fits perfectly with the other friends it will be joining. A perfect addition to gift myself this Lunar New Year.
In case you missed it, keep scrolling for recently featured Bling Things.
December 2022
Colorful, candy-like jewelry—when done right—brings me such joy! The bright beads of this Carolina Bucci Forte bead set are all made of precious stones, which makes it far more elevated than the set I gave my kids to craft with. I love the idea of gifting (or receiving, let’s be honest) this kit and making myself my own magical pieces.
’Tis the season for all sorts of celebration but for me, nothing is more festive than a pair of statement earrings—and these Khaite X Elhanati collaborations spark more joy than most. What makes these so special? Let me break it down for you. Firstly, these are limited editions, so once they are gone, they’re gone! Second, the style; they evoke the classic sleekness of Art Deco geometry but feature rare gemstones: bezel-set square black spinels, which are so unusual. The 24k-gold-coated silver also gives the earrings a tactile feel, while Elhanati’s signature techniques—hammering, dripping, and layering—give the piece a vintage feel. They’ll pair wonderfully with a long silk Saint Laurent dress or fun PJs; they’re perfect for an evening cocktail and all the way through to the morning after.
November 2022
There’s just something about the humble huggie hoop—the small hoop that hugs the ear. I have a few piercings on each ear—a hazard of the trade—and at least one of the earrings in my stack is a whisper-thin huggie. I like these as they would fit right in with my lobe style but be just as impactful if I wore them solo. I also appreciate that they’re pink, subtly feminine but not overly bright; not too rosy, not too blue. And, to be totally honest, they’re giving me jewelry chameleon. That is, they go with everything—everything. Their sparkle just adds to their magic.
I am a layerer of necklaces. I wear various charms on my necklaces collected throughout the years, and I’m forever adding more to my collection. This Sophie Bille Brahe Sirene necklace, from the designer’s La Regina Del Mare Adriatico collection, is a standout for me. From the single pearl to the thin gold necklace, its sheer simplicity gives me low-key sophistication. This necklace is a fun way to wear the pearl trend without going too deep into the mania of strands of pearls. For me, this is the perfect partner to a The Row black dress or a white tank with jeans à la Bottega Veneta.