Yet Chanel famously preferred costume jewellery – ropes of “fake” pearls, button earrings, sculptural cuffs and more – to the “real” stuff. Costume jewellery, she also once said, wasn’t intended to give women an “aura of wealth” but to “make them beautiful”. And as in most things, Chanel was thoroughly modern and correct.
Her pick-‘n’-mix approach to accessories – pairing diamonds with semi-precious stones, or fun little pieces with serious gems – is how some of the world’s most stylish women use their jewellery today. Think Giovanna Engelbert, creative director of Swarovski, who piles on her own vibrant designs with striking gold pieces from Bulgari and Cartier; or fashion writer Leandra Medine, who stacks precious pieces with quirkier, inexpensive trinkets. Then there’s a slew of celebrities who love costume jewellery, such as Selena Gomez with her Mejuri hoops or Meghan Markle, with her favourite Missoma signet ring.
Green light: why jade jewellery still captivates us, 9,000 years on
Green light: why jade jewellery still captivates us, 9,000 years on
Princess Catherine’s much-praised penchant for more affordable fashion – which includes everything from Reiss (the royal famously even wore the high street brand for her official engagement photo in 2010) to Blundstone boots – also extends to her jewellery choices. In recent years the princess has worn earrings from French brand Sezane, hoops from accessible Accessorize, and often wears necklaces from Welsh brand