There are few people who love jewellery as much as Kate Moss. The supermodel has been collecting things that sparkle since she started modelling at the age of 14, and has now turned her passion into a high jewellery collaboration with Messika, the luxury Parisian house.
It’s no surprise to hear that she and founder Valérie Messika hit it off instantly when Moss modelled in an advertising campaign for the brand last year. Messika herself wears jewellery with the same sexy effortlessness that defines Moss, adding a dose of French-girl cool to Moss’s boho chic.
In just a few years, Messika has succeeded in becoming one of the go-to brands for self-purchasing women who want high luxury diamonds that are easy enough to wear every day. It counts Beyoncé and Gigi Hadid among its hordes of fans. “I love Valerie’s aesthetic, she most definitely designs with women in mind,” says Moss. “Her pieces are modern and young and always comfortable to wear, which is really important.”
Moss says her first significant jewellery purchase was from Pennisi, an insider’s secret of an antique jeweller in Milan. That early experience has shaped her approach to jewellery collecting ever since. Sharing her top tips for budding collectors, Moss says: “I would definitely recommend people look for jewellery when they are travelling, it’s something I always do and I have favourite places I return to whenever I am in that particular city. Also, antique stores and markets are brilliant if you are into vintage pieces, as I am.”
Moss’s taste in jewellery is as eclectic as you might expect, ranging from Victorian and Art Deco pieces to vintage mid-century jewels. The Messika by Kate Moss collaboration, which took the model’s own jewellery box as its starting point, reflects that eclecticism in a wide-ranging collection that encompasses 70 pieces. The common thread running through them all? These are jewels that centre on diamonds of exceptional quality but which are always utterly wearable, no matter the occasion. Unlike the high jewellery of the past, which was often designed for the man with the cheque book buying for his wife, this is jewellery for the modern woman who is buying for herself.
Moss, who has been photographed wearing the collection by her photographer partner Nikolai von Bismarck, says that buying herself jewellery makes her feel empowered. And how does she want the wearers of this collection to feel? “Confident, decadent and empowered.” We can all get on board with that. Moss cherry-picked her favourite pieces from the collection, and shared her top tips for how to wear them.
“I love tassels, and this necklace was inspired by pieces I have from the ’20s and ’70s. Messika has created a modern version of these classics. I would style by wearing it in reverse with a backless dress, the ultimate in chic.”
“This arm bracelet was inspired by some similar pieces I have in my own collection. I love the playfulness of movement in jewellery. It’s to be worn on your upper arm, the perfect accessory to pair with a bikini in the sunshine.”
“I love baguette diamonds, and one of my everyday looks is wearing lots of bracelets and bangles stacked together, which this piece works really well for. I would wear it with tailored trousers and a silk shirt.”
“There is a delicate intricacy to the pieces in this set, which was inspired by the ’20s. The knot gives it a more relaxed feel. I would dress this down – wear it with a T-shirt and jeans.”
“These earrings are so gorgeous and inspired by my love of green gems and a bohemian lifestyle. I imagine wearing these in Ibiza for lunch on the beach, styled with a long flowing dress.”
“I have many Indian pieces in my personal collection which were the inspiration for this ring, we set it in white gold to give it a modern feel. It’s such a statement piece, it would complete an evening look worn with a black cocktail dress.”
