For decades, Kate Moss was basically the Sphinx of the modeling world – a rare modern celebrity whose close friends didn’t sell her out, and a model who didn’t feel the need to tell everyone her business. Kate has covered millions of magazines, but interviews were always rare. But she’s softened a lot in recent years. She’s still in-demand as a model at the age of 46, but she’s also got side-businesses and she’s happy to promote those side-gigs with an interview here and there. She chatted with Vogue about her new jewelry line, a collaboration with the French jewelry house of Messika. There are 70 pieces all designed (or co-designed) by Moss, based on what she likes to wear. She describes herself as a magpie who loves jewelry in general. I loved this piece. Some highlights:
Her love of jewelry. “When I was a kid, I always liked antique things. These days I like to mix it all up. I don’t just buy high-end jewelry, I buy little trinkets, bits I like from other people, from antique places… Although, if they are antique, they’re probably still a bit high-end.”
How she came to collaborate on a jewelry line: “When I met Valérie [Messika, the brand’s founder] on set, we just got on really well. It was very organic.” On one of Messika’s regular trips to London at the beginning of the year, the pair met up for tea, and Moss spontaneously decided to bring along her jewelry box. “I felt like that was the best way to explain what I like and what my taste is, because it’s quite eclectic. I remember Valérie saying, ‘You’re not just pure rock and roll like people think.’ I have Art Deco pieces and Victorian pieces and ’70s things; it just depends on what mood I’m in. I think she was quite surprised by that.”
She’s always been obsessed with jewelry: “As a kid I would always save the smallest present wrapped up under the tree at Christmas for last, hoping it was going to be a piece of jewelry, but it never was. I suppose I’m making up for that now!” It was when her modeling career took off that Moss began splashing out on the pieces she still treasures to this day. “I remember being in Milan for the shows, and I went to Pennisi—it’s a jewelry shop that I think Miuccia Prada goes to—and I bought these emerald and gold antique earrings that eventually Craig McDean shot for Vogue Nippon. It was then I started collecting. I can’t pass a jewelry shop without looking in the window now.”
The people she idolizes: “Because it’s high-end jewelry and they were talking diamonds, I was just thinking decadence, and imagining some billionaire hippy like Talitha Getty—that was my dream inspiration. Oh, and Elizabeth Taylor, of course. Nobody loved jewelry more than her.”
She wants diamonds on the beach: “When I’m in Ibiza, I like to wear diamonds on the beach. When I go swimming in the sea, sometimes I’ll just wear my emerald ring that I got from Jade Jagger, because the colors look so beautiful in the water. I know that sounds quite decadent, but that’s why I love jewelry—it gives me pleasure, it definitely brings me joy.”
She’s a magpie: “Oh definitely. Definitely. If there’s a girl with a lot of jewelry on—or any jewelry on at all—I can’t help myself. I’ll say, ‘Ooh, that’s nice, ooh, that’s lovely.’ I just love it…. I’m definitely an impulse buyer. If I love it in the moment, I have to have it. If I want to wear it right that second, I can’t leave the shop without it.”
Her most treasured pieces: “I always remember this diamond Tiffany necklace I wore for my first jewelry shoot with Camilla Nickerson for American Vogue. I was like, ‘Oh, my god, that’s just the most dreamy thing I’ve ever seen,’ and someone bought it for me! That was a very memorable moment. I also have a baby ring from when I gave birth that feels special. A lot of it is memorable from birthdays or when I’ve treated myself or presents from people that are sentimental. Jewelry is all about memories, really, isn’t it?”
Honestly, I dare anyone to read Elizabeth Taylor’s My Love Affair With Jewelry and not come out of it daydreaming about having that kind of spectacular collection. That sounds like Kate Moss too – sure, she’s probably always been a magpie, but as she grew up, she idolized the glamorous women who were always dripping in jewels. She associates glamour WITH jewelry. And so do I, honestly. Damn, I would love to see Moss’s private jewelry collection.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid and WENN.
Am with her on the vintage stuff – I prefer it to the modern designs.
I love Kate – am glad that she’s still working as it shows that models can still work once they get ‘old’.
She is one of the most famous faces of the 90s but also always maintained this ait of mystery.I like that about her!
I’d love to have that Elizabeth Taylor book but it must be out of print in the UK as you can only get them second hand and for £££. I don’t understand why!!!
QUEEN.
I LOVE Art Deco jewelry – and furniture, design, architecture.
However, I’m put off by precious stones and the terrible exploitation you find behind (crystals too by the way).
I am much more tempted by designs that use wood, recycled materials, brass etc. I found a design shop from Estwani that makes the most beautiful designs for a few quid and I keep going back.
Living in Britain I identify K Moss as a very typical kind of wealthy English woman who is sort of a basic badass b*tch, not much to dig in, but also humble and naturally ageing, which is a Brit thing really (look at our actors). Like the Nigella Lawson of fashion if you will (but without the posh background).
I’m glad she’s happy, I guess, but talking about wearing diamonds on the beach and her favorite billionaire hippy* and decadence … uh, no. Not now. It really does sound woefully out of touch and shallow in the midst of a global pandemic, among other things. Come @ me.
*Talitha Getty died of a drug overdose and was not a hippy.
I lost a ring at the beach once. never again!
KM and I share a birthday, along with Sade. It’s the only thing I have in common with them but it makes me feel special!
Are you kidding?
LOL @naddie! What is she feeling special the wrong way? Who cares what makes her feel special. Kate Moss and Elizabeth Taylor feel special in jewelry. @manda takes a small pleasure in sharing a birthday with celebrities. How dare anyone find something that makes them feel special that is literally harmless!
😊
I must say, she is so beautiful. I’m not aging nearly as well as she is.
I’d always been called a magpie by my mom and grandmother, and I coveted some of their stuff lol. I got my first “important “ piece when I was 13, an Art Deco white gold ring, shaped like a marquise diamond, with white and black diamond chips in the corners. My grandmother wore it on her pinky, and I was *always asking to ‘try it on” (and would “forget” to give it back lol. She knew!). Then, at 16, my mom gave me a rose gold, ruby and diamond ring my grandmother made for my her for her 16th bday (to be similar to a ring my grandfather made for my grandmother), and my grandmother gave me her Art Deco watch that matched the ring she gave me at 13. That was my start. I’d buy “little” things I could save for (thin gold chains, bracelets, silver, etc) throughout my teens. Still can’t pass a Jewelry store w/out looking and drooling!
The first “big” piece I bought myself was an emerald band with tiny diamonds between the four 1/4ct oval emerald stones (my favs:emerald & diamonds!). I still wear it sometimes between two diamond eternity bands if I want a “dressy” look
As I’ve gotten older, I’d get pieces (real and costume) that appealed to my changing taste. Once I could afford it, I started to build a “wardrobe “ of *really good* pieces that have become my “statement pieces” (diamond studs, tennis bracelet etc). I will ALWAYS love sparkling in the sun 😊
Loved reading this, @Jan90067, especially the part about your Grandmother. Thanks for sharing! 💖💍
I will forever see Kate as my generational supermodel. Number one coolest.
Absolutely! I don’t drink much these days, but when I’m asked what “my drink” is, I always copy Kate Moss and say it’s a French ’76. It’s the closest I’ll ever get to approximating her in any remote way.
@Trillion What’s a French ’76? I know I could Google it, but I’d rather you tell me. xx
I’m with her on this. Liz Taylor is the OG jewelry queen!!!
Love Kate! Such an icon phew!
Btw, Did Liz kids inherit her jewelry. Curious what became of her heavenly collection.
It was sold in a HUGE auction at Christie’s in 2011. There’s a documentary about the auction, and you can look up the auction itself at Christie’s. Lots of great YouTube videos showing the pieces as well. Have fun going down that rabbit hole. I certainly did!
And speaking of Christie’s, I found at a used book sale a Christie’s catalog of Lauren Bacall’s jewelry collection. Her collection was stunning! Kate’s stuff, eh, just another rich woman now ‘designing’ jewelry. It’s what they do.
@Nina Simone, Liz came by her collection honestly. Most pieces were tokens of affection from her husbands.
iirc, she bought only one major piece herself – a diamond feather brooch the Duke of Windsor had made for Wallis Simpson. At the time, there was a great tabloid story that Prince Charles tried to purchase the brooch for Diana (feathers are the traditional symbol of the Prince of Wales), but got outbid at the auction by Liz!
Actually, it was likely that the pieces Richard burton bought for Elizabeth were purchased by Elizabeth herself. She always had more money than he, and he was paying serious alimony/child support to ex wife. He would pick out the jewels, give them to her, then she would pay. At least that’s what Ward Landrigan thought (he worked at Sotheby’s and was the person who delivered the jewels to her—he now owns jewelry house Verdura). She did outbid Charles for the POW broach—and Spanish royals were outbid for the peregrina pearl (which she turned into a godawful tacky ass necklace). She freely admitted to being a vulgar, tacky broad though!
Thanks @Lanne I will be sure to check it out!
It shows you how much these people think of the artizans that make the pieces. Nobody loved jewelry more than… someone who did something completely unrelated for a living and literally never made a piece of jewelry in her life. I mean, I appreciate patrons. I appreciate that there are fans. But I also think that what these stars love about jewelry is the prestige of being rich and feeling beautiful. I’m sure they also have an appreciation for the beauty of the objects.
All I could think when I read this is “oh yes she is right. I wonder if that was why Lindsey Lohan stoke them.”