September 29, 2024Fashion editor Naomi Elizée casts her net wide when it comes to her jewelry choices. “I love simple, elegant pieces like gold hoop earrings, diamond studs and diamond tennis necklaces — things that can effortlessly be styled up or down,” she says. “Where I am right now, though, is with bright and playful pieces — things that remind me to be experimental, as I was with fashion and accessories in high school. I think the older I get, the more playful I am.”
Thus, her inclination toward bold statement jewels that combine a variety of precious stones, as well as chunky costume pieces that convey a sense of daring. Big beaded necklaces are a current obsession of hers, as are thick vintage bangles. “Recently, I’ve been stacking bright chunky bangles,” she says. “I have a vintage acrylic Fendi bracelet that looks like it was crafted from candy!”
Elizée’s fashion savvy and adventurous spirit made her the perfect person to come along with 1stDibs to check out the spectacular treasures on offer at New York jewelry sellers Macklowe Gallery, Eleuteri and Vintage Luxury. Below, we chat with her about her favorite jewels from these visits and how she’d style them to create dream outfits appointed with carefully chosen opulence.
You tried on some extraordinary pieces of jewelry. What new insights did you gain?
René Lalique’s Grenouille necklace, with the glass frogs and diamond floral accents, was absolutely remarkable. Of course, Lalique was known for his glass, but to see his glasswork on a jewelry piece felt very special. There’s an intricacy and delicateness to Lalique’s work. To be able to zero in on that craftsmanship right at my fingertips was a remarkable experience.
What items would you most like to own from your jewelry experience with 1stDibs?
It was all so beautiful! Trying on the gold Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. bone cuff for the first time was a special moment. Just to feel the weight of it around my wrist was impactful, like wearing a little piece of history.
I also fell in love with the Art Deco Cartier diamond-and-pearl watch, which was so unusual, and the Yves Saint Laurent mosaic-style metal and resin-gem-Set necklace, which looked like a cascade of gumballs in green, yellow, blue and red. That one’s something I really can’t stop thinking about!
How would you style these special pieces?
When I think about styling the YSL necklace, I imagine the outfit would have to exude as much joy as the necklace already does. Naturally, I view this necklace as a special-occasion piece, so I would wear a chic evening dress with straps that cling to the end of my shoulders and a dramatic cape that adds volume but still brings attention toward the necklace.
The Elsa Peretti cuff is dynamic, in that it can be worn glammed up or down. I would love to pair it with a good pair of worn-in Levi’s jeans, a white T-shirt and a fab Manolo Blahnik pump — maybe a color, maybe a neutral. That way, the cuff almost stands out more while retaining a certain casualness.
It sounds like your attitude to styling jewelry is to “tear up the rule book.” Is that an accurate assessment?
It’s more a case of having different rules. I now start from a more generous place. So, let’s just say I’m not afraid to layer and stack things! I used to think that, because I had so much fun with my clothes, I needed to keep my accessory urges at bay. Now, if I’m wearing, say, a bright Christopher John Rogers dress, I’ll go big and bright with my jewelry too. I do self-edit before I leave my apartment. I agree with the [Coco Chanel] saying that goes, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” I tend to get a little crazy with wanting to wear all of my favorite things at once, so I strive to be very intentional with my outfits. I don’t like to overdo things.
Do you have an heirloom jewel or keepsake you’d be lost without?
I have my mother’s wedding ring. She’s passed, so it’s one of my most treasured pieces. I had it remodeled by my friend jeweler Bernard James. The center stone hangs from one necklace, while the shank features on another, so that, when they are worn together, the diamond sits above a U-shaped base, as if it’s floating. He’s transformed a meaningful jewel into something just as beautiful that I can wear often without its losing any of its significance.
Of course, I don’t repurpose all of my heirlooms. For example, I have a diamond and sapphire cocktail ring that was also my mother’s that I will never change, because it’s wearable and feels timeless. It truly just depends on the piece.
