How to wear vintage earrings like the Duchess of Sussex
The Duchess of Sussex has long been known for her elegant, pared back style. And, while she no longer has access to the Royal Collection of jewellery – the largest in the world – that hasn’t stopped her from wearing some incredibly chic pieces, from both up-and-coming and established designers. Of course, she’s still got the jewellery that her husband, Prince Harry, inherited via his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, including her famous Cartier tennis bracelet and her Tank Watch, but she’s also worn pieces by everyone from Carolina Herrera to Bottega Veneta. When it comes to accessorising, no one does it better than the duchess.
In recent weeks, much has been made over Meghan’s sartorial rebrand, following the launch of American Riviera Vintage. Reportedly masterminded by stylist Jamie Mizrahi, the woman credited with Jennifer Lawrence’s “quiet luxury” aesthetic, we’ve seen the duchess wearing much more directional looks, championing American designers in particular.
Another trick in Mizrahi’s sartorial arsenal is sourcing vintage earrings: in fact, she told Page Six in a 2019 interview that pieces from vintage jewellers Broken English and Platt Boutique were at the top of her Christmas gift list. So it’s unsurprising that Meghan has now been spotted wearing two vintage pairs of earrings, both of which tick the quiet luxury box.
The first pair were domed gold earrings by Chanel, which feature the iconic double C logo. Meghan paired these with her cut-out cream-coloured dress by Heidi Merrick, which she wore to the polo in April. A few weeks later, she was photographed wearing another vintage pair, this time by Dior, with the resin and diamond design reminiscent of the 1980s era of the fashion house. It wouldn’t be the first time that she’s worn vintage Dior, either, having previously chosen a Marc Bohan-era cocoon coat for the christening of Lena Tindall in 2019.
Of course, wearing vintage jewellery comes with its own rules, not least how to source it. While you might get lucky with an eBay steal, it’s always best to go to a reputed, experienced seller, who specialises in vintage, such as Susan Caplan, who only buys pieces that look unworn. “I recommend following our three C’s: credibility, craftsmanship and condition,” shares Caplan. “Credibility as in, is this really authentic, if you’re buying designer. Craftsmanship, meaning does it age well, can you pass it on to the next generations, and condition, i.e. has it been repaired previously, because it will probably break again if so.”
It’s vital to care for your pieces well, too. “Don’t use any abrasives near them: jewellery should be the last thing you put on,” advices Caplan. “You don’t want to get them wet, with creams or oils, or get hairspray on them, for example. The best way to clean them is just with a soft lint cloth, nothing else, no chemicals. Sometimes a stone or a crystal might fall out, but they can easily be replaced, we have thousands and are often replacing them for clients. In terms of storage, try to keep pieces separately in a soft pouch, so that the metals don’t rub against each other. If you can wrap them in tissue paper too, that will help.”
That said, vintage earrings that aren’t designer can always be picked up in markets: “These are so inexpensive, you cant go wrong really, if you like them!” shares Caplan.
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