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In this new series, Vogue talks all things jewelry with some of our favorite people. From Vogue stylists to designers to artists, we’ll ask them to share with us their favorite jewelry box treasures. Read on to learn about their most sentimental pieces, what they’ve most recently purchased, and of course, where they shop and what they are obsessing over.
Tabitha Simmons needs no introduction. The Vogue stylist, creative director of luxury goods company Tanner Krolle, and successful shoe designer is no stranger to the shiny and fancy things in life. She has styled some of the most iconic shoots for Vogue, worked with some of the most famous models and celebrities, and has sat front row in many fashion shows to know what is splurge-worthy and what is not.
What was the first and last piece of jewelry you bought for yourself?
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The first piece of jewelry I ever bought myself was a pair of gold bird enamel and feathered gold earrings from Fred Leighton. I was working on a fashion show at that time, and Fred Leighton was doing the jewelry. I saw them and was like, Oh my gosh, I love them, I love them, I love them! I just thought, I can’t buy them, they are so expensive.
This was probably a good 17 years ago, and I still wear them, and I would definitely give them to my daughter one day. They are so unusual: It’s a chandelier earring with a gold leaf with little tiny flower enamel, and its tail is a feather! I have never felt so strongly about something, and those earrings were amazing. In the end, I thought, If I still love them by day five, I will buy them. I still love them 17 years later.
The last piece of jewelry I bought myself was a pair of Jennifer Fisher hoops. I can dress up and dress down in them. They are so versatile and great; they don’t go out of fashion.
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Tell us about your most special piece?
I have two pieces, one of them is my engagement ring. It’s a sapphire engagement ring and so beautiful. The other piece that is so special to me is the necklace around my neck that my son bought me. It’s the only piece of jewelry he’s ever given me. It’s a heart with a dark stone, and inside the dark stone, there is a picture of me and him. He saved up his pocket money when he was 15 or something, and you have to really look inside it to see the picture of us. I wear it every single day, and I love it so much.
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Who is your jewelry icon?
I would have to say Elizabeth Taylor. I love the photo Herb Ritts took of her with a towel wrapped around her head. She is wearing this massive ring that Richard Burton bought her.
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Favorite place to buy jewelry?
This is a hard question because there are so many amazing places to buy jewelry. I tend to stumble on places—I would be in Italy and find these antique earrings. I also love going into those big stores too. The Cartiers, the Bulgaris, and the Tiffanys are so nice too. I bought the Tiffany T bracelet, and I wear it everyday.
Tell me about your everyday jewelry.
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I’ll wear this ring from Moda Operandi that my husband bought me; it has a twisted band (a striking round red stone set on a gold twisted band). Jessica McCormack’s little heart diamond necklace. Little tiny hoop earrings from Jessica McCormack. I have a very simple wedding band in gold and another band of emeralds that my husband got me from Dover Street Market, so I will have to ask him what the brand is! My husband has a very good eye, but to be fair, I did give him a nudge to Jessica McCormack.
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I wear an Apple Watch, but I have a very beautiful Cartier watch that is very fine and small. I used to love wearing men’s watches, like a Rolex, all the time. But now I wear more of a refined small watch, and my grandmother left me a couple of refined watches. That is the amazing thing about jewelry; I really believe jewelry is just borrowed and you give them on. I now have a daughter, and I hope to pass on things to her. My mother has a charm bracelet that my grandmother would give her every year. She started collecting them when she was little, and she has so many of these charms—it’s so wonderful, and jewelry is so sentimental.
What are you obsessing over right now?
There are so many amazing things out there. I just looked at Christie’s jewelry—I like to go on online auctions to see what is there. I always love big earrings too. For now, my obsession is this spiral ring.
