Women we love: Duchess of Windsor

"[...] But you must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love."

Excerpt from speech - Edward VIII - December 11, 1936

Duchess of Windsor wearing her Cartier bib necklace

Cartier Bib Necklace
Photo Source

Verdura Brooch
Photo Source

Cartier Brooch
Photo Source

Van Cleef & Arpels Unmatched Pearl clip earrings

Plume-shaped diamond brooch, designed in 1935 by the Prince of Wales for his future bride
Photo Source: 
Taylor, Elizabeth.  My Love Affair with Jewelry.  New York: Simon & Schuster, 2002

Read the 1966 Bazaar Interview with the Duchess of Windsor here.

Love,

Seimi

Timeless Style Icon: Princess Kelly

For Luë's very first blog post, what would be more fitting than to feature Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco?

Her wedding dress, designed by MGM wardrobe designer Helen Rose would probably fill an entire entry on its own.

Having only been in eleven Hollywood films, she was probably most known for her three Hitchcock movies - Dial M for Murder (1953), Rear Window (1954) and To Catch a Thief (1955).  

In To Catch a Thief, Princess Kelly played the female lead opposite Cary Grant's character - a notorious jewel thief.  The jewelry her character wears are meant to look expensive as it was part of her scheme to catch Grant's character's attention.  The diamond necklace here matches the 'Cool Blonde' persona she so effortlessly plays in Hitchcock's romantic thrillers.

Princess Kelly in her engagement jewelry from Van Cleef & Arpels.
Gifted by HSH Prince Ranier III of Monaco. 

Coco Chanel famously said, "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory."  I think that describes Grace Kelly's style perfectly.  She was always elegantly dressed, and never over done.

HSH Prince Ranier gave Princess Kelly not one but two engagement rings.  He had proposed to her with an eternity band of diamonds and rubies from Cartier.

Later, when he visited Princess Kelly in Los Angeles, he gifted Princess Kelly this 12-carat emerald-cut diamond ring flanked with two baguettes.  

Princess Kelly as Tracy Lord, a wealthy Newport, Rhode Island socialite.

It fitted her character in High Society (1956) so perfectly that she wore this engagement ring throughout the movie.  

This is my very favorite photo of the royal couple.  She looked so genuinely happy and in love.

Love,

Seimi