The Cartier jewels of style icon and controversial British royal Wallis Simpson are soon to be auctioned at Sotheby's London, giving a unique insight into how much she and husband Edward VIII valued jewellery.
The November auction is expected to raise 3 million pounds and includes 20 pieces, including a Cartier panther bracelet and a magnificent flamingo brooch. Personalised pieces include diamond cufflinks engraved with 'Hold tight', a saphire cross with 'WE are too' and a gold cigarette case with a bejewelled map of the tour of Europe, where they were exiled after he abdicated from the throne to marry her in 1937.
All pieces were made by Cartier to the design of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
Simpson was obsessed with her look and had the style of an early Daphne Guinness, without the out-there hair dye and suits made of nails. Her style was much copied, with reproductions of her wedding dress for as low as US$8.99 just weeks after her wedding.
She was incredibly slim, stuck to one defining hairstyle that highlighted her cheekbones and knew how to make strong eyebrows and lips work for her. She owned couture from Dior, Balenciaga, Schiaparelli and Vionnet, wore high necklines, little veiled hats and always accessorised with one of her astounding jewellery pieces. Severe and impeccable are appropriate adjectives to describe her look. She was not classically pretty, but rather was handsome and well-put-together at all times.
The Duchess is an excellent example of how to keep your signature style going, no matter the scenario. By the seaside she wore white T-shirts, trousers and scarves. In formal situations, she chose cinched dresses accessorised with brooch, earrings and bracelet. As time wore on, she took to sixties maxi dresses and modern coats with ease, still wearing her signature hair style, with masses of necklaces.
Her style cues have been adopted by everyone from Madonna, Daphne Guinness, Gwen Stefani and even Carla Bruni in her role as first lady of France.
It's said that she never offered an excuse for anything, and that uncompromising attitude applied not just to her personal style, but to the tenacity it must have taken to support a 37 year marriage that was never accepted by his family.
Madonna is currently filming W.E. the story of Wallis and Edward, starring Abbie Cornish as a young Wallis, which by all account sis getting off to a disastrous start.