Pearls in Vogue

Unpublished photograph of Joséphine Baker by George Hoyningen-Huené

Throughout history, pearls have been prized by the world’s most powerful and influential people. King Henry VIII, Coco Chanel, Jacqueline Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Vreeland, and Queen Amidala of Star Wars have all been seen wearing the precious gem. Whatever the length or color, a string of pearls is an important fashion statement, a symbol of wealth and power, and an object of desire and mystery. As such, the gem has featured prominently in Vogue since the magazine’s earliest issues.

Vogue December 1, 1927, illustrated by Eduardo Garcia Benito

Marie Prevost, photographed by Edward Steichen in the May 1, 1927 Vanity Fair.

Vogue’s long relationship with pearls includes a March 11, 1893 recommendation of wearing “the pearls inherited from grandmamma,” as well as having them restrung because “the… fashion has ordained five strings as the correct number.” A March 15, 1951 cover by Irving Penn includes a still life of scarf, gloves, jewelry, and a strand of pearls; and the November 15, 1969 Vogue asked the reader to “think of how pearls glow in praise of [the] skin…long ropes of pearls, round or baroque, creamy white, pale pink or silver, cool and luminous as moonlight” in its “Every Way to Look Terrific” article. Throughout Vogue’s history, famous actresses, opera singers, and society women have been photographed wearing strands of pearls.

Vogue October 1, 1924 cover, illustrated by Harriet Meserole

Vogue, July 15, 1933, illustrated by Georges Lepape

Babe Paley, photographed by Horst P. Horst in the March 1, 1946 Vogue

Jackie Kennedy Onassis, photographed by Richard Rutledge in the August 15, 1951 Vogue

Model sipping a martini, photographed by Karen Radkai in the November 1, 1960 Vogue

Vogue October 15, 1936 cover, illustrated by René Bouét-Willaumez

Three legs draped in beads, photographed by John Rawlings in the July 1, 1954 Vogue

Suzy Parker, photographed by Horst P. Horst in the August 1, 1954 Vogue

Former Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, photographed by Deborah Turbeville in the December 1, 1980 Vogue

Model with pearls, photographed by John Rawlings in the April 1, 1954 Vogue

Model photographed by Karen Radkai in the April 1, 1956 Vogue