It will surprise absolutely nobody that the woman who sang Big Spender, Goldfinger, and Diamonds are Forever, has a phenomenal collection of fine jewellery. And this autumn, Dame Shirley Bassey will be auctioning some of her most precious pieces at Sotheby’s, worth roughly £2 million, with all proceeds going to charity.
The lots are like a walk through Bassey’s greatest moments: a Van Cleef & Arpels diamond ring gifted to her by Elton John; an emerald parure bought to mark her first Royal Variety performance in front of Elizabeth II; a ruby and diamond heart-shaped parure bought in Bangkok en route to her first tour of Australia.
“Collecting jewellery for me is like collecting memories and this collection is full of them,” the Welsh singer, now 87, said. “All the pieces are meaningful and have a story to tell, whether I bought them for myself or they were gifted to me.”
In a world a little weary of stealth wealth and quiet luxury, this attitude is refreshing. Buying yourself fabulous jewels because you’re proud and you’re worth it. We’ve seen this with other legendary divas too: Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Collins, Diana Ross, Tina, Whitney, Cher.
There are other style lessons we could learn from them too, from the gowns that give them the kind of stage presence that commands an auditorium, to the tailoring that makes them look and feel their best – because aren’t there times when we could all do with an injection of diva energy and self-worth?
Here’s how to embrace a more diva attitude to style, by the mighty cast of women who do it best.
Diamonds truly are a girl’s best friend
So sang Marilyn Monroe, but it’s a sentiment appreciated by many a diva. Unlike today’s celebrities, who are often paid by the big jewellery houses to borrow their pieces for the red carpet, Bassey, Collins and Taylor had enviable collections of their own. (Joan Collins’s extravagant collection was sold for charity at Bonham’s in 2020.)
And while your own personal Richard Burton eager to spoil you is helpful, a true diva would be the first to explain that if they bring you joy, and you have the means, buy them for yourself. You earned them and you look fabulous wearing them.
Jewels aren’t all that sparkle
Look away now, wallflowers. The diva wardrobe is heavy with shimmering bead embellishments and sequins. This helps them stand out on stage, but it’s a look that spills into their real lives too. After all, if you’re going to attract attention wherever you go, you might as well dazzle.
Learn what suits your body shape
Tina Turner had fabulous legs, so she always wore high hemlines – they became integral to her image. Collins, meanwhile, has always been faithful to the power shoulder. “It’s extremely flattering to have big shoulders,” she told her god-daughter Cara Delevingne in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar in 2019. “It makes your hips look smaller and your waist tinier.”
Be wild, literally
You don’t get diva status by being quiet and doing what you’re told. That’s why so many of them are fond of an animal print. It’s a literal representation of the fact that sometimes, they need to be fierce, whether it’s fighting for fair pay or top billing in a list of cast members. They’re drawn to leopard and tiger patterns because they help a diva channel that don’t-mess-with-me energy.
Walk tall
A bit of height is another tool which can help a diva feel more authoritative and commanding. Mariah Carey is so dedicated to her ultra-high platform heels, she’s been known to wear them to amusement parks, while bowling and even at the gym. She claims not to own trainers, preferring slippers when off-duty instead.
Equally, Dolly Parton is rarely seen in anything but towering stilettos. She said in her autobiography, Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, released last year, that she was inspired by the look of Mae West. “We’re both little, and we’re both outrageous and we both like our high-heeled shoes,” she wrote. “I’ve even heard that when she was older and in a wheelchair, she still wore her high heels. I’m sure I’ll do the same thing.”
More is more
For a diva, the maxim of “remove one accessory before you leave home” does not apply. These women are maximalists, so yes, they will wear a feathered cape over the beaded gown, and a headpiece and diamond jewellery. On anyone else it’d be a matter for the taste police, but somehow the diva carries it off.
The bigger the hair…
…the greater the diva? Lush, thick hair is synonymous with youth and vitality, so the diva is not a stranger to high-volume blow-dries, backcombed beehives and the odd extension or wig. Their makeup routine will also likely include false lashes and a bold red lip, or pout-enhancing gloss, too. The final look is always worth the effort.
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