When she was just 21, Paloma Picasso, daughter of Pablo, wandered into the social tornado of 1970s Paris wearing sky-high wedges and big-shouldered ’40s dresses. She tucked her hair into turbans and painted on makeup that was Kabuki-severe.
The look was instantly iconic, making fans of the likes of Yves Saint Laurent, who hired her to create jewelry for his fashion house. Her career was born. Picasso soon emerged from her father’s spotlight to blaze trails of her own, designing jewelry for Tiffany & Co. — a relationship she has maintained for more than 30 years — and becoming a brand in her own right, with even a fragrance bearing her name.
Today, the 64-year-old designer presents a more subdued but no less stylish profile. She appears for an interview in a linen tunic and little makeup, her only embellishments pieces from her latest Tiffany collection: laid-back elegant. “In the ’80s, dressing up for a party was putting on an act,” she explains. “I used to pour all my creative energy into the way I looked. Now I put it into the jewelry. I have less to prove.”
Favorite Things:Woman Playing with a Small Cat
From last fall’s fabulous exhibition of my father’s black-and-white works at the Guggenheim
Favorite Things: Paloma’s Olive Leaf Earrings
Part of my newest Tiffany & Co. collection, inspired by our garden in Marrakech.
Favorite Things: Nuts and Bolts Pendant
Designing men’s jewelry allows me to experiment for Tiffany in a new way
Favorite Things: T. Anthony Beauty Case
A monogrammed version in red and black holds all my treasures.
Favorite Things: Manolo Blahnik Suede Boots
A wardrobe staple by a dear old friend.
Favorite Things: Dutch Bicycles
