Photo courtesy of @sarahschussheim
Stylist Sarah Schussheim has spent her career creating some of the most captivating fashion spreads and celebrity covers for several major publications. Starting her career as a fashion assistant at Jane and Lucky Magazines and a market editor combing the industry for the latest trends at Women’s Wear Daily, Schussheim parlayed her talents to Elle Magazine, where she became then Fashion Director Joe Zee’s first assistant.
For over 5 years, she worked on every cover and inside fashion story for the glossy, traveling the world to style celebrities and supermodels for the highly influential publication.
As eclectic and creative as the Elle aesthetic is, so is Schussheim’s. She blends vintage and high fashion with the irreverent attitude of street style. Her choice in accessories and jewelry is just as cool and even better, thoughtful and all her own.
Here, the editorial and celebrity stylist, who today works on everything from major brand campaigns to fashion shows and the timeless editorial spreads that launched her career, shares some insight on how estate jewelry has inspired her over the years and her most memorable pieces first seen worn by her mother and grandmother.
Photo courtesy of @sarahschussheim
Have you always loved jewelry? What is one of your first memories of falling in love with jewelry?
I’ve always been into my mom’s style of jewelry, which is mostly gold and pretty simple/personal. She used to have this necklace, which was a puffy 3-d gold heart, on a long gold chain, and there was a dimple-like dent in both sides of the heart, which was from my little brother biting it repeatedly. The dent was perfectly in the middle of the heart like it was a custom bite. it made it so much more special.
What kind of jewelry do you gravitate toward personally?
I love vintage pieces that have been passed down or given to me by someone I love. I also love gold chains, delicate, huge and everything in between.
Who are your favorite designers?
For jewelry I love Verdura, David Webb, Tiffany and Cartier. I also love my Patek Philippe watch given to me by my grandfather when I graduated from NYU. Its quite delicate so it feels like jewelry.
Have you always been a fan of estate and vintage pieces? Any specific era you love most?
I love my great grandmother’s “dinner ring” from the ’40s or ’50s that I wear every day. It’s round and has 3 diamonds surrounded by more tiny diamonds. I also love the glamour and proportions of the ’70s.
Do you tend to use estate pieces in your work as well?
Whenever I can! It brings so much to a picture.
