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In the midst of a busy New York Fashion Week, is there a better time to unveil a splashy new supermodel campaign? Chopard certainly seized the moment. Last night, the luxury jeweller released its new Happy Diamonds campaign, starring supermodels Bella Hadid and Liu Wen.
The new cinematic images and video, shot by photographer Greg Williams and director Manu Cossu, celebrate the house’s 50th anniversary of its historic Happy Diamonds collection. (For those new to the Happy Diamonds pieces, they feature loose “dancing diamonds” set in a variety of pieces including elegant bracelets, necklaces, and earrings.)
Hadid and Wen sport new pieces that dig into Chopard’s archives, reviving iconic pieces such as its “Happy Sport The First” watch (featuring the loose Happy Diamonds inside the dial), or Happy Diamonds pendant necklaces, featuring three diamonds set in luxurious 18-carat white, rose, or yellow golds.
Last night, Chopard hosted a splashy party in celebration of the anniversary. Ahead of all that excitement, caught up with Hadid, to chat about what’s inside her own jewellry collection, what’s on her autumn fashion wishlist, and what her next big career moves will be. Below, read on for our exclusive interview with Hadid.
You have a long history of working with Chopard. What have been some of your standout moments?
It goes back so many years now, that it feels like home for me. Caroline [Scheufele] is one of the most incredible people to work with creatively, we’ve grown extremely close. In the industry that we are all in, it’s sometimes hard to [connect]. She understands me and has always stood by me. In some of my darkest times during my career, she has always not only just checked in, but supported me and given me a seat at every single table, physically and metaphorically. She’s the reason I love Chopard, but then, of course, I get to wear these incredible diamonds too.
What was it like shooting this latest campaign? How was the vibe on set?
Energy on set is so important, and the teams that you bring around you. Some people want to be in the industry just to be in the industry, and some people are in the industry because they love the art, fashion, creativity and the uniqueness of it. Those are the people that I strive to to work with. In the beginning of my career, I wasn’t able to have that much say in it. Now, on big jobs like Chopard that are so monumental and impactful, I’m proud because we had such a great team. Greg Williams is one of the most amazing photographers of all time, but I only ever get to shoot with him at the Cannes Film Festival. When we’ve shot together, we haven’t always had a lot of time. But we've always just clicked.
I was interested in how you worked with Stephen Galloway on set as a movement coach. How did you guys work together?
It’s telepathy with Steven Galloway. If you want to talk about happy diamonds, let's talk about the happiest human! He makes sure that every person in the room does feel happy. I always strive to be that way on set too, even when I don't feel well. He was able to give me that energy on days when I was feeling drained, he was filling my cup up again. I’m not a dancer, honey, let me tell you, but Steven makes you feel like one. He makes you feel like you can do anything. His choreography gives me chills.
Did you guys have any Old Hollywood icons on the campaign mood board?
My head first went to , but to be honest, on set, it wasn’t necessarily about references. Which is crazy for me, because I usually go to the mood boards immediately when I get to set. Who is the girl? What is she doing? Why is she here? But this time, it was more about the energy.
What did you think of the new jewellery pieces?
There’s nostalgia for me with the Happy Diamonds. When my mum had me, my brother, and my sister, my dad bought her this Chopard necklace with three Happy Diamonds in it. Doing the campaign for them, I was already so in love with the brand: I have childhood memories of when my mum would drop me off for school, and I would see her necklace when I was pulling away from a hug. Another piece that Caroline gave me off of her body recently was a bracelet. It has one of the little Happy Diamonds in it. And for my birthday last year, they also gave me the hearts with Happy Diamonds inside. I think I cried for three days.
You’ve worn so a lot of amazing Chopard jewels on the red carpet over the years. Any standouts?
It almost feels like a fever dream, because I get back in the car, and then I have to give it back. I’m like, “All right, well, that was fun!” I think they’re all very special. The piece that is the most me is a dangly triple diamond necklace with these diamond conchos that I wore recently to a after-party. It’s to die for. I just borrowed it again for a campaign that I just shot for Orabella.
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In terms of jewellery, are you a collector of anything in particular?
I collect a lot of raw gold. I think that’s my number one. I collect a lot of Egyptian coin bags or belts, and I love concho belts with old leather. I love rubies. I bought a pair of red ruby hearts that are dangly, and they’re almost bronzy. They’re gorgeous. I do a lot of girl math when it comes to buying jewellery. Recently, I’ve been getting into watches, too. I wore the same watch for so many years that it was weird to take it off. But now, I’m trying to find my piece again.
On the topic of timepieces… what’s your definition of a day well spent?
It depends on how you’re feeling. Some days I have to force myself to just lay in bed on days that I know I won'’ have a day off for a while, because living in a world that is so instant and so consistent with energy, I feel very guilty if I take a day off. If I’m not doing something or have a plan, it makes me anxious, but I think it’s really important to give yourself grace to have those days to just really just be in the moment, be present, go sit outside for a little bit, go back inside, spend time with your dog, listen to music, start a new show. Don’t be worried that you’re taking a day for yourself. I’d wake up, maybe go jump in a cold body of water that hopefully is out in nature somewhere, go see a waterfall, find a great sandwich shop that you want to try, go into the middle of a field, make a picnic. And spend time with family. That would be my perfect day, at home with kids and family, making food and playing games.
With autumn in the air, we’re curious what’s on your new season shopping wish list.
I’m excited to be able to wear my sweaters again. A lot of layering, like dresses and skirts. I love lace right now, which I always have. I love brown, so that’s pretty much where I'll probably stay, maybe with a pop of red. I mean, boots. I might bring back my Doc Martens. Who’s to say? A soft grunge moment, a little lace with some blue Levi’s and Docs. And a thin oversized leather jacket over it.
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Do you ever get surprised at how fast you can ignite trends? I mean, you basically started a whole western fashion movement a few years back.
It still surprises me. I have a lot of different characters of myself, different versions that I [experiment with around] my clothes. I’m a Libra in that way. We’re putting together my archive of my clothes right now, and it’s been so exciting to see everything in one place. I wish I could give you a tour. I’ve gone through so many different eras, but [my style] comes naturally to whatever I’m thinking about, or a movie that I’ve seen, or a hat that I find in a ’60s costume store. I just gravitate towards things I see when I’m thrifting or shopping online, Etsying, Depoping, eBaying. I always like to find the best prices. I always think, “Okay, so there’s one bag that I could get for three grand at a big store. How many things can I get for that much money?” And it’ll be, like, 500 things. I'm like, “Girl math— it was all free.”
But I really like to find special little pieces, and stop along the way on road trips to go find stuff that maybe will inspire me. Getting into fashion, people want to form you into something. When I just stopped caring, and people would make fun of the stuff I was wearing, I was like, you know what? She was cool and living and happy, she was over trying to confine to something that would make sense for every person to love. I’ve gotten to that point where I can be like, “Actually, F-it.” I wear snowboarding pants with my Nikes and a crochet hat.
What are you looking forward to this autumn and in the months ahead? What’s next? Perhaps a return to acting again (like in )?
Oh my god, that was crazy town. I would love to. Right now, I’m finally getting into a space where I feel like I’m healing from the past couple years of just a lot of intensity, and trials and tribulations and ups and downs. I’m always working. What’s funny is people are always like, “She’s back!” And I’m like, “I was here three months ago.” I’m always working or shooting. I’m always working on Orabella consistently, every single day. Right now, that really is my true passion, my team and making sure I can be the best boss that I can be. I want to make Orabella everything that I have always dreamt of it to be. I really just want to settle down in a small life and have my companies. And yes, that's [companies] with an s, because I will have more.
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