Olivia Dean is Bringing Glamour Back
This generation’s neo-soul revivalist is now Cartier’s latest ambassador, giving us a new vision of elegance that’s so easy to fall in love with.
Olivia Dean is the internet’s golden girl of the moment, and it’s not just because she walked away as Best New Artist at the Grammys on February 2. The 26-year-old songstress took the stage to accept the award in a custom black-and-white Chanel gown, accessorised with jewellery from Cartier’s Panthere de Cartier and Clash de Cartier collections. In the lead-up to the big night, she was already setting the tone – stepping out on red carpets and on stage in emerging designers like Conner Ives, 16Arlington and Feben, and even more Cartier.
Much like her music, Dean’s style is rooted in where she comes from. Her sound blends R&B with jazz and neo-soul warmth, calling back to the ’90s when her personal musical icons Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill reigned supreme. It can be said that she’s brought neo-soul back into the mainstream in a way that few of her contemporaries have, and with that, a take on classic glamour that’s just as distinct.
The new iterations in Cartier’s Clash de Cartier collection feature coloured stones like red-dyed agate, green-dyed agates, pink chalcedony and onyx. These stone beads are interspersed with rose gold studs, and individually fastened in place with a clou de Paris nail – a meticulous process that requires both mechanical and manual adjustments of great precision. It also means that the final pieces comprise twice as many parts as the all-gold versions. Here, Olivia Dean wears (from top) Clash de Cartier rose gold earrings with onyx, and rose gold rings with red-dyed agate, green-dyed agate and onyx.
In Dean’s early days on stage, her look leaned girl-next-door: playful colours, clashing textures, and outfits chosen for both comfort and character. Over time, her style has sharpened into something more assured – think sleek tailoring and cleaner colour palettes. Yet, rather than feeling like a departure from her earlier self, one gets the sense that Dean is simply settling into herself. Even as her wardrobe has grown more refined, her personal style remains rooted in ease: She still wears her curls loose; her clothes move as she does; and it’s clear that Dean always dresses for herself first.
It’s perhaps no surprise then that Cartier has found a natural counterpart in her. The French luxury jeweller has named Dean as one of its newest ambassadors, adding to its glittering lineage of cultural muses. Kicking off the partnership is a series of images in which Dean showcases the latest evolution of its Clash de Cartier collection.
Introduced in 2019, Clash de Cartier is among the brand’s most youthful – and edgy – offerings. Its studded forms recall the kind one would usually find on punk accessories while its fully flexible construction (a design feat, no less) subverts traditional ideas of fine jewellery as rigid, precious items. Spiky yet soft to the touch, the line offers a duality reflective of modern women and the newest designs only push that idea further.
Multi-wear jewellery is a signature of Cartier. The new drop-style earrings in the Clash de Cartier collection feature two supple rows of studs in white or rose gold, that can be worn on the front or back of the ear. Here, Dean wears (from top) the Clash de Cartier multi-wear earrings, necklace and double row ring, all in white gold.
Coloured stones – specifically red-dyed and green-dyed agate, pink chalcedony and onyx – now appear boldly across the collection, while enlarged proportions give the pieces added heft literally and visually. Alongside these are white gold versions of popular, more everyday-friendly styles such as the classic bangle and pendant, which were previously only available in rose and yellow gold.
Dean’s fans would agree that she pulls off the collection the way it ought to be worn. In the said campaign imagery, she moves between different versions of herself – from the laidback, off-duty pop star, to the preppy writer (she writes all of her own music), to the sophisticated, black tie-ready superstar. In every look, the jewellery adds to her personality and glamour effortlessly.
Designed to be extra-large, the new onyx-studded Clash de Cartier necklace and ring add both rebelliousness and sophistication to even the most casual of looks. Olivia Dean wears the Clash de Cartier extra-large yellow gold necklace with onyx, matching ring (on left hand) and Clash de Cartier yellow gold ring.
Ahead, Dean shares more about working with Cartier, her connection to fine jewellery, and the pieces that make up her everyday rotation.
What’s it like working with a Maison as legendary as Cartier?
“It’s such a special experience. Cartier has this amazing mix of history and creativity – it honours tradition but still feels modern. I love that it really celebrates individuality. It feels like a genuine fit, and I’m proud to be part of it.”
What do you love most about the Clash de Cartier collection?
“What I love most is how playful it is. The movement in the beads gives everything this cool, tactile feel. It’s bold without trying too hard. I also really love the newer pieces, they’re bolder in scale or have unexpected pops of colour, which makes them feel fresh and fun to wear.”
Also new to Clash de Cartier: fully flexible bracelets and necklaces. The intricate studs on these are first crafted using lost wax casting to ensure perfection of form, before being assembled through high-precision machining, which results in the jewellery’s articulated design. What this means? Every part is connected securely yet free to move, ensuring fluidity and comfort for the wearer. Here, Dean wears the Clash de Cartier flexible bracelet (left) and classic bangle (right), both in yellow gold.
What is your earliest memory of jewellery that holds special meaning for you?
“All the women in my family have a bangle with gold from Guyana. I wear it every single da yand have matching ones with my mum and my auntie. I love feeling connected to them through jewellery.”
How do you like to style your jewelry in everyday life or on special occasions? Do you have a go-to piece that you never leave the house without?
“Day to day, I keep things simple - usually a few rings or small hoops, layered in a way that feels like me. For something more dressed up, I’ll go for a bolder piece to elevate the look, but I still want it to feel natural. I always wear gold earrings though. They’ve kind of become my signature – they just tie everything together.”
Do you find yourself drawn more to Onyx, Pink Chalcedony, Red or Green Agate - or do you lean toward an all-gold look?
“I love colourful moments but I always reach for an all gold look. I think it goes with everything. It’s iconic and timeless.”
A self-proclaimed gold jewellery girl, Olivia Dean sports the Clash de Cartier earrings in rose gold and green-dyed agate.