In Praise of Kamala Harris and Her Pearls: 12 Necklaces You'll Love

We know it’s unfair to judge a female politician by what she wears, but when it comes to Kamala Harris and her pearls, let’s be clear: We’re not judging—we’re praising. The newly minted vice president–elect has been rocking her signature strands ever since college; these days, she’s been spotted at any number of events, including campaign stops and the 2020 Democratic National Convention, wearing multiple variations on the political power accessory—usually paired with a blazer, skinny jeans, and Converse sneakers.

If you’ve been paying attention to the past few issues of JCK, you’ve probably already had pearls on your radar: In our June issue, we identified them as one of five major trends on the fall 2020 runways; and in our recent October issue, we covered pearl engagement rings, plus picked out a whole pearl-icious selection of strands, cuffs, hoops, and sculptural drops.

Since Harris’ election is sure to boost jewelry lovers’ interest in pearls even more, we’ve gathered a collection of 12 strands for shoppers of all price points and political persuasions. Fun fact: The Irene Neuwirth necklace is a shorter version of the one Harris is often spotted wearing—including on Aug. 19, 2020, the penultimate night of the Democratic National Convention, when she accepted the party’s nomination for vice president. The best part: They all look great with Chuck Taylors.