Albright’s Legacy: ‘Read My Pins’

A fashion icon she is not. Nevertheless, Madeleine Albright’s accessories collection could prove to be one of the most influential in American history.

After penning three so-called “serious” books — “Madam Secretary: A Memoir,” “The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God and World Affairs” and “Memo to the President: How We Can Restore America’s Reputation and Leadership” — the diplomat and the 64th secretary of state has taken a more “serendipitous” approach to articulating her thoughts on foreign affairs through her brooch collection.

Albright’s latest tome (Harper Collins, $40), underwritten by St. John Knits and Bren Simon, is titled “Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box.” It tracks how the country’s first female secretary of state used brooches as symbols of her mission, stance and more often than not, her mood.

It all started with Saddam Hussein.

After being dubbed an “unparalleled serpent” in a propagandistic Iraqi government poem in 1994, Albright wanted to send a subversive message of strength when meeting Iraqi officials. So during their meeting, she donned a gold pin depicting a snake coiled around a branch and a small diamond hanging from its mouth. The Iraqi officials and the press corps picked up on the message, and Albright realized she was onto something.

“I always loved jewelry,” said Albright. “I thought, well, this is fun. I was in New York where there are lots of places to buy wonderful things…and I bought jewelry that I thought described what we were doing. On good days it was flowers…on bad days it was spiders and bugs.”

Playing on former President George H.W. Bush’s controversial phrase “Read my lips,” Albright trained the White House press corps to “read her pins.”

Albright doesn’t claim to be a fashion plate, but took a liking to accessorizing with brooches when she discovered they could liven up a government official’s requisite staid suit.

“I don’t think you can wear an awful lot of rings, and necklaces get hidden by collars,” she said. “Pins come in huge varieties. I’m not into high fashion, but I do think it’s important to look nice.”

Albright’s collection of 300 pins is depicted in the book, which hits shelves this week. There is everything from a button from John F. Kennedy’s 1960 presidential campaign to more serious jewelry pieces, like a gold and pink tourmaline Verdura brooch and a celestial Cartier piece with moonstones, chalcedony, aquamarines and diamonds.