Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance – Coco Chanel, 1923

No two women emphasize that stylish point better than potential first ladies Cindy McCain and Michelle Obama - especially when it comes to accessorizing.

Their clothing choices may differ, but both stick with simple, striking diamond stud or pearl earrings, chunky pearl or other necklaces and brooches or pins. Both echo Jackie Kennedy’s style of minimal accessorizing.

Michelle Obama prefers to place a pin or brooch an outfit, drape a simple strand of pearls around her neck or - frequently - nothing except small earrings. Annie Liebovitz photographed her for Vanity Fair wearing single drop earrings, her hair in a French twist.

During her keynote address at the Democratic National Convention, her teal sheath was offset by a sunburst brooch (pictured above). Speaking to a group this summer in New York, she wore pearl stud earrings and a lowkey black studded belt, accessories that are anything but flashy. 

At a formal event, Obama changed the look with a pair of sexy chandelier earrings. On the cover of Newsweek, she wore her signature strand of big pearls (left) and pearl earrings with a sleeveless blue dress. During a campaign stop in Puerto Rico, she showed some versatility with tiny pearl earrings and a laser-cut black belt to cinch a black and white ruffled blouse.

For another magazine photo shoot last year, Obama sported a layered tiny gold beaded necklace (right), pearl studs, and a crimson dress with quarter-length sleeve dress. And at last night’s debate, her red dress was festooned at the neckline with green jeweled accenting (above).

Cindy McCain’s clothing style is often very colorful and frequently designer-made, but she still keeps the jewelry simple. Simple but not inexpensive: large diamond stud earrings and big irregular single and multi-strand pearl necklaces are among her favorites.

McCain is unafraid of bold colors. In an appearance with husband John, she sported a fitted boucle pink suit, a strand of pearls and diamond stud earrings. Her high-fashion, jewel-toned designer suits worn at the GOP Convention were topped with multi-strand pearls and sparkling patriotic pins. Holding Trig Palin at the GOP convention, she wore similar multilayered strands of pearls with a brilliant green dress. Her large white watch looks a lot like the Chanel J12 ceramic watch with a diamond studded face.

Less dressy in a fitted gray suit, she wore large white and dark pearls during a town hall meeting this summer in Philadelphia. In a recent appearance with Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential running mate, Cindy McCain sported those trademark pearls at the neck. In another appearance on The Tonight Show, she wore a green beaded necklace with a bright yellow suit. Another time, she was the picture of elegance in a red suit and, again, the large pearls.

She also favors sparkling jeweled pins , right, with a message, honoring her husband’s military service and that of others: glittering USMC, McCain 2008 and Navy pins (like at last night’s debate).