Jewelry

Jewelry Trends: From Runway to Reality - Forbes

Winter is a time of year brimming with inspiration for the upcoming months and season ahead. From the red carpet events to the international runway shows to jewelry designers getting their new collections ready, we see trends evolve and emerge. Here are just a few of the directions we first saw during awards season, how they were interpreted on the catwalks during the fall/winter 2019/20 collections and the way modern independent and established talents have been translating them . We also see many of the same materials, gemstones, and silhouettes popping up in antique and vintage styles, all which can be worn in real life. And the best part: you don't have to wait until winter. You can start rotating them into your jewelry wardrobe now!

Most of the modern fine jewelry and rare antique pieces have been chosen from Instagram posts to display how pieces can be styled and how they compare to the larger than life runway styles.

Pearl Girls

Pearls have been getting a makeover for the past couple of years and they come out of their traditional shell with every type of pearl, from South Sea to natural baroque to Akoya continuing to evolve with a current vibe. They shed their prim and proper associations and leave any traces of preppy or conventional elements behind. While some pearls might have an antique feel, they never look dated. Today's looks range from delicately detailed and feminine to edgy and daring.

Chain Gang

Gold chains as a staple in any wardrobe are undoubtedly back in style. The look is bold and chunky and often layered. Whether you chose from the turn-of-the-century curb, paper clip and trombone link watch fob chains,  vintage 70's versions of these looks  or modern designer interpretations, you can't go wrong. These chains get a dose of individual style with charms and medallions and various closures as the focal point.

The Straight An Narrow

Long and linear earrings were the earring style that turned up at every awards show this season from swingy looks with movement to those that dropped down to almost the shoulders in both antique and modern versions. These styles appeared again on the runways and designers continue to favor them, along with hoops as the must-have styles going forward in earrings.

There was also a range of bib necklaces, wide bracelets in different materials, chandelier and mismatch earrings on the runway.

But there are also some knock out items that made an appearance at both red carpet events and on the runway. Why not think about these for the antique rarity and vintage qualities:

How Suite It Is

The full parure or suite of jewels turned up on a number of runways. Although designers are beginning to show more 'sets of jewels', the parure of the 18th and 19th century, when you can find it, is not only a collector's item but a true investment that will appreciate with time and tend to go for much higher than the estimates when up for auction. This is due to the fact that many of the true suites of that time period have been broken up.

If you can find one intact with all of its fittings which change necklaces into diadems and then to hair ornaments with pendants that double as brooches and day-to-night earrings, jump at the chance to purchase one if you can.

Dolce& Gabbana are always ahead of the curve. As if bringing back the parure wasn't enough, they also brought back malachite in yellow gold which has started to give other green stones a run for their money. Here they are in pendant drop earrings with a mix of small gemstones at Eden Presley.

Broaching The Brooch

Brooches in the hair, brooches everywhere have been a theme for a few years now. Those of us who appreciate and purchase antiques will wear them on the side of a cardigan, the label of a jacket, across the neckline or the waist of a shift dress and more casually on a jean jacket. We have seen them worn in myriad ways to awards events and they continue to pop on on the runways.

Renowned houses such as Chopard, Chaumet, Chanel and Van Cleef  & Arpels just to name a few have brought them into the spotlight with new versions on styles they have kept in their archives. As you get accustomed to wearing brooches again, take a tip from how they make an impact for day or evening in groups of three as seen at the Erdem show and as styled by Fred Leighton.