This fall, clothes are minimally adorned, colors are somber and the
look is decidedly sleek. Sounds dull, but for us jewelry lovers, this
is great news. Austere clothes are the perfect backdrop for big, bold,
lively jewelry.
One tip: When accessorizing fall's looks with adventurous jewelry,
remember to wear one standout piece at a time; you don't want to
overwhelm the rest of your outfit and create a look of intense
busyness. Rather, the goal here is to emphasize one knockout piece at
a time. Which piece to choose? That depends on your style, your
budget, your outfit and your tastes. To get you started, here are the
top jewelry trends that came down the runway for fall 2006. Pick up a
piece or two--or pull them out of your jewelry box and polish them up--
and get ready to have a little accessorizing fun.
Bold gold chains: For the moment, forget shiny, candy-like beads and
last season's jumbled, multi-layered look. Today, it's all about one
or two long gold chains with oversize links. The hottest gold
necklaces have big, interlocking loops, or big loops interspersed on
chains, sort of like a Tin Cup necklace with gold circles rather than
pearls. Toss one on over your tunic/legging combo, your mini-dress, or
pair a gold necklace with one of the season's hot men's suits or
military jackets that are so popular right now.
Pearls: I know what you're thinking, pearl jewelry is not bold. Not
worn the traditional way, they aren't. But freshen up this jewelry
staple (bonus, you probably already own a strand or two) and make it
modern by tying your pearl strand in a loose knot before putting it
on. This makes it bold and interesting. Alternately, thread a cocktail
ring, big class ring or bold brooch onto your pearl necklace. An
enhancer, which is a piece of jewelry made for the purpose of
accessorizing your pearl necklace, is another attractive option. Clip
one onto your pearl strand to create instant attention.
Cuffs: Put away your charm bracelets and bangles for now; extra-wide
cuff bracelets are crisp and modern. Hammered gold cuffs are hot right
now: tons of celebrities are sporting this trend on the red carpet.
Also hot are any wide, stretchy color cuff bracelets made with stones
like aventurine and carnelian. Wood cuffs are stylish too. One caveat:
Because they're so bold, be sure to tone down the rest of your look.
Wear your cuff bracelet alone with pushed up sleeves or over a skinny
sweater or tunic, and be sure to remove your watch and any other
distracting jewelry.
Drop and other dangle earrings: Oversize earrings like chandeliers,
hoops, and dangles are in this season, and look gorgeously bold with
short hair or an updo, or tantalizingly seductive hidden in long hair.
Especially hot right now are pear-shaped drops of precious stones, as
are white pearl drop earrings around one and a half to two inches in
length. Splurge a little on these--you'll be able to wear them over
and over.
Oversize cocktail rings: A favorite of this fashion writer, attention-
getting gobs of sapphire, pearl, and citrine set in gold are all the
rage right now. In fact, at the New York jewelry show, you could not
walk ten feet without being tempted to pick up yet another oversize
cocktail ring; the gorgeous baubles were everywhere. The look is not
fussy: diamonds, CZs and other adornments should be kept to a minimum
and the stone itself should get all the attention. Square cuts are
modern, but oval rings and round rings are pleasing too. As with other
bold accessories, be sure not to overdo this look. One big ring will
suffice (wearing multiple rings on multiple fingers is so juvenile).
Scale back the rest of your jewelry as well.
Skull jewelry and basic black: Interestingly, jewelry designs with
skulls are all the rage this season. Very rock and roll and hard core
(Steven Tyler is a fan), skulls likely won't have much staying power,
so don't spend too much money on any one skull piece. To get the edgy
look with a minimum investment, try skull dangle earrings or a skull
pendant necklace. Not a fan of the skull jewelry fad but still want a
rock and roll edge? Try black jewelry. Black is back, and this season
it's done in a big, bold way that screams sophisticated rock and roll.
Try a jumbo black pearl necklace or a pair of black pearl dangle
earrings. (Black freshwater pearls, though dyed, are very affordable.)
Another option is a strand of demure white pearls tied with a wide
black ribbon for a sexy contrast. Still other choices are an oversize
black beaded bracelet or onyx dangle earrings. A giant black cross,
black leather cuff or oversize onyx cocktail ring are also ways to get
in on this trend.
Got enough fashion information to keep you busier than Jessica Alba's
stylist? Thought so! Just remember a few simple rules and you'll be
fine: When choosing jewelry, spend more on classic pieces that stand
the test of time, like bangles, pearl necklaces, gold dangle earrings,
tank watches, diamond studs, pearl studs and the like. Save on
trendier pieces like oversize beaded necklaces, skull jewelry, and
giant cocktail rings. And when going with a bold piece, tone the other
stuff down and let the statement-maker do all the talking.
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