Anyone who has ever watched the iconic ’60s film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes starring Marylin Monroe and Jane Russell probably knows at least a few of the words to the song "Diamonds Area Girl’s Best Friend.” I’ve not only found myself humming it to myself more recently, but it has also re-triggered a mild obsession with jewelry. I’m not just enveloped in thoughts about diamond engagement rings or demi-fine jewelry brands, but everyday jewelry trends specifically.
Jewelry, after all, lapses time. It can capture the jewelry trends of the moment or be passed on for generations to come. And whether your taste is jewelry is traditional or trendy, 2021’s spring/summer jewelry trends are bound to make BFF status in your life (as they run the full gambit). Keep reading to find out which trends you’ll want to wear come spring but are available to shop right now.
Statement jewelry is obviously not a new trend. Chunky chains dominated F/W 2020 runways, and super-sized hoops were big last spring. But come spring 2021, you’ll see hardware, chains, and hoops evolve even further, and enter the oversized realm. From Victoria Beckham to Hérmes, runways were filled with heavy metal jewelry pieces that were reminiscent of hardware, proving that next year, bigger may be better (if your ear lobes can withstand it).
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If the prospect of piling on statement jewelry speaks to you, but your neck is not about to handle heavy hardware, then you may want to opt for one of spring 2021’s more timeless jewelry trends: pearls. Pearls have seen a resurgence since last spring, but don’t be fooled—these aren’t your grandmother’s dainty baubles or even the precious pearls of season’s past. The surprise element for the trend this year lies in the styling of layered and mismatched pearls as seen on the runways. Ultimately, applying the party adage "the more, the merrier” is how you’ll make your summertime pearls a full affair to remember.
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It’s no exaggeration that 2020 put us through it, so of course, some things got lost in translation, including jewelry trends. But let it be clear that the jewelry trend that won’t be slept on in 2021 is the single earring. This is a trend that’s been begging for the spotlight for some time now, and with fresh takes coming from Fendi, Alberta Ferretti, N21, and many more, this is a trend (much like that Tinder match) deserves a second chance out.
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When sifting through the collections of designers for spring/ summer 2021 a startling realization occurred: bangles were subtly everywhere as if they had escaped from the back of our minds. Whether it be bangles stacked to the brim (like those spotted at Chloé), matching pairs (looking at you, Lavin), or single statement ones (ahem, Jacquemus), the evidence has made it very clear that bangles are very much back in business.
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We’ve been unable to escape a few trends—chains, silver, hardware-like pieces for a few seasons now. So it comes as no surprise that a culmination of trends (with a dash of cubism) has tied us to spring/summer 2021’s next jewelry trend: spherical pieces. These heavy metal, geometric elements were spotted everywhere from Sportmax’s collection to Robdejer and can be found on chokers, bangles, pendant earrings, and so much more, making them the type of trend that’s easy to get tied to come spring.
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This past fall, we saw helpful holder handbags trending—and while you may be wondering what does fall’s biggest bag trends have to do with spring 2021’s most prominent jewelry trends? I’m here to tell you, that the best of both worlds has been merged on the runway. Come next year, bags that double as necklaces will very much be a thing. If you’re skeptical, just look to Max Mara’s or Chanel’s most recent collections as proof.
Compared to the past few seasons filled with ’90s chokers, it was refreshing to see long necklaces bubble back up in spring and summer 2021 runway collections. Everyone from Chloé to Dior to Tory Burch had their own forms of long necklaces, ushering in the rebirth of the jewelry staple.
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I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it: I’m not over Harry Styles’s 2019 Met Gala moment when he showed up wearing a single pearl earring. Since that moment, men’s fashion, and jewelry has been veering towards more gender-fluid pieces, which culminated in the spring/summer 2021 collections of Fendi and N21. Men wearing pearls is the only jewelry trend I care about because if you’re looking for an excuse to splurge on a strand of pearls to share with your significant other, Vogue’s December cover star Mr. Styles just gave it to you.
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Maybe it’s because we’ve all been binging The Crown, or perhaps it’s the obsession with being "icy,” but spring and summer’s runways were filled with diamond jewelry pieces in every form. From jewel-encrusted headpieces at Simone Rocha to bibs from Chanel to full earpieces at Hérmes, the runways proved yet again that diamonds are the jewelry trend that is here to stay forever. Just make sure you’re dripping in them come spring 2021.
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Next: I Made a Fun Shopping List of Nordstrom Items, and Thought I'd Share.
This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
