8 Jewelry Trends We're Retiring—and 8 We're Scooping Up Instead
Jewelry has the power to make or break your outfit. No matter what you're wearing, add the right pieces of jewelry, and suddenly your outfit appears much more thought-out and stylish (if you're in on the right trends, that is). Speaking of, there are so many amazing new jewelry trends we editors have spotted coming down the runways, in the new-arrivals sections of our favorite brands, and maybe even on our most in-the-know friends.
But instead of only highlighting those new pieces we can't wait to wear ourselves, I asked my fellow editors to weigh in on which trends they'll be retiring from their jewelry boxes first, followed by those they plan to scoop up next. From the new way to wear pearls to the investment pieces that have the most staying power, keep reading for the jewelry trends we're favoring and which ones we're phasing out.
Retiring: Thin stacking necklaces
Wearing: Strong single pieces
"Thin, stacking necklaces and rings have had a long run for me, and while I'm not completely ready to retire them just yet, lately I've found myself opting for more solid, single pieces much more often."
Retiring: Colorful acrylic earrings
Wearing: Chain-link jewelry
"I'm over the colorful acrylic earrings. The fun plastic accessories feel more right for summer anyway. Instead, I'm all about slightly chunky, heritage-inspired chain-link earrings and necklaces. They make a statement while somehow being completely classic."
Retiring: Traditional pearl jewelry
Wearing: Inventive pearl designs
"Right now, I'm skipping traditional pearl jewelry and instead opting for more inventive designs. New takes such as these drop earrings feel fresh, and I predict we'll be seeing more iterations of pearls in 2020."
Retiring: Beaded jewelry
Wearing: Chunky silver and gold pieces
"I'm putting beaded jewelry on hiatus. While it's fun and colorful, I prefer chunkier, more substantial silver and gold pieces for fall and winter."
Shop:
Retiring: Pendant necklaces
Wearing: Grandpa-inspired chains
"I really leaned into the whole pendant trend for a while and always found myself layering at least one among my normal necklace stack, but this season, I am opting for a more simplistic assortment of grandpa-inspired chain necklaces. I love the look of mixing together different textures and widths of chains even atop a sweater or T-shirt."
Retiring: Shell jewelry
Wearing: Daisies
"I think shell jewelry got a little oversaturated for my taste, so it's not my favorite at the moment. Right now, I'm a little obsessed with daisy jewelry because it's just plain fun. Do I need another reason?"
Retiring: Dainty stacking rings
Wearing: Oversize rings
I never really got into the whole dainty-rings-on-every-finger trend, since I was always fidgeting with them and losing various rings here and there. In other words, it was too high-maintenance a jewelry trend for me. These days, I love the way that a stack of chunky rings looks. Their sculptural shape immediately adds something luxurious to my overall look."
Retiring: Short pendant necklaces
Wearing: Extra-long pendants
"Lately, I've been swapping out my delicate, short pendant necklaces for extra-long, '70s-inspired necklaces that were seen with practically every look on the Celine fall and spring runways. I'm wearing them over my high-neck collar blouses and turtlenecks this season."
Next up, the color trends fashion girls are ditching before 2020.
Anna is an editor on the fashion team at Who What Wear and has been at the company for over five years, having begun her career in the Los Angeles office before relocating to New York, where she's currently based. Having always been passionate about pursuing a career in fashion, she built up her experience interning at the likes of Michael Kors, A.L.C., and College Fashionista before joining the team as a post-graduate assistant editor. Anna has penned a number of interviews with Who What Wear's cover stars over the years, including A-listers Megan Fox, Issa Rae, and Emma Chamberlain. She's earned a reputation for scouting new and emerging brands from across the globe and championing them to our audience of millions. While fashion is her main wheelhouse, Anna led the launch of WWW Travels last year, a new lifestyle vertical that highlights all things travel through a fashion-person lens. She is passionate about shopping vintage, whether it be at a favorite local outpost or an on-the-road discovery, and has amassed a wardrobe full of unique finds. When she's not writing, you can find her shooting street imagery on her film camera, attempting to learn a fourth or fifth language, or planning her next trip across the globe.
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