Pearl Jewelry

IN A CONSTANT WONDERZINE HEAD talks about trends from the podium that can be adapted for your wardrobe for the next six months. In this issue, we understand why pearls are increasingly found in jewelry collections of both large fashion houses Chanel, Lanvin and Valentino, and jewelry brands like Sophie Bille Brahe, Melanie Georgacopoulos or Nektar De Stagni.

How it all began

Pearls - a mineral extracted from the shells of some mollusks - is considered the first jewel in the world. Throughout its history (believe me, it is rich: it was mentioned about as early as the 4th millennium BC.) Pearls were the hallmark of the upper class. If Alexandra Danish and Elizabeth I simply collected an impressive collection of pearl jewelry, Cleopatra even drank wine with a pearl to win the battle. The most interesting begins in the XX century. Then fine jewelry, or fine jewelry, begins to be partially replaced by costume jewelry - consider bijoux. Pearls were in resonance with this wave as well as possible. Japanese Kokichi Mikimoto, founder of the largest brand of pearls Mikimoto, together with partners is developing a method of producing perfect spherical pearls, which turns out to be less expensive compared to the previous ones - which means that the production of pearls is becoming more widespread. And Coco Chanel calls for changing diamonds to pearl jewelry and she herself begins to wear strings of pearls: this can be traced to old archival photos or films about the designer - for example, Coco to Chanel from Audrey Tautou. Pearls are beginning to be used not only in classic earrings and necklaces, but also in products of complex design. Recall, at least, a brooch-mouth by Coco Chanel's friend Salvador Dali.

Now designers are inspired by the 1950s, and we often repeat that the post-war era was a step backwards in terms of fashion, because designers headed by Christian Dior again dressed women in body-emphasizing dresses that pleased men. The same thing happened with the decorations. Classic strands of pearls that Jackie Kennedy and Grace Kelly wore were again honored. In the 1960s, the time of Andy Warhol, the pearls were recognized as old-fashioned, but they were carried away again in 1969, when another Hollywood tale came true: Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor the greatest of black pearls. To study the development of pearls in more detail, you should visit the Pearls exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, which will go on for two more weeks: designer Olympia Le-Tan calls it the best one over the past few years. It should be noted that not only pearl jewelry is gaining popularity now: pearls are becoming an important element of clothing decor. For example, Alexander McQueen decorates masks and dresses with pearls, Nicholas Kirkwood shoes, and J. Crew and Phillip Lim tops.

How to wear pearls now

As you understand, pearls are experiencing a second birth: they are offered to wear absolutely everything. Dior jeweler Camilla Micheli invents two pearl earrings: smaller - above the ear lobe, more - under. Chanel shows choker necklaces of giant pearls and rings of many small beads. Experimenting with a regular string of pearls: Saint Laurent combines it with dresses in a flower and tights in a net, and Valentino with dresses with collars. Pearls separate collections dedicate jewelry brands. Melanie Georgacopoulos, a resident of London of Greek origin, creates minimalist two-tone pearl rings and bracelets, Ryan Storer and Sophie Bille Brahe promote cuff earrings with many differently colored pearls, and Nektar De Stagni Americans invented pearl jewelry with emoticons. Most of the jewelry listed by us looks pretty neat and uncomfortable, so you can combine them with sweatshirts and jeans for the day, and with cocktail or evening dresses.

BEWARE!

The main rule: pearls should not look cheap and old-fashioned. Even if you buy an artificial one, make sure that it looks more or less bearable, it has an even color and there are no noticeable deformations even to the blind. And even a string of pearls is better to combine with some modern clothes, rather than stylization under the 1920s or 50s.