It feels weird to call pearl jewelry a summer jewelry trend. Because when many of us say the word “trendy,” we mean to suggest that something is new and exciting—or that something that used to be new and exciting has recently become that way again. Pearl jewelry doesn’t fit this bill. It’s been a mainstay in jewelry collections, generation after generation. It never went out of style. But spend a few minutes looking at this summer’s trendiest pearl pieces, and you’ll be unable to deny that something new is happening here. Pearl jewelry isn’t new—but it’s gotten a kitschy, campy makeover. And honestly, it’s pulling it off.
This summer, pearl jewelry looks nothing like the classic strings of pearls that used to hide inside your grandma’s jewelry box. They’re colorful, misshapen, and often juxtaposed with teeny-tiny beads. In some cases, the pearls are the main event: Arrays of large, rough-looking pearls are strung together, broken up by rainbow seed beads. In other cases, pearls are merely an accent piece: They add a touch of texture to friendship bracelets, beaded barrettes, and kitschy chokers. The pearl jewelry landscape looks nothing like it ever has before. Class and sophistication have been traded for camp and whimsy, and the result is undeniably fun.
In many ways, this summer’s pearl jewelry trend resembles the shell jewelry trend we’ve come to love over the last few years. It’s just a little softer, a little daintier, and a little more iridescent. Sometimes, the trends appear in tandem—with shells and pearls working together to create a summer look that’s idyllic and fun. Other times, they act as substitutes for one another—with shells being the rougher and campier of the two, and pearls maintaining some amount of the classy appeal they’re known for.
Whether coupled or alone, these trends have left the summer jewelry landscape feeling textured, lovely, and full of personality. And our jewelry boxes are all the better for it.
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