Statement Jewelry Is Back?
Today’s accessories of choice are weirder and wackier than ever.
In 2021, anything can be an earring — a gummy worm, a cherry pie, even a Monster Energy Drink. When it comes to earrings and jewelry as a whole, the boundaries are being pushed like never before. Beads, paint, metal, and clay are used to create wearable art, to experiment, to embrace one’s personal style, to make a statement.
So-called “statement” jewelry is not a new thing. In fact, several years ago, very decorative, opulent pieces of jewelry — necklaces in particular — were extremely popular. One could find such necklaces at the boutique Francesca’s (where I got mine) or department stores such as Macy’s or Nordstrom. They would consist of many large jewels, often of very bright or opulent tones. I remember having a few of them, one made out of mirrored crystal beads and the other a combination of pink, blue, and yellow beads. You could also find these necklaces at J. Crew, and they were often worn with cocktail dresses or jeans and a blazer.
Eventually, though, these large, attention-grabbing necklaces largely fell out of fashion. They can be seen as tacky or gaudy and…