Fall-forward fashion: Crisp weather re-ignites an appreciation of pearls, hoops, and the personal

by Habiba Abudu | August 14, 2019 12:47 pm

By Sarah Said

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Fall is a time for transitions and experimenting with new trends. For many, the season brings out a need for change; breezy cotton shirts and flip-flop sandals are tucked away and replaced with denim jackets, infinity scarves, and cropped boots.

With this shift, accessories—including jewellery—tend to undergo transformations of their own. And this year, these trends have taken an unexpected (and, at times, contradictory) turn.

Starting off small

Thanks to the easy-share aspect of social media, many trends within the jewellery world have been given the chance to blossom—minimalism being one of them. This season, it seems like everyone is sporting simple, delicate pieces.

So personal

Fashion influencers like Danielle Bernstein, the founder of popular style blog WeWoreWhat, have become recognized for mixing and matching different styles and lengths of dainty, timeless necklaces. While the layered style has been popular for some time and the overall look remains consistent, the types of pieces have evolved.

This season, personalization has made a big appearance in delicate jewellery. Small chains and rings marked with initials have become a popular look for several online models, including Camila Coehlo and Negin Mirsalehi, who have millions of social media followers and high purchasing influence.

No rules

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Though collections featured on runways differ greatly than those seen online, trends—including personalization—often trickle up.

Balenciaga’s Fall 2019 Ready-To-Wear (RTW) line, for example, features a large silver chain necklace with a bold ‘B’ pendant. The brand’s creative director, Demna Gvasalia, paired the piece with a formal blazer dress, creating a youthful, laid-back look.

This contrasting esthetic is common for younger audiences and allows for more outfit opportunities. This trend means traditional beliefs of what some styles of jewellery are ‘supposed’ to be worn with are out the door, opening up additional opportunities to market unique pieces to consumers.

Bros in bracelets

Men are also incorporating minimalistic pieces into their everyday attire. Today, simple bracelets, in both gold and silver, are trending within menswear. The easy-to-wear accessory is effortless to style and works with both casual and formal clothes. This allows male shoppers to feel more comfortable wearing jewellery and potentially open up to more styles in the future. And, of course, the personalization trend applies here as well.

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Make a statement

While simple pieces certainly have their place in the market, a large number of Fall 2019 RTW collections have gone the complete opposite route and embraced all things camp. Beyond just the theme for Vogue’s 2019 Met Gala, the comical and often almost distasteful aesthetic has made its mark on this year’s runways. As such, ‘over-the-top’ and ‘opulence’ have dominated the list of requirements for many designers this season.

 

Big earrings

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This fall, Miuccia Prada’s take on the ‘statement’ trend came in the form of floral drop down earrings, creating a set resembling real-life daisies, attached to the ear by the base of the stem. Meanwhile, Burberry’s Riccardo Tisci opted for a more traditional interpretation and brought the classic chandelier earring to the next level. He matched the long and intricate pieces with athletic wear, playing on the ironic nature of the trend.

This particular style is also seen at brick-and mortar-stores, such as Aldo and Simons. The trend is picking up steam among consumers, as it’s easy to try and carries minimal risk. Pairing simple jeans and a classic blouse with a knockout set of bright red tassel earrings is just one way a skeptical shopper might try a casual version of the look.

‘Inde-pendant’

Lady Gaga’s appearance at the 91^st Academy Awards was truly unforgettable. Wearing one of the most iconic pieces of jewellery in history—Tiffany & Co.’s 128.54-carat yellow diamond—Gaga stole the show. The diamond, which was paired with a custom Alexander McQueen gown, has only been worn in public three times. For this appearance, the jewel was worn as a pendant, a style that has taken over many collections this fall.

Chanel and Aurelie Bidermann are two brands that have incorporated hanging pieces into their recent repertoires. The classic look is often interchangeable, allowing for more add-on sales. For example, a customer might purchase a simple chain and two separate pendants that offer a completely different aesthetic. For fashion innovators and early adopters, incorporating pendants as statement pieces is a smart move.

This season, Canadian designers Chloé and Parris Gordon of Beaufille have come up with a variation of the trend: the Y-shaped necklace. Similar to a pendant, the style includes a drop at the front that creates the impression the piece is suspended downward.

For men

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Not surprisingly, camp style has also trickled into men’s fashion and accessories.

This season, Sarah Burton, creative director of Alexander McQueen, featured asymmetrical sets of drop earrings in the brand’s menswear collection. The pieces are made with large colourful beads and often styled with a matching necklace—a look that many traditionalists may consider unusual within men’s fashion. Nevertheless, an increasing number of men have played with daring accessories over the last few years. Actors Ezra Miller and Keiynan Lonsdale have used drop earrings—often one at a time—to accessorize both every day and evening looks. The versatility of this newly embraced male jewellery is what makes it exciting in terms
of design.

Fall back

From the introduction of a trend to its peak and obsolescence, fashion and style cycles are inevitable. Though trends often feel like they come and go swiftly, they almost always resurge.

Pearl Dream

One of this season’s comebacks is pearls, pearls, pearls.

A staple of classic jewellery for years, the simplicity and versatility of pearls makes them incredibly easy to wear. This year, designers have taken the living gemstone to a new direction: gold. This modern twist gives these pieces a new timelessness.

“Pearls have made a big comeback on the runway,” says Caitlin Shockley, a publicist for New York-based brand OWN Your Story. “We’ve seen it in the Louis Vuitton and Prada collections—they did a ton of pearls. I think that sort of ‘traditional turns non-traditional’ approach has been big [this season].”

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Long overdue

Another style enjoying a sequel is long necklaces. In the 1920s, women frequently wore beads and chains down to their navels, and this fad has returned to the runway.

Chloe, Celine, and Anna Sui are just a few brands that re-embraced the look in their Fall 2019 RTW collections. The necklaces vary in thickness, material, and weight, but all provide the same effect: a Greta Garbo-esque level of class that elevates any outfit.

Crazy for hoops

While hoop earrings have been on the fashion radar for some time, the style recently re-emerged as a popular trend for men.

In the 1990s, celebrities like Johnny Depp and Justin Timberlake were at the forefront of the trend. Today, young stars like Zayn Malik and Shawn Mendes have adopted the style almost to a T. The modern take, however, involves smaller, more delicate gold or silver hoops. The daintiness of the look is what makes it interesting; its subtlety offering a sophisticated and expensive feel.

More to come

Today’s consumers seem to be all about authenticity, practicality, and originality. While a funky piece may look great in-store, not many buyers are willing to take the risk if they can’t envision how it can be worn. Understanding not only what influencers are wearing these days, but also how they’re styling trendy pieces can help you market these items to your customers.

Sarah Said is a fashion communications alumnus from Ryerson University. An experienced freelance stylist assistant, Said has written for a range of fashion, culture, and news publications. She can be reached via e-mail at sarahannesaid@gmail.com[7].

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