Trends worth falling for: The 2017 Fall/Winter style guide

by emily_smibert | August 31, 2017 2:25 pm

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By Anita Ehui

Whether you are a fashion insider or onlooker, it is a well-known fact Fall is the most intense season of the year. Newsstands are filled with thick consumer magazines, fashion week buzz is in the air, and window displays are adorned with the most anticipated collections and hype-worthy jewellery.

Inspiration is everywhere. With a push of influence coming from the runway and revealing a sense of what buyers are looking for, jewellers should take advantage of the upcoming demand in accessories. Now is the time to start preparing by recognizing the crucial must-haves of the season.

Gold hoops

Dubbed as the unavoidable classic, hoops have made their way back onto the trend radar. The question is what gives them the it-factor this season?

Perhaps it’s the musings of Marilyn Monroe’s signature old-school gold hoops or maybe it’s updated twists seen on Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, and Balenciaga’s Fall/Winter 2017 runway shows.

Nevertheless, hoops have a long-standing history in fashion and pop culture—the main influences of the way we act, react, and dress. Today, hoops are trending for their perennial and versatile old-Hollywood glamour. The earring style remains a crowd favourite for its assured beauty on women of all ages as there’s a style for everyone. Your customers can channel this trend by wearing door knockers, oversized or textured hoops with a glint of gold.

Hand embellishing

Hand embellishments are now a major player in accessories. This season, many customers will be wanting to dress their hands.

A common misconception about covering hands with too much bling is that it will subtract femininity from the wearer. However, hand bracelets and ring sets of three or more are proving to do quite the opposite. Bracelets are designed with elongated lines connecting your customer’s bangle to her rings—tracing the symmetry of her hands.

Additionally, women of today are revamping traditional ring wear i.e. sporting only one or two rings at a time—commonly this is an engagement ring and/or wedding band.

Stacked rings are putting the creativity back in add-ons by allowing customers to mix and match their favourites. A great style recommendation is to pair rings of different shapes and sizes to create a set of finger décor. Allow your customers to bundle all five fingers, adding one more ring every other finger for a bolder statement.

Monograms

Fashion has always been logo-obsessed, so it’s no surprise jewellery is moving in the same direction. Double-lettered accents, acronyms, and initials are available in the form of pins, earrings, and necklaces.

Once reserved for only high-end goods, the monogram is popular as a personalization for customers looking for an added ‘wow’ factor.

Most recently, jewellery trends have shifted from bold statement pieces to dainty classic declarations of style. These pieces are the true conversation starters, and the type of jewellery stirring curiosity.

Monogrammed heirlooms are great investment pieces to consider as a pendant necklace or studded earrings. Don’t forget to offer products with accents in gold or brass to maintain vintage appeal.

Keys

Keys have gone from an everyday essential to a coveted luxury item. For Fall 2017, prepare to see bejewelled key pendants on necklaces and earrings trending again.

It is always a perk when old objects can be made new again with minimal efforts. Although this may seem like an easy DIY, staple jewellery brands like Tiffany
& Co., Swarovski, and Forzieri are taking notes.

For your retail store, it’s important for you to find keys designed in modern metals such as rose gold, stainless steel, and titanium, as they are likely to be popular.

Beyond visual appeal, keys also hold many meanings: the key to life, someone’s heart, success, friendship, or new beginnings.

This trend can be styled by layering two key pendant necklaces with two long chains in a contrasting metal, i.e. rose gold and sterling silver, as seen on Maison Margiela’s Fall 2017 runway show.

Ear cuffs and pierceless jewellery

The ear cuff has not been the easiest look to pull off, but with its increasing popularity, more jewellers are producing spinoffs.

This season, prepare to see high-end versions of this statement piece with a delicate twist. Now that there is a well-defined transition in accessories from bold to subtle, the ear cuff is designed with less jewel clusters, but simple metals instead. The clear shift to alternative jewellery means women are wearing jewellery more unconventionally. This is creating a bigger market for pierceless earrings with an array of ear climbers and ear cuffs.

Y-necklace and lariats 

The Y-necklace and lariat are amazing ways to dress the chest and neck, achieving a sexy yet elegant look. This ‘90s trends has made its way back, just as the choker did last year.

The ‘90s Y-necklace and lariats were originally pure cubic zirconia worn by socialites such as Paris Hilton, but have now been toned down with dainty light and feminine chain attachments. The lariat’s hairline low-hanging and barely-there chain typically hits the cleavage or lower, which appeals to your customers who enjoy using jewellery, rather than clothing, to make a flirtatious statement.

The runway influences for the Y-neck silhouette came from Hermès and Anapsara who did a play on geometry. Expect customers to want them in subtle silvers moreso than any other metal tone. For an upgraded version of this style, suggest customers try dainty body chain featuring a connected choker.

Coloured gemstone combinations

Dare to be bold! Unexpected colour combos are the main attraction this season. Perfect compilations of rose gold, red ruby, and teal sapphire are amongst some of the innovative contenders. Even engagement rings will be encrusted with big, bold coloured stones.

Tessa Packard London’s courtesan 18-karat gold, black diamond, blue sapphire, lapis lazuli, quartz, and tourmaline earrings are an example of what your customers will be looking for and how designers will colour block with gemstones.

Chandelier earrings and bracelets are great pieces for customers wanting to achieve coloured gemstone combinations. It is important to use contrasting metals with the coloured stone of choice. For instance, suggest a customer mix silver with emerald instead of gold or bronze and sapphire blue.

Whether your customer is a trendsetter wanting the runway’s latest and greatest, or simply revamping an old favourite style with an updated twist, there is a piece of jewellery able to satisfy every need.

Anita Ehui is a writer and digital content creator from Ottawa, Ont. Starting out at ELLE Canada, Ehui produced fashion, beauty, and lifestyle articles as an intern and editorial assistant. In 2016, she found herself working as a brand ambassador at Saks Fifth Avenue in Toronto. She currently works as a product supervisor for thebay.com. She can be reached via e-mail at anitaehui@outlook.com.

Source URL: https://www.jewellerybusiness.com/features/trends-worth-falling-for-the-2017-fallwinter-style-guide/

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