Bridal Jewelry: Trends and Traditions

A wedding is an occasion marked by milestone jewelry, but once the dress is selected it is time to have some fun picking the accessories! The Jewelry Brief picks for bridal jewelry 2012 go from the traditional to the latest trends.

 

The bridal cuff, love it! Jewelry designer Catherine Marche created this hand engraved cuff bracelet with the bride in mind. The lace-style engraving on this is stunning. How incredible would it be to have the lace pattern from your wedding dress engraved on a cuff to wear again and again? Very romantic!

 

Braunschweiger Jewelers in New Jersey report they are seeing brides wearing their engagement rings on their right hands and buying multiple, stackable bands for their left hands. Fantastic idea! Stackable bands can be so much fun. They are a great way to quickly dress up or dress down a look, incorporate a mixed metal look or even add colors with enamel or colored stones. Gemvara has an incredible stackable rings collection where a bride can create her own or choose from one of the seemingly endless options already on the site.

 

Diamond slice jewelry is something I first wrote about two years ago. I loved it then but wondered if it was passing trend or here to stay. I am happy to report it looks like it is staying.  L’Dezen Jewellry is designing gorgeous diamond slice jewelry for brides. Chandelier earrings with delicate gold work incorporating diamond slices have a lacy quality to them. A sophisticated look any woman is sure to wear again and again.

 

Last, but certainly not least, pearls. They are a classic, can be found for any budget and we love them! For a more traditional feel a single strand of pearls may be best, a choker creates a vintage feel and multiple strands will add a bohemian touch. A simple pearl stud earring is always charming, but a 12-14mm pearl stud is a chic statement.

 

The possibilities are endless! If you design for brides or are a bride that wants to share ideas and pics, we would love to see them posted to www.facebook.com/jewelrybrief

 

Jewelry Trends: Resort 2012

Lucite, neon bangles, oh my! The resort collections are all about fun, vacation and sun. After all, they are made to be worn on yachting trips in warm locales during cold winter months, or not. While resort collections used to be made by a handful of designers, the vacation looks have virtually become their own separate season.

You can take inspiration from these warm-weather suggestions and punch up your winter wardrobe. And there’s no better way to add some spice to your every day outfits than with accessories. This resort season, designers did not disappoint in terms of offering their own stand out jewelry pieces. Think bright, neon colors like hot pink and shades of blue. Missoni’s accessories were big and bold and the line favored cool, Caribbean blue. Alexis Bittar offers bright neon yellow and green cuffs that are perfect for pairing with a plain black turtleneck in the middle of Winter. When it comes to the size of your jewelry pieces, more is more. Large colors call for large, in-your-face proportions. Big necklaces made of shells and endless strands of beads compliment any neutral hue and were also a runway favorite.

Pick one stand-out piece and work it into your every day jewelry. These bright, bold pieces don’t have to be an investment; their trendy status is likely to dissipate with the season.

Fall 2011: Jewelry and Fashion Trends

Metallics is one of the biggest trends emerging for fall. Mixed metals is the way to go for jewelry. We love large chunky pieces that make a statement in gold, silver, platinum, bronze or copper. These colors paired with the plums, olives and other earthy tones on the runways are fabulous. You can’t go wrong with this classic wide link necklace by PONO.

The cuff is still the go to accessory for fall. Make a statement on your arm. We love these bracelets because they can be perfect peeking from the cuff of a suit jacket or with jeans to glam up a dressed down day.

Fall fashion is also trending with a very feminine Retro glam. The focus is on the silhouette. Include one ‘stand-out’ piece of jewelry to perfect any retro outfit. Large cocktail rings or oversized earrings are perfect polish for the highly embellished and fur trim tops of fall. Glamour and attention to detail never go out of style.

Fashion Trends: Summer 2011

Summer afternoon – summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.  ~Henry James

Although plum palates, metallics and fur collars have begun to fill the stores, we still have more than a few glorious weeks of Summer remaining. This season has been filled with some great fashion trends: some revivals and others destined to be classics themselves.

The Jewelry Brief  has singled out a few favorite Summer 2011 looks for your days at the beach, nights on the patio with friends and cool looks for hot days at the office.

The Jumpsuit! Cameron Diaz does it best. She accessorizes with a gold cuff bracelet, a very pulled together and glamorous look.

A color-block dress by Reed Krakoff will carry you effortlessly from office to sidewalk cafe. Color-blocking is not just for dresses, visit our Facebook page for some great examples of color-block jewelry.

Glam-up your bikini with oversized gold earrings! That’s right chandeliers are not just for the ballroom. A great pair of earrings will give you a St. Tropez look at any beach.

Happy Summer.