While the new season brings a whole bunch of fresh clothing launches and styles, it's all too easy to forget about the jewellery trends spotted across various runways lately. Sure, we're enjoying cosying up in our chunky knits and reacquainting ourselves with our winter coats as much as the next autumn-loving millennial, but it's time to give our accessories a much-deserved upgrade, too. As centenarian and everyone's favourite fashion icon Iris Apfel once said: “If there was a choice on spending a lot of money on accessories or dress, I always chose accessories. I think jewellery can change an outfit more than anything else.”
Predicting what our wardrobes might look like this season and through to spring/ summer 2024, designers at New York, London, Milan and Paris didn't skimp on their jewellery styling. Turning away from minimalist, muted accessories of seasons past, this season's jewels are big, bold and innovative. Undoubtedly the biggest trend that dominated catwalks during Fashion Month was mismatched, asymmetric earrings – or sometimes, just one sole statement earring. If that's a bit too daring for you, look to the less daring – but still impactful – trends of chunky gold (the bigger the bangle, the better) or dainty pearls (preferably dangly earrings or layered necklaces).
Believe it or not, the official start of winter is only just arriving.
These are the key jewellery trends taking over this party season and beyond…
1. MISMATCHED EARRINGS
Those of you who can never find a matching pair of earrings in your jewellery box (hard relate), this one's for you. Mismatched and asymmetric earrings were an emerging jewellery trend last season – sorry, minimalists – and if recent catwalks are anything to go by, they're not going anywhere anytime soon. The likes of Luisa Spagnoll, Ulla Johnson and Schiaparelli have been spearheading the ‘odd earrings’ for some time, and now other fashion powerhouses including Givenchy, Gucci and Valentino (to name just a few) have jumped onboard.
The best part about this trend? There are no rules. Pair a basic stud or huggie with a shoulder-grazing cluster of sparkles or pearls (more on those later), or truly embrace the trend with a mismatched pair of statement earrings. To make things easier, though, many designers and high-street brands alike are selling pairs of mismatched earrings, often in a similar metal or tonal colour palette to keep things clean and chic.
Spotted at: (L-R) Ulla Johnson, Givenchy, Etro – as well as Di Petsa, Carven, Valentino
2. CHUNKY GOLD
Sure, chunky gold jewellery is nothing new, but this season, gold has gone XXL. On our wrists, around our neck or hanging from our ears, if it ain't oversized and gold, we don't want it. Besides, it's a truth universally acknowledged that gold jewellery is one of the easiest ways to polish up an outfit and make even the most thrown-together ensemble feel sleeker and chicer, so why not make it oversized?
Taking inspiration from some of our favourite designers – from Prabal Guring to Carolina Herrera – there's plenty of bling to shop on the high-street right now (look to Zara, Missoma, Otiumberg and Ottoman Hands).
Spotted at: (L-R) Luisa Spagnoli, Prabal Gurung, Carolina Herrera – as well as Gucci, Etro, Zimmerman
3. PEARLS, PEARLS, PEARLS
This season, there's no right or wrong way to wear pearls. Just know there will be a lot of them on the high street. On some recent catwalks, they were daintily draped in long, cascading chains or liariats (Chanel) or hanging in feminine, ribbon-tied shoulder-duster earrings (Simone Rocha). On others, pearls constituted oversized and statement pieces (Ulla Johnson, Viktor & Rolf). Dainty pearls are easy to find on the high-street and in vintage shops. For the deliciously chunky variety, no one does it quite like CompletedWorks.
Spotted at: (L-R) Chanel, Simone Rocha, Versace – as well as Kimhekim, Carven, Viktor & Rolf
SHOP THE TREND NOW:
4. EAR CUFFS
There's something so delightfully punk about an ear cuff, like the tough big sister to your traditional helix hoops. Earring stacks have been big jewellery styling news this year, but the best thing about ear cuffs is that you can embrace this striking trend without the commitment or pain of numerous piercings. Go low-key like the models on the Givenchy catwalks, or dress-up the trend by pairing with statement earrings (remember what we said about the unstoppable mismatched earrings trend?) – look to Zimmerman, Loewe and Schiaparelli for inspo.
At the Valentino shows, ear cuffs were comprised of stacked, heavy gold – head to Net-A-Porter to shop, or for a more affordable (and somewhat dinkier) alternative, Astrid & Miyu have some great options.
5. RAINBOW GEMS
A simple way to add interest to monochromatic outfits, bright beads and crystals are big news this season. For main character energy in jewellery form, look to the runways of Armani and Ashish, were colourful necklaces were layered in their dozens, paired with either matching earrings or a sweep of richly-pigmented eyeshadow. For something a little more reserved, but still packing a pop of colour, try diamante hair accessories or even brooches for a retro look. The easiest way to jazz up your classic LBD this party season.
Spotted at: (L-R) Weinsanto, Emporio Armani, Ashish – as well as Tory Burch, Stella McCartney, Antonio Marras
