Oversized necklaces, beads and pendants are the new big thing, writes Carolyn Enting.
Last season saw us lugging gigantic, oversized bags over our shoulders but the new big thing is heavy jewels and layered chains that adorn the throat and decolletage.
This summer, and looking ahead to winter 2009, the trend is for enormous gems, which began with the television series The Tudors and big-screen spectacles such as Elizabeth: The Golden Age and has morphed into gigantic style statements resembling luxurious breastplates.
At last year’s winter shows in February, models in Madrid, Paris, Milan and New York were laden with layers of heavy beads and chains.
By the summer shows in September, previewing trends for 2009, designers were accessorising their outfits with oversized chokers, beads and pendants.
As long as it’s big, anything goes – layers of Victorian-style jet-look beads, heavy crucifixes, gold tribal-like icons, colourful African beads, organic shapes cut from leather, cross sections of polished agate, giant resin beads and colourful floral bouquets crafted from enamelled metal or set with colourful crystals.
Lewis Scott of Kwanzaa – The Afrikan Shop, in Wellington’s Manners St, considered the trends forecast for chunky necklaces and pendants when he made his latest buying trip to Africa.
Kwanzaa specialises in hand-made African jewellery sourced from 15 countries including Egypt, Mali, West Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. Gems he’s stocking include colourful chunky paper beads handmade in Uganda.
Wellington’s Angela Bryce is also en trend with her gigantic jewellery designs, produced under the label Heartwings and at a growing number of local stockists, such as Redcurrent, Desire and The Carpenter’s Daughter.
Her chunky pendants dangle below the bust line. Resin hearts and crucifixes feature strongly, and she has always been a fan of big jewellery.
‘‘I look at people’s tiny little necklaces with a tiny ball on it and think, ‘what’s the point?’ ” Ms Bryce says.
But wearing big chunky jewellery is not a flattering look for everyone, warns Wellington wardrobe consultant Trudi Bennett.
Keeping everything in proportion is key to body shape. If you are small, wearing oversized jewellery can make you appear smaller.
And, if you wear a small pendant and have big boobs, that will make them look even bigger. There are other hazards with wearing long dangly chains and pendants.
Angela Bryce has had some clients caught up in car steering wheels – ‘‘you’ve got to be careful wearing long stuff”.
The upside is that this new trend in jewelry is democratic in a time of economic uncertainty. It makes updating one’s look easy and it’s cost effective.
A resin bangle or plastic-disc choker won’t bust the bank and will draw attention away from the fact that you’re wearing the same dress or polo. Another alternative is to make your own.
Create pieces from old beads and customise brooches sourced at flea markets and second-hand stores. Antique stores also often have stashes of low-cost costume jewellery.
Turn these into pendants or create a cluster to form a unique necklace.
