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A Brief History...
From as far back as ancient Greece, pearls have been one of the most mysterious and valued materials society has to offer and have since earned their space as an iconic and vital asset to every women's jewellery collection. So, what is it about the mystical jewels that has remained so compelling throughout the centuries? It is undoubtable that symbolism is the answer as the pearl is said to hold great spiritual meannings of purity, generosity, integrity and loyalty as well as being the basis for many myths and legends. Fascinatingly, Adam and Eve's tears were said to form a lake of pearls once then were banished from The Garden of Eden, Eve shedding white pearls and Adam black. If you're looking for a birthday or anniversary gift for a loved one then pearls are a winner from all perspectives, however knowing which pearl to browse is another story all together. Ranging from lustre to shape, from colour to size a wide variety off pearls made it very difficult to choose.Luckily, I'm here to help.
Vintage Style
For vintage lovers the obvious choice is the classic white and cream pearls, worn by icons such as Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. Traditionally round Akoya pearls are saltwater formed with high light return and reflection and therefore can be very expensive. Luckily, freshwater pearls offer a very similar quality to Akoya pearls but at a more affordable price, earning them the title of the 'fashion pearls'.
Style Tip 1
To achieve a vintage look balance is vital, for example if your neckline is the focal point of your outfit, don't wear a necklace but wear statement earrings, and if you have a detailed lower outfit, balance the top with an interesting necklace. E Koscik Design has created an affordable piece for all vintage lovers, complete with cream fresh water pearls and a retro style silver heart, making it a perfect birthday or anniversary for the ones you love.
Boho Style
If you're a supporter of unconventional bohemian style you will love contemporary pieces and irregular pearl shapes will be your best friend. Pearls seemed to have been outdated in the 90s but these days they're are so many modern designs that not liking vintage is no longer an excuse to boycott the iconic trend. Square coin pearls in unconventional colours will keep the timeless elegance of pearls however move the look into a modern day charismatic piece. A pearl's natural imperfections such as rings and inconsistent shapes are a perfect way to fight the vintage perceptions of perfectly rounded pearls. The image below shows E Koscik Design's grey square pearl and silver necklace, a perfect addition for those who want eye catching pieces that aren't going to weigh you down or look too formal. Items like this are also perfect for pairing with other longer chains to create a personalised layered look that is unique to you.
Style Tip 2
When styling layered necklaces make sure the neckline of your top is complimentary, for instance the layers shouldn't every sit on your outfits neckline as it couldn't restrict the fall and drop of the piece and make it look cluttered and messy. Although it was once a written rule to not mix metals I LOVE mixing metal tones when creating a boho look to draw attention to the individuality of each layered necklace. Layering your pearl necklaces with different chain styles, colours and beads can help you keep boho festival style alive all year long.
Gothic Style
Despite the traditional feminine attraction of pearls, there are surprising number of darker options for lovers of more gothic styles. Dark baroque pearls can be paired with gold chains to break the perception that pearls have to be dainty and feminine. Furthermore, black pearls are said to symbolise wealth and prosperity to its wearer, appealing to the more spiritual of you. The position of pearls on the neck can also add edge to a look, with pearl chokers being a rising jewelry trend. The detail surrounding the pearls can even make the most elegant white pearls feel more punk and edgy. Harsh geometric detail and exaggerated lengths can create a more subtle ode to goth fashion yet still be noticeably rebellious in comparison traditional pearls
Style Tip 3
It is human nature when getting dressed up to overdo it on the accessory front from time to time, luckily Coco Chanel has the perfect advice. She stated before leaving the house take off one accessory and I personally think it is the perfect way to draw more attention to the detail more attention to the pieces already on rather than creating unnecessary clutter.. For example, by wearing one less bracelet you create more focus on the special qualities of the other bracelets. With pearls this highlights the idea of displaying their undertones, finishes and luminescence.
Minimalist Style
If you're active on Pinterest I assume you've become infatuated with the
abundance of minimalist 'ootd' hashtags on your feed. The fashion world seems to have become more interested in simplistic fashion and the jewellery world is no different. Don't assume that the decorative nature of jewellery means that you can't find minimalist jewellery because that couldn't be less true. The often streamlined and sleek nature of minimalist fashion means that unique stick pearls or pearl bar necklaces are ideal accessories that combine the elegance of pearls with this contemporary style option. Any pearl with a distinctive geometric feature is going t go hand in hand with an minimalists wardrobe collection.
Style Tip 4
Empty space items are a must in minimalist so if you have pieces that are really fussy and look cluttered it can really distract from the intended simplicity of the movement. Make sure that all accessories you're wearing are spaced out and balanced across the figure, for example if you're wearing simplistic layered necklaces make sure there is even space between each chain with the weight causing them to fall in the same manner. This is especially important with pearl pieces due to pearls generally being perceived as fussy so you really want to keep the sleek nature of the jewellery.
Statement Style
My personal favourite way to incorporate statement style with pearls is with statement earrings with geometric detail because theres a huge trend in 2019 of massively oversized earring and the contemporary twist with vintage pearls makes them a truly unique statement. The great thing about being a statement lover when it comes to pearls is that you really can experiment with any size, colour, lustre, finish or shape. Pearls are so versatile Sometimes you can't put a finger on your style preference because you love everything anything that is bold and statement. Pearls are have the biggest range of designs out of any bead or gem so you will never get bored with the huge variety out there.
Style tip 5
When wearing statement pearl drop earrings wear your hair up with either a bardot or boat neckline (really any neckline that isn't high and fussy) to really draw attention to the drop of the earring. . By keeping an area of blank space around the base of the neck the OTT nature of the earring looks intentional and still elegant and avoids looking like a cluttered mess.
What pearls will suit you?
If you're still at a loss of what your own style is, you could always consider what styles are most flattering for your complexion. Traditionally, if you have a fair or light skin, rose tone pearls are the best choice for accentuating your natural pink undertone with white, peach and cream pearls also being suitable options. For those of you with darker skin, ivory tones are recommended to compliment your natural bronze tone, golden and silver pearls also being favoured to add luminescence to your skin. More harshly coloured pearls such as greys or blues are known for being universally flattering so are also a good choice for all pearl fanatics yearning to add to their collections. Another styling tip would be to pick a shade the opposite of your hair colour to stand out and bring more attention to your necklace if that is the area you want people to focus on.
These of course are just suggestions and if you don't agree, do and wear what YOU love!
All of the pieces pictured are available at -
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ekoscikdesigns
