5 Summer Jewelry Trends To Elevate Your Vacation Wardrobe
Jetting off in style calls for a fuss-free lineup of jewels that shine from check-in to cocktail hour. CHARLIE BOYD rounds up the chic and contemporary pieces to stash in your carry-on this season – no matter your destination
While you might find yourself packing myriad summer dresses and swimsuits for your next great escape, when it comes to fine jewelry, only a careful curation of precious pieces is required. The trick to choosing wear-anywhere jewels is to select designers who riff on contemporary classicism, crafting pieces that can just as easily be worn on a morning beachside stroll as a sophisticated dinner at sundown. It’s important to think through the practicalities, too – choose jewels that add delicate accents of gold, diamonds and precious gems without weighing you down, and solid gold and silver that will survive the onslaught of salt, sunscreen and chlorinated water. From dainty rings to a gleaming anklet, these are the chicest jewelry trends to adorn sun-kissed skin.
Shell jewels
For many of us, shell-themed jewels deliver a hefty dose of nostalgia, whether from tying cowrie shells around wrists upon friendship bracelets as kids, or stringing miniature clamshells onto brightly hued cord necklaces on our globe-trotting gap-year adventures. There’s something inherently ‘off-duty’ about a piece of shell jewelry – you can’t fail to exhale when strung in colorful beads and symbols of the sea. YSSO’s gold-plated shell earrings look straight from a mermaid’s bounty, while Chloé’s shell cuff is a striking, sculptural piece that will elevate any maxi dress. Julietta, meanwhile, which was founded in New York by Julietta Linden in 2021, has quickly become the cool girl’s go-to statement-necklace brand. Frequently inspired by Christian Lacroix and Elsa Schiaparelli, Linden gives her pieces a retro-vintage feel that makes them perfect for pairing with chic co-ords or loose linen. The ultimate wanderlust companion.
A boho necklace
Whether packing for vacation or not, a boho necklace is a hero piece for SS25. While always popular at this time of year, ready-to-wear collections amplified the revival of beads and layered cords more than ever before, and there are plenty of fine-jewelry designers crafting ultra-elevated takes on the bohemian zeitgeist. Marie Lichtenberg, a French designer famous for her inimitable cord necklaces bearing precious lockets, gives each of her pieces a talismanic feel using meaningful mottos and symbols. Her ‘Rainbow Star Locket’ necklace is an instant mood-booster that certainly speaks to the vacation spirit, cast from 18-karat gold and adorned with enameled stripes and bold sapphires. Its long silk cord can be double wrapped or left to swing in the breeze, with dotted pearls adding an extra touch of shoreside whimsy. To nail the boho necklace you mustn’t shy away from color – Sydney Evan and Lizzie Fortunato offer similarly vibrant styles that feature punchy coral and burnt amber tones that will echo exotic sunsets.
A statement cuff
A capsule collection is best built with a concise edit of standalone jewels that don’t need to be layered and stacked in abundance – anyone who has fiddled with multiple clasps on an elaborate wrist stack in 40-degree heat will understand the need for a no-muss, no-fuss approach. A statement cuff is a save-all, such as Carolina Bucci’s contemporary silver design, which is expertly etched to achieve her signature ‘Florentine’ finish that never fails to sparkle in the sunshine and is casual enough to be worn with a bikini, shorts and a simple tank top, but will look dressier after dark. Yeprem’s 18-karat gold and diamond cuff and Marina B’s 18-karat gold cuffs are investment pieces that won’t fail to command attention – these are one-and-done wonders that should be reserved for ultra-special moments under the stars.
Delicate rings
While stacks of necklaces and bracelets feel far too cumbersome in hot climes, the one way that jewelry lovers can really indulge is a ringscape featuring eclectic styles and stones. They take seconds to slip on, but add plenty of polish, whether you choose contemporary pieces – such as Sophie Bille Brahe’s ‘Ocean de Ciel’ ring and Fernando Jorge’s ‘Fluid’ yellow-gold and diamond designs – or want to add a shot of color with semi-precious gems, à la Diane Kordas’s east-to-west blue topaz pinky ring. Don’t be afraid to find a ring for (almost) every finger – sun-kissed skin becomes the chicest canvas for their sparkle to really stand out.
The anklet
Our favorite ’90s throwback never fails to provide some fun when it comes to vacation jewelry styling – an anklet is officially the ultimate out-of-office jewel. Whether you pick gemstone-strung pieces by the likes of Jacquie Aiche, riotous bead styles by Diane Kordas, or delicate gold designs by Mizuki, an anklet will always look chic with a classic pair of sandals and the perfect pedicure, ready to catch the light with every step along the shore.
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