Jewelry Trends: The Top Classic and Modern Jewelry Styles and How to Make Them
When it comes to your wardrobe and accessories, are you more of a classic gal, or do you follow the trends? I love this artwork from 1953 showing four housewives having tea. It reminds me of our former associate editor, Lindsay, who had that vintage style—from her clothing, shoes, and accessories, to her hair and makeup. Every day she looked as if she stepped right out of 1950s America. Photo: Getty Images/GraphicaArtis, Hulton Archive
While I’m not exactly one to dress according to what’s currently hot in the fashion world, I do like to follow what’s trending in jewelry. Jewelry storage in my bedroom consists of bowls, drawers, and hooks filled with wrap bracelets. You’ll also find statement jewelry, tassels, and other dangly things that I made after noticing particular jewelry trends.
Classic Meets Contemporary
When we started collecting the best projects from Jewelry Stringing magazine, we wanted to include a mix of designs. We wanted to include classic styles as well as on-trend designs—something to suit everyone. What resulted was a compilation of 43 necklace and bracelet patterns in a wide variety of styles, plus an inspiration gallery of 40 earring and 20 bracelet designs.
Here are the top classic and on-trend styles that are represented in The Best of Jewelry Stringing.
Top 3 Classic Styles of Jewelry:
1. Pearls—Café Romance by Samantha Slater
This artist uses Swarovski crystal pearls in ivory, pink coral, and gold for a classic two-strand necklace.
2. Gemstones—Stepping Stones by Rochelle Nation
Pull together any combination of your favorite gemstone beads, strung between silver-lined glass beads, for a surprisingly lightweight necklace.
3. Faceted—Aqua Pointe by Anne Potter
This simple strung necklace makes big impact with faceted acrylic nuggets and a bold pendant.
Top 3 Trends in Contemporary Jewelry:
1. Delicate layered styles—Delicate Bird by Kathryn Toplis Lohaus
The clever use of multiple lobster clasps in this set lets you wear one, two, or all three necklaces as one.
2. Leather—Charm Meets Chic by Megan Lenhausen
Long fringe can be created with leather or any variety of faux leather products available on the market.
3. Tassels—Dancing Tassels by Megan Milliken
Create fun tassels from seed beads, dainty chain, or fiber. Wear them on a long chain, which you can knot in the front or drape around the neck.
If you’re looking for bracelet or earring ideas, check out the inspiration galleries in The Best of Jewelry Stringing for creative ideas like these statement earrings:
L to R: Gaea Cannaday, Sheri Mallery, Terry Ricioli, Erin Siegel.
Alternate Jewelry Trends
You’ll also find plenty of unique designs that don’t necessarily fall into the above “classic” or “contemporary” jewelry trends categories, like All Tied Up by Ashleigh Becker.
Wrap craft cord with embroidery floss in any color combination for a simple necklace. This would make a fun ombré design!
And Wood Stack by Arlene Kauffman gives a whole new meaning to the word chunky bracelet!
Though various shapes of wood beads are used here, a cohesive look is achieved by stringing them onto memory wire in a careful pattern of lights and darks.
Pick up a copy of The Best of Jewelry Stringing for loads of accessory ideas all in one place. From dressy to casual, statement-making to demure, you’ll find designs that are simple to make and totally wearable, plus a thorough how-to section full of techniques and tool descriptions.
We’ve also gathered together a collection of must-have tools to make it even easier for you to start making your own jewelry. Check out the Stringing Starter Kit HERE, and the custom “Eat-Sleep-Bead” beading board HERE.
Cheers!
Debbie Blair
Editor, Beadwork magazine
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