The ’90s Jewelry Trends You’ll Want To Wear This Season
SARAH ROYCE-GREENSILL explores the fine-jewelry hero pieces from the ’90s that are perfectly suited to spring dressing
Cargo pants, kitten heels, naked dresses: 1990s fashion has gone from a runway trend of recent years to a bona fide wardrobe staple – especially for SS24. The revival continues at the hands of contemporary jewelers, who are serving up nostalgic styles gleaming with diamonds and gemstones. Discover the designers leading the ’90s redux with a capsule collection of retro-driven preciousness.
Chandelier earrings
For more than a decade, we’ve been filling multiple ear piercings with a curated array of studs and huggies. But the ’90s were a simpler time, when you’d throw on a pair of chandelier earrings for maximum impact with minimal effort. LA-based designer Irene Neuwirth caters to this carefree approach with her earrings, which feature nine pear-shaped drops in classic 18-karat gold. Meanwhile, founder Rosanne Karmes (who always brings the fun) serves up a classic with a twist with Sydney Evan’s swishy fringed hoops. Elsewhere, Jacquie Aiche’s pastel chandeliers are perfectly paired with everyday jeans and tees, while Sophie Bille Brahe’s pearl ‘Fontaine de Mariage’ earring is a work of art for the earlobe.
The anklet
Barely-there sandals leave plenty of room for decoration – enter the anklet, which has been elevated from holiday trinket to elegant evening accessory. Strung with akoya pearls, Mizuki’s 14-karat-gold anklets evoke ’90s minimalism at its best. Meanwhile, Marlo Laz’s ‘Agape’ anklet is embellished with hearts to represent love and respect for others, and Mateo’s is strung with beads of green malachite for an elevated take on friendship bracelets that can be worn in layers of three of more. The most emblematic of the era, however, is Shay’s 18-karat rose-gold chain that’s strung with a dainty pink sapphire. It’s the kind you might have matched a butterfly ring or hair gems to back in the day.
The choker
It’s the choker’s turn to make a comeback, but the look is considerably more glam than grunge. Jennifer Fisher delivers yet another modern heirloom with a polished-gold bar, while Ananya’s contemporary iteration features waves of floating diamonds. If Sienna Miller’s look at Chemena Kamali’s debut Chloé show has reignited your love of boho style (admittedly, it really hit its stride in the early 2000s), try Foundrae’s onyx design with dangling gold pendants. And remember: the higher up the neck a choker sits, the more ’90s the look.
Super-fine stacked bangles
It was difficult to sneak around in the ’90s, due to the constant jangling of multiple wire-thin bangles. The super-fine stack is another trend that has aged gracefully – today’s most stylish wrists are filled by the likes of Messika, whose diamond-adorned designs add a point of interest to the most minimalistic style. For a real showstopper, seek out David Morris’s flower-tipped ‘Miss Daisy’ bangle, which is inspired by the nostalgia of playing ‘Loves Me, Loves Me Not’ in the countryside. If it’s a dose of everyday shine that you’re after, slip on Maor’s mixed-metal ‘Equinox’ bracelet, which is sculpted from 18-karat yellow and white gold.
The arm cuff
In the ’90s, celebrities would highlight their Pilates-toned upper arms with wraparound bands of gold – and, just like brown lip liner and pumped-up platforms, that particular niche trend is back with a vengeance. Diane Kordas offers a red-carpet-worthy take: her slender gold cuff from the Armour collection sparkles with glistening diamonds at each end. Meanwhile, Suzanne Kalan’s cuff is best worn with a white tank and denim. Handmade from 18-karat gold, it showcases the fine-jeweler’s distinctive ‘Fireworks’ setting and has an evil eye at the center. Evoking playful ’90s charm bracelets, it is sure to put a smile on your face – whether it’s your first or second time embracing the trend.
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