By LaMONT JONES
BLOCK NEWS ALLIANCE
The chain-style link has been popular on handbag straps for several seasons, and now it’s one of the hottest trends in women’s jewelry.
Link jewelry has never been out of style. But this spring and summer have seen its strong resurgence, possibly because of the renewed popularity of valuable yellow gold and the continuing strong influence of fashion from the ’80s.
The yellow gold link is, well, the gold standard. But there are all sorts of chic link necklaces, bracelets, and earrings in sterling silver, mixed metals, and resin.
“It’s just a flattering look for everyone,” said Helena Krodel, spokesman for the Jewelry Information Center, a trend-tracking trade group based in New York. “And it’s just so classic. It goes with everything. And it’s not seasonal — it looks great with a sundress and it looks great with a wool sweater.”
Links on jewelry in stores now are perfectly round and oblong, smooth and wavy, crystal-adorned and plain. Mesh link bibs, link chokers, long belly-grazing link necklaces, and multiple-strand styles offer something for virtually every personality.
There are chain-link rings that sort of collapse when removed from the finger, and the large hoop earrings that have been popular in recent years are also part of the story, said Ms. Krodel.
“Chain-link bracelets with large charms is a trend, and the charms are already added so you don’t have to do it yourself,” she said. “Designers are taking the guesswork out.
There’s lots of sterling silver paired with gold. The emergence of gold in general is a hot trend, and silver keeps the cost down, so you can get the look for less.”
And inexpensive styles are easy to find.
Avon has tres affordable styles, and Vera Wang’s Simply Vera line has multiple options ranging from multi-strand necklaces in 18k gold and sterling silver to chain-link goldtone bracelets.
Rebecca Lau, who recently was highlighted during New York Fashion Week at the Gen Art “Fresh Faces in Fashion” show, has a collection of elegant link bracelets, necklaces, and earrings higher up the price scale at Henri Bendel and rebeccalaujewelry.com.
Italy is renowned for producing gorgeous gold link jewelry, and Italian-born New York designer Ippolita has emerged at the forefront this season with a breathtaking collection of sculptural, handmade fine gold link jewelry.
“There’s a long tradition of large, fashion-oriented link jewelry as a staple of the fashionable woman in Italy,” she said in a phone interview last week. “Everybody has a version of it.”
Ippolita designs link jewelry to have an organic, crafted feel.
“Everything is handmade, which allows you to be a lot more expansive in your shape,” she said. “You want [pieces] to look sculptural without looking wacky, without looking crafty or funky. You want the feel that ‘a craftsman actually touched this piece.’ Metalsmith ability has to come through. Part of the appeal of my jewelry in general is that it’s very tactile.”
In citing links as one of this season’s five key jewelry trends, the Jewelry Information Center described the look as a classically Italian, modern look that’s a good wardrobe staple.
“Italians are known for their gold work, and I think it’s translated into a lot of different styles here,” observed Ms. Krodel. “But the difference is, the Italians really know how to keep the links very lightweight. They give the look of a big piece without it weighing a whole lot, and American designers are learning from that.”
Beyond its practicality and versatility, a piece of gold link jewelry just might be a good financial investment in these turbulent economic times.
“People are buying classics now because of the price of gold,” said Ms. Krodel. “And also, given the market, they want to invest in something that has intrinsic value and that they’re going to get multiple uses out of, season to season.”
The Block News Alliance consists of The Blade and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. LaMont Jones is fashion editor of the Post-Gazette.
Contact him at: ljones@post-gazette.com.
Source: http://toledoblade.com/
