In quarantine, many people have embraced comfort items like matching sweatsuits, patterned socks, and baseball caps — styles that used to be reserved for weekends at home now dominate our everyday. Good jewelry, though, has the unique power to enhance any outfit, even one that consists only of granny panties and an oversized crewneck. Putting on your éliou “Wash Your Hand” necklace, a few stackable gold huggies, and a pearl anklet is the easiest way to feel ready for your video conference call.
Noura Sakkijha, the founder of beloved jewelry start-up Mejuri, agrees. “In light of the current situation, customers are looking for pieces to brighten their outfits — and their days,” Sakkijha said. Rather than getting all dressed up, many customers are instead turning to jewelry. She continued, “Our community wants to experiment with their everyday looks while ensuring that the quality of these pieces are made to last forever,” something that’s increasingly important now that we spend so much time washing our hands and using chemical disinfectants.
As for the specific jewelry trends that she’s backing for 2020, Sakkijha says that classic and minimal pieces are especially in demand right now, adding that her customers are layering and clashing multiple items. “Mixed metals — and experimentation in general — is definitely here to stay,” she says. “Silver and white gold offer a striking contrast to yellow gold, and can enhance any look.”
Don’t worry, though, the colorful, mood-enhancing jewelry you fell hard for last summer will, indeed, come back in style. After all, who doesn’t need a little bit of light-hearted, kitschy fun to accessorize with right now? “On a personal level, I want color,” said co-founder of Miami-based jewelry brand éliou Cristy Mantilla. “We saw so much minimalism over the past few seasons, a style theme I’ve always appreciated deeply, but right now I think I need some life.” Mantilla believes that jewelry is essential right now. “With all of these rapid changes, people are focusing on comfort more than anything else, but jewelry is the last bit of normality that we have. Jewelry has invariably been our star act when getting dressed and this has not changed since the start of quarantine. It makes us feel like we’re ‘dressed up’ without actually dressing up.”
Ahead, check out all of 2020’s biggest jewelry trends, all of which will give your quarantine wardrobe just the sprucing up it needs to make you feel like yourself again — whether you have a Zoom meeting to look nice for or not.
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See-Through Baubles
Glass, acetate, quartz — this season’s slew of statement earrings are so totally transparent.
Wolf Circus Taryn Yellow Hoops in Gold, $, available at Need Supply
Loren Stewart Corazon Gold Quartz Heart Hoops, $, available at Intermix
Shashi Brilliance Earrings, $, available at Shopbop
Mix ‘n’ Match Necklaces
Can’t decide between your pearls and your beads? You can have both, all on one strand.
Brinker & Eliza Better Half Necklace, $, available at Shopbop
Mango Mixed Pearl Necklace, $, available at Mango
Éliou Thasos Necklace, $, available at Éliou
Oversized Cuffs
If you like the XL hoop earrings that everyone’s been wearing, you’ll love these equally-as-extravagant ear cuffs. And as an added bonus: No painful piercings necessary.
Lizzie Fortunato Ridge Cuff In Gold, $, available at Shopbop
Mejuri Dome Cuff, $, available at Mejuri
Saskia Diez Silver No. 2 Bold Single Ear Cuff, $, available at SSENSE
Reminder Jewelry
If there was ever a time when we needed a constant reminder to just relax, smile, and for the love of god, wash our hands, it’d be right now. Luckily, jewelry designers are creating a stylish and utilitarian solution.
Notte Jewelry Cocomero Smile Necklace, $, available at Notte Jewelry
Wald Berlin Let’s Be Happy Necklace, $, available at Wald Berlin
Mayol Jewelry Mayol Says Relax Necklace, $, available at Mayol Jewelry
Clashing Metals
Like Noura Sakkijha said, mixed metals are on the rise, especially those of the gold on silver variety.
Mango XL Link Necklace, $, available at Mango
Laura Lombardi Onda Charm Earrings, $, available at Nordstrom
Justine Clenquet Silver & Gold Jamie Choker, $, available at SSENSE
Red Hot Jewelry
Red is, without a doubt, the most powerful and emotional color on the spectrum. And if you ask us, we could all use a little bit of both right about now.
Wilhelmina García Gold Red Heart Ring, $, available at Wilhelmina García
Gimaguas Salsa Hoops, $, available at Gimaguas
Alterita Pepper Anklet, $, available at Alterita
A New Kind Of Body Jewelry
This one’s for all the ladies out there looking for a piece of jewelry that celebrates them and only them.
Faris BOD Ring, $, available at Faris
Gldn Poise Necklace, $, available at Gldn
Wolf Circus Femme Ring in Gold, $, available at Wolf Circus
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