Sea-Inspired Jewelry

Do the longer days and warmer temps have you yearning for those blissful moments from one of your favorite beach vacations? Perhaps so much so that If you closed your eyes you could almost taste the salt of the sea in the air and hear the gentle rustling of palm fronds dancing with the ocean breeze?

Non-essential travel is slowly opening up but it will still take some time for things to recover, leaving many of us restless this summer. Limitations aside, I think we can agree that the call of the ocean is compelling - unless, of course, you already live nearby, which also makes my case.

The ocean represents a world just out of reach enough that it easily taunts you with its mystery and beauty. It’s the source of inspiration for art in many forms. Even centuries-old lore created in its honor still remains a relevant topic today.

These themes continue to captivate the imagination through modern storytelling - hello, Aquaman, and Little Mermaid. Both of these productions clearly illustrate the wide-appeal of the lore of under the sea. The most recent incarnation of the ocean’s influence in current culture is this season’s hottest jewelry trend - shell jewelry.

Even though the popularity of shell jewelry is resurfacing, the history of using shells in jewelry dates back 135,000 years ago. I guess you could say - ‘What goes around comes around.’ But there’s probably a valid argument that the use of shells in adornment will always remain in style.

Beyond the obvious aesthetic allure of incorporating these aquatic objects into wearable art, they contain so much history. Each one tells a story. You can almost hear the distant voice of the ocean within these tiny treasures from the deep blue waters whispering tales from the past.

While sea-inspired statement pieces dominated the runways, the ‘souvenir’ styling gives an eccentric spin to your summer style. Elizabeth von der Goltz, the global buying director of Net-A-Porter was the first to affectionately label ‘souvenir jewelry’ to the whimsical baubles that topped summer collections.

A wonderfully evocative and nostalgic take on a piece of jewelry you might discover at a local gift shop while on holiday. The addition of pearls, gemstones, or coins to the shells further emphasizes the precious quality of these sentimental pieces.

According to von de Goltz, this category of accessories seems to be growing every season beyond necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Designers are incorporating even more coastal elements into hair clips, headbands, and headscarves this year.

Perhaps this is meant as a reminder to explore your own wanderlust once again. No matter if you put those vacation plans on hold indefinitely or not, the strong presence these pieces have in future forecasting gives reason to invest now.

She Sells Seashells

For those of you not immediately motivated to get in touch with your travel agent quite yet, there’s still plenty of runway left for summer fashion. In fact, lucky for you we’re just getting started and just in time for my latest collection release.

These creations feature nautilus fossils from a rock shop in Moab, shells, and coral sourced of the beaches of Bali. All combined in an alchemy of lustrous pearls, sparkling gemstones, and precious metals. The result is timeless elegance without being staid or boring.

(Click on an image to get details)

Hot Trends and Haute Fashion - Summer Style Perfected

To give you ideas on how you can effortlessly incorporate these beachy looks into your summertime wardrobe, I’ve created a style guide to help inspire you. Enjoy them now and start getting excited to wear them on your next vacation. Cabana and fruity cocktail with an umbrella optional.

Allow your mindset to drift into vacation mode when you wear these watery creations. If anything, be reminded of the many beach vacations that remain in your future when the world finally begins to heal.

(Click on an image to get details)