Meet The Modern Power Pearl
A shoppable selection of pearl earrings, necklaces and bracelets that aren’t preppy, dowdy or dull.
For someone who writes about style for a living, I’m a bit of a latecomer to the joys of jewellery. In general, my approach to shopping is to buy well and buy slowly – and so I guess I always felt I got more for my money by investing in a pair of shoes or a coat. However, now that I’ve built up a decent stash of good-quality clothes, I’ve slowly started redirecting my attention to the finishing touches, and it has made a world of difference to my outfits. Clearly it’s no coincidence that the most stylish people I follow always seem to have an endless vault of interesting jewellery and aren’t afraid to pile it on. Their outfits read as layered and visually interesting and idiosyncratic, whereas mine beforehand seemed to be lacking in sparkle and felt a little… unfinished.
Since becoming a jewellery person, I’ve honed my taste and learned what exactly excites me. I’ve realised I’m not hugely interested in the status-signifier pieces or dainty, girly bits; I tend to prefer jewellery that has something to say (beyond the wearer’s bank balance). I’m especially drawn to pieces that have a textured, organic feel to them, and I love anything that feels vintage or ‘talismanic’. I like the contrast of sleek metals (usually gold) with enamel, crystals and unflashy elements that look like they’ve been thrifted rather than saved up for. And I’m absolutely obsessed with pearls.
Pearls worn in the traditional way can feel very earnest and ladylike and middle class, but there’s definitely been a shift in the past few years. It’s something I first noticed in menswear, while working at Mr Porter, where pearls were one of the big accessories trends. In particular, I came across and totally fell in love with a brand we stocked called Éliou, which revealed a more laidback side to pearls by mixing them in with beads and shells and other beachy details. Meanwhile, in womenswear, Alighieri and Completedworks were offering cool, modern updates on pearls that subverted their primness and piqued my interest.
In the broader context of workwear, fabulous jewellery allows you to put your own stamp on an uninspiring dress code – and I find the ‘pearls with an edge’ look translates especially well. Pearls inherently read as polished and grown-up, but throwing in those more unconventional, contemporary details helps spice up a plain suit-and-shirt situation. It’s a win-win, really. Below, I’ve picked out some of my favourite bits from around the internet. Let me know what you think via email or in the comments below!
Necklaces
On model: Sun Statement Pearl Necklace from Hermina Athens, €200 (although it might come back in stock on Matches for £105). From top to bottom: Full Moon Tangled Pearl Necklace by Hermina Athens, €279 (on sale on Coggles for £165). Fern Necklace from Éliou, £173. Anne Boleyn Necklace from Octavia Rose, £285. Camille Necklace from By Alona, £150. Keld Necklace from Completedworks, £235.
As I mentioned last week, I snapped up a pearl necklace from By Alona in the Matches sale and have worn it pretty much every day since. If you’re a fan of the Alighieri aesthetic, it’s a brand worth getting familiar with – not least because the prices are a bit more accessible. Hermina Athens has a similar vibe, and its Sun Statement Pearl Necklace would look very chic against an Oxford shirt (keshi pearls automatically feel less stuffy). And I had to feature Octavia Rose’s brilliant Anne Boleyn-inspired necklace, which I can guarantee will rack up plenty of compliments. (Rather annoyingly, the ‘F’ necklace is among the few that comes with just one pearl on the pendant, which doesn’t have quite the same effect.)
Earrings
On model: Cove Earrings from Completedworks, £315. From top to bottom: Helena Earrings from Daphine, £125. Kavala Earrings from Éliou, £173. Phoebe Earrings from Jennifer Behr, £220. What’s The Big Idea Earrings from Completedworks, £175 (on sale on Net-A-Porter for £125). The Fragment of Light Earrings from Alighieri, £350 (on sale on SSENSE for £298).
Completedworks has become the go-to ‘cool girl’ brand for pearls, and I’ve had a handful of their bits on my wishlist for some time. Among my favourite earrings from them are the clustered ‘Cove’ style (pictured on model) and ‘What’s the Big Idea’ – although if you fancy something a little more low-key, their ‘Universal Code’ earrings are just as pretty. As I mentioned up top, Éliou is especially brilliant at making pearls feel eclectic – see for example the Lara shell earrings and the Kavala style, which look like you snapped them up at a flea market on holiday (in the best way). I’m also loving Jennifer Behr’s Phoebe Earrings – they’re relatively simple in style, but the drop effect will add some dimension to your outfit (and I’d wear them with hair down like the model so as not to look too proper).
Bracelets
On model: Molten Pearl Twisted Chain Brain Bracelet from Missoma, £145 (the less favourable reviews are all due to it fitting small, so I’d try on in store first!). From top to bottom: Pearl Power Bracelet from Anni Lu, £110. Baroque Pearl Claw T-Bar Bracelet from Missoma, £135. Lotus Pearl Bracelet Gold from Lynyer, £125. The Calliope Bracelet from Alighieri, £210 (on sale at SSENSE for £170).
For some reason, pearl bracelets with eye-catching details are trickier to come by – and I generally feel they need layering with other pieces to work best. There are a handful of less conventional, more statement options out there, though: I’m a fan of the ‘half-and-half’ bracelets that Missoma does, which mix pearls with chunky gold-plated chains, and also the oversized T-bar styles. Alighieri’s Calliope bracelet jumped out to me for its textured gold-plated charm; likewise the keshi pearls on Anni Lu’s Pearl Power bracelet. And I adore the layered-ness and the ginormous gold-plated lotus of the Lynyer bracelet (in general, the brand has some fabulous pieces that its very ugly website and branding don’t do justice).
What I’m wearing now…
For some photo evidence* of my newfound jewellery obsession, here’s what I’m wearing while I write. Two rings, bought from those cheap-and-cheerful e&e stores in Notting Hill. (They’re supposedly gold-plated, which is incredibly hard to believe at those prices.) The hoops are also from e&e. The pearl necklace is from By Alona, the mother-of-pearl pedant is from a stand in a mall in Abu Dhabi and the longer necklace is from Victoria Percival. The shirt is the Weekend style from WNU, the glasses are Jimmy Fairly and the manicure is desperately due a refresh.
*I recently upgraded to an iPhone 15 Pro and… has anyone else noticed that the photos on the front-facing camera are so grainy and dull (hence the FaceTime pic)?
