Kick Your Summer Style Into High Gear With These Bold Jewelry Pieces!
Summer is no time for somber navy blues, charcoal grays, and hunter greens! It’s the season for vibrant hues that seem to rival the sun in their intensity; for patterns that convey an infectious joie de vivre; for materials, shapes, and textures that manifest an appreciation for aquatic expanses and the breathtaking coral reefs and sea creatures therein, for lush tropical blossoms and palm leaves, for the vivid plumage of the feathered creatures lurking in rainforests; for the rocks, seashells, and sandy expanses along the ocean coastline.
The easiest — and most delightful — way to channel the optimism of summer into your look is via bold jewelry pieces that can pump up any look’s volume. Even when wearing a simple T-shirt and shorts or flaunting a crisp white dress, the right statement necklace, bracelet, or earrings can transform the ensemble’s entire feel, making it feel adventurous and whimsical.
Neon-colored crystals, nautical rope details, earthy turquoise stones, thread-wrapped cords and chains, funky beads, conch shell accents, and tribal motifs help make the pieces here stand out from the crowd and, in turn, make you the belle of the beach
Nissa Jewelry Martinique Earrings, $68. Available at NissaJewelry.com
Named after the French caribbean island, these Nissa Jewelry earrings are a shiny bit of paradise. Measuring 1.75″ in length, these earrings feature a faceted, oval-shaped, fluorescent yellow green stone at their center, surrounded by two rope strands: an azure blue rope encircling the center stone and a multi-color rope rimming the inner blue cord. Three teardrop-shaped, prong-set, neon pink stones, meanwhile, are positioned along the bottom of the earrings, fanning out gracefully to give the silhouette a more dynamic feel.
Venessa Arizaga Technicolor Girls’ Necklace. Available at VenessaArizaga.com
Neons always abound come May and June, so it’s no surprise that the über talented, New York-based, Puerto Rican jewelry designer Venessa Arizaga would choose rainbow-colored threads when crafting one of her summer 2014 statement necklaces. Known for using silk threads to create elaborate pieces that fuse street and beach culture, Arizaga again accomplishes this feat with panache here by selecting an urban-feeling, abrasive, modern matte black-plated chain as the foundation of her design and then weaving threads in electric pink, green, yellow, orange, and blue around the links to add a surfer chic vibe. Round and teardrop shaped rhinestones dangle from the bottom of the hefty necklace, adding an added dash of sophistication and making the piece transition more easily from day to night.
Courtney Lee Collection Gabby Earrings, $295. Available at CourtneyLeeCollection.com
These psychedelic earrings were inspired by the idea of the mystical third eye, which grants the power of intuition and foresight. If you look closely, you’ll notice a faceted, almond-shaped azure blue crystal, its perimeter adorned with smaller, round, aqua blue stones. Atop this almond-shaped “eye,” meanwhile, you’ll find a row of teardrop-shaped, neon green stones arranged in an arched shape so as to resemble fiery lashes. Talk about keeping an eye on things!
Ettika Neon Baroness Bracelet, $55. Available at Ettika.com
Make a big statement with a single piece: this neon coral Ettika cord bracelet, wrapped in an electric blue thread and featuring an oversize, teardrop-shaped, faceted stone in an aquatic blue hue at its center.
Ben-Amun Rainbow Multi-Row Statement Necklace, $345. Available at MaxandChloe.com
Talk about tasting the rainbow! This multi-row collar necklace, measuring 1 1/2″ in width, features every shade in a Skittles bag — and then some! Gold cable link chains, box chains, and wheat chains are separated by rope strands of varying widths in hot pink, lime green, or electric blue hues, or, as is the case along the bottom of the piece, woven together with cotton threads in a reggae-worthy red, green, and yellow pattern.
Lionette Mandela Earrings, $378. Available at Shop.LionetteNY.com
The tribal shape of these Lionette earrings is meant as an homage to the late Nelson Mandela, who so bravely fought against apartheid in South Africa, served over 20 years in prison as a result of his calls for justice and equality, never abandoning his cause, and went on to serve as the first freely elected democratic president of South Africa. When you look at these earrings, you’ll likely be reminded of a tribal headdress — although, of course, the choice of colors gives these stunners a rock ‘n’ roll twist. Measuring 3 3/16″ in length and 1 1/4″ in width, they feature round simulated fire opals at their center, their perimeter outlined using jet black Swarovski crystals. The outer side of each earring, meanwhile, features a row of slim, rectangular, white Swarovski crystals that create the aforementioned “feather headdress” effect, with a triangular clear crystal marking at the very top of the arched row and a prong-set, almond-shaped, jet black Swarovski crystal delineating the end of the row along the bottom. For an added dose of drama, an almond-shaped simulated yellow opal dangles beneath the main stone and, below it, another jet black Swarovski crystal.
Hipanema Fluoblue Bracelet, $78. Available at HipanemaUSA.com
Like all Hipanema bracelets, this free-spirited, festival-ready, multi-strand number features a lovely mixture of textures and materials, with one strand featuring translucent, cobalt blue rondel beads; another featuring plastic perler beads in purple,baby blue, yellow, and electric blue; another featuring braided white cord with a conch shell tied along the center and two electric blue tassels dangling from either side of the shell; and so forth. And, of course, the bracelet includes a Brazilian wish ribbon, meant to give wearers good fortune. But what makes this bracelet particularly unique is that, when you shut off the lights,the seed beads on the widest bracelet (the one with resembling a friendship bracelet and boasting a geometric pattern) glow in the dark!
Kendra Scott Skylar Earrings in Neon Pink, $65. Available at KendraScott.com
As a Kendra Scott fanatic, I geek out whenever I watch The Mindy Project and catch Dr. Lahiry wearing some KS earrings (and she has quite the collection!). Hopefully soon, we’ll see Mindy flaunt these Skylar earrings, shaped like arrowheads and featuring neon pink magnesite at their center.
The Ropes Metallic Cape Elizabeth 7MM Rope Bracelet, $70. Available at JCrew.com
For a nautical touch that’s not too literal — no red-and-blue stripes or anchor motifs — try this rope bracelet, which was inspired by Maine’s marine culture. Created by The Ropes founder, designer Shana Aldrich Ready, this piece is crafted out of nylon rope in earthy shades of beige and brown, with punchy coral orange and yellow gold threads tying the two rows of rope together along the front and adding an edgy twist.
Vince Camuto Maya Bib Necklace, $128. Available at Nordstrom.com
This dramatic necklace features rainbow-colored threads wrapped around a wide, cylindrical, gold-plated snake chain, adding a summery spirit to the glam piece. At the center of the necklace, you’ll find a square golden plate with a milky, khaki-colored, rectangular stone at its center and slithers of silver- and gold-toned metal dangling from the bottom of the plate, creating a fringe-like effect. These fringe-like clusters reappear on either side of the bib area, giving the illusion of movement.
