They are back on the scene for our greatest happiness! The antique jewelry plunges us into a fashion nostalgia to reinterpret the styles of the past. Necklaces, eyeglass chains, rings, bracelets and even waist chains: the accessories that have marked the most beautiful looks of our grandmothers and our mothers are now essential in our dressing room. Why this retro backlash? What vintage jewelry to wear for a trendy look? Here are the period pieces that will make our Martinettes’ hearts skip a beat. 3,2,1 nostalgia!
Originally, vintage jewelry is associated with styles from the 1920s to the 1960s. Decorated with pearls or precious stones, they are characterized by their finesse and elegance. These antique jewels are declined in pearl necklaces, brooches, rings, pendants, watches or earrings.
In recent years, this definition has expanded to include the 70s, 80s, 90s, but also the early 2000s. Yes, a vintage jewel does not need to be precious and adorned with diamonds or sapphires! Even though we love our grannies’ history-laden jewelry, we also like to update some of the trends we wore in college or high school. From now on, vintage jewelry refers to old jewelry – valuable or fancy – that have marked a more or less recent era and are now coming back into fashion.
The wind of vintage began to blow in the early 2000s, with the idea of reviving quality pieces, beautiful cuts and materials. The goal? Move away from fast-fashion and rely on solid values. It is an opportunity to assert one’s personality, to say no to uniformity and to give pride of place to fantasy. However, fashionistas will tell you: it’s not about wearing vintage from head to toe, but rather combining vintage pieces (jewelry, clothes) with modern ones.
Another reason for this vintage backlash is nostalgia. And it makes sense when you consider that “the French would be 70% to wish to live in a bygone era rather than in the future” (study conducted in 2018 by the Center for Economic Research). We have to admit it, we like to mystify the past and take refuge in it. How many times have we said or heard the famous “it was better before”? Through retro jewelry, we reappropriate a glorious era – that we have lived, or not – and we make it come alive through us. A bit like a little Proust’s madeleine (only more flashy).
Moreover, even the great designers have given in to this irresistible nostalgia. And for good reason, vintage-inspired jewelry is flourishing on the catwalk. Maxi gold structures set with crystals, multicolored stones, fancy shapes: the 80s are back in force!
Among the costume jewelry with old charm, there are some that we like more than others. It’s up to you to add them to your wardrobe for ultra trendy looks!
More appreciated for its practicality than for its fashion potential, the glasses chain was the favorite accessory of our grannies. Yes, it must be said that this vintage jewel was very useful not to lose his frame and always have it at hand! Then fallen into oblivion, the chain of glasses made its comeback recently to decorate our looks.
If we still appreciate it for its practicality, we love the original touch it brings to all our outfits. At the beach, in the street or on the terrace, we can’t resist the eyewear cord that easily adapts to eyewear and sunglasses frames. It is also a perfect vintage accessory to enhance our face. You can find them in all colors and materials: in links, in gold or in natural pearls, the choice is vast!
She was the undisputed queen of body jewelry in the 2000s. We saw it on the bellies of the biggest pop stars of the time: J.Lo, Britney, Christina Aguilera or Paris Hilton, all the it-girls had succumbed to it! Today, the belly necklace is the pride of fashionistas.
So how do you wear a waist chain? We love to wear this fancy vintage jewel at the beach with a bikini, crop top or underwear for an even more sensual and sexy look. And if you don’t want to reveal your belly, you can also wear the waist chain over a white tee or tank top. In gold, silver, stones or natural pearls, it is sometimes minimalist, sometimes flashy. Something to suit all styles!
They made their mark in the 80s and 90s. At that time, it was mainly the gold link necklaces that were popular. These vintage jewels were worn on chic women, but also by rappers who displayed them in XXL necklaces for a total bling bling look. Then came the low point of the wave and oblivion. For many years, link chains were only synonymous with bracelets and hairy arms.
Fortunately, mesh bracelets and necklaces are now proudly displayed on the wrists and necks of fashionistas. Rectangular, for a rock look, or rounded for a softer look, the links can also be tightened. We wear them as necklaces, bracelets, but also as glasses chains for an assumed eighties outfit!
If we had to name an iconic piece of vintage jewelry, it would be the pearl necklace! Appeared in the seventeenth century, it has continued to seduce women by its pure elegance. Worn as long as a necklace (often more than 70 cm) during the roaring twenties, it then loses a few centimeters to sublimate the necklines all in delicacy. And it is not Princess Diana, Coco Chanel or Jack Kennedy who will say the opposite!
Now, this valuable jewel has been democratized and we are no longer obliged to wear cultured pearls to enjoy it. You can opt for example for a freshwater pearl necklace for a bohemian chic look. More affordable, this type of bead does not detract from the chic side of this antique necklace that we love so much.
The anklet is a vintage jewel, very vintage! Indeed, its first traces go back to the Sumerian era, more than 4 500 years ago. It was then worn in ancient Egypt and India. Let’s take a (big) leap back in time to the 70’s, when this ancient jewel became very popular in the US. Symbol of freedom, the ankle chain was an essential accessory of bohemian fashion.
We wear it today to sublimate our feet and our legs. We love to wear it on the beach, with a nice bikini or in the city, with a skirt, dress or shorts trend. The anklet comes in a multitude of models: gold, silver, stainless steel or natural pearls for our greatest happiness!
You will have understood the Martinettes, to have a style in the air of time, we bet on sure values that have proven themselves!
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