The years following World War II were a welcome return to luxury in the fashion world, which was reflected in the jewelry styles of that time. A defining element of 1950s jewelry design was the New Look – a style known for a feminine, curvy silhouette – introduced by Christian Dior in 1947. Strong influences from Parisian couture runways, Hollywood films, and fashion icons led women to seek variety in their jewelry, and jewelers began creating colorful, elaborate designs to match jewelry styles with women’s fashion. Below, let’s take a look at some of the most memorable jewelry trends from the mid-20th century.
Jewelry trends of the 1950s
A popular trend that defined 1950s jewelry was pieces made of yellow and rose gold – designs featuring bows, ribbons, tassels, animals, flowers, and leaves were essential wardrobe items. Equally popular was pearl jewelry – a simple strand, considered a symbol of wealth and elegance, became an indispensable complement to outfits for any occasion. Jewelry sets, known as “parures” (from French) The French “parure”, that is a jewelry set, also gained tremendous popularity – women began to wear matching earrings, necklaces, brooches, bracelets, and rings. Jewelry made from rock crystals as well as jewelry with floral motifs, inspired by the Victorian era, also triumphed. Favorite flowers of designers included roses, tulips, poppies, and sunflowers, made of turquoise and corals, novelties in the jewelry market at the time. Some popular jewelry designs of the 1950sThey alluded to the characteristics of the atomic age – fanciful depictions of explosions, stars, vortices, geometric shapes, atoms, and electrons adorned the corsets of many women’s dresses.
Costume jewelry
When describing jewelry styles of the 1950s, one cannot omit the so-called ‘costume jewelry,’ which was originally designed for the film industry. The prop pieces, however, were indistinguishable from fine jewelry. The exceptional quality of the imitations revolutionized the goldsmithing of that period, making jewelry no longer just a symbol of social status, but something that brought joy and lightness.
Thanks to costume jewelry, sets made of faux pearls, synthetic gems – from rubies, through sapphires and emeralds – enamel and plastics with acrylic resin in various colors, such as Lucite and Bakelite, have become extremely popular. The enormous success of artificial jewelry was primarily dictated by the fact that not everyone could afford to buy precious jewelry.Fabulous imitations allowed women with modest incomes to copy the style of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, or Grace Kelly, icons of timeless, classic elegance. All of this was made possible by the use of inexpensive materials for making jewelry.
Jewelry from the 1950s in a contemporary style
Jewelry from the 1950s can suit many styles, both classic and contemporary. Although in the 1950s jewelry etiquette advised never to mix gold and silver, today breaking this old rule will give you a fresh, up-to-date look.You can layer vintage-style necklaces of different textures, shapes, and lengths on yourself; a pair of gold stud earrings, a floral brooch, a mesh bracelet, or a gold diamond ring in a vintage style will also add uniqueness and charisma to your outfit, whether you are wearing a cocktail dress or tweed pants paired with a denim jacket. In fashion, it is the accessories that make the outfit complete.To make the effect even more stunning, it is worth choosing a setcustom-made gold jewelry. You will then be sure that your jewelry will be unique and perfectly suited to your taste.