If it feels like we’ve been grooving on chain jewelry for quite some time now, it’s because we have. For some reason, paper clip chains seem to define the pandemic for me. Maybe because I wrote about them trending on more than one occasion and then purchased one for myself from quarantine.
That purchase will continue to endure, as chains aren’t going anywhere. But they do seem to be getting bigger. Bold, gold, and chunky, chain-link necklaces are capturing attention in forms ranging from large to supersize, and damn, do they look good.
The fall fashion runways started to show giant chains last year, and the most recent edition of fashion week cemented the style—with Tom Ford, Monse, Schiaparelli, and more showcasing chain necklaces in one way or another, both in New York and Paris.
Maybe it’s that we’re still going with the whole “see and be seen” vibe. Maybe it’s the “more is more” mantra that we’ve embodied as we’ve busted out of quarantine. Maybe it’s that necklaces are the new earrings because they don’t get tangled up in your mask, and we’d rather draw attention to something cool and shiny below the face rather than focus on the fact that masks are still necessary. Maybe it’s just the natural evolution of fashion and the fact that big chains look really effortless and chic.
“Chunky jewelry is definitely back. For me, it’s the tactile nature, and the feeling you get when wearing it is almost as important as the aesthetic,” said David Farrugia, founder and designer of Uniform Object, whose first collection, Supernaut, leans heavily on chains. “I love feeling the weight of a heavy necklace or ring. Consumers want something that will be noticed and they can feel is worth the investment.”
Whatever the reason, I’m glad they’re here.
Top: Chain necklace in 18k rose gold with diamonds, $30,000; Walters Faith
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