Renaissance man: designers are seeing pearls in a whole new light
In recent saesons, menswear designers have favoured single earrings as their accessory of choice. At Alexander McQueen, Sarah Burton opts for an ornate pearl-drop style, cupped in a leafy crystal pavé shell. It harks back to the metrosexual preferences of the Elizabethan era and Sir Walter Raleigh's favoured orb-like pearl, often seen dangling from his left ear in portraits.
Worn with a natural air of insouciance, pearls are a singular choice: Jimi Hendrix was prone to wearing long, beachy strings of them, while messy-haired model Henry Kitcher's signature pearl-drop earring is instantly recognisable during his catwalk turns for the likes of Berluti and Vivienne Westwood.
For a punkish look, we've paired Delfina Delettrez's freshwater droplet 'Seal' earring with a Tiffany stud on the helix. For a subtle take, opt for the sheeny hues of black or grey pearls, as in Dina Kamal's signet ring or HUM's drop earrings. Swap a simple chain for a string of pearls and strip back your styling with sleek monochrome tailoring. It's the contemporary take - raw and rebellious with a Renaissance touch.
As originally featured in the May 2018 issue of Precious Index
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Sun Tower is a Chinese cultural attraction that draws on the celestial cycle
Sun Tower, an imaginative cultural attraction by Open Architecture, draws on the natural cycle and has just opened in China's seaside town of Yantai
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Looking for a long-range luxury EV that’s a true Tesla alternative? Welcome to the Lucid Air
We drive the Lucid Air, the high-performance Californian EV that’s a welcome leftfield choice in a sea of Musk-mobiles. Vote Lucid!
By Guy Bird Published
-
Umbrian castle hotel Reschio seduces with 1,000 years of history, now explored in a new book
The estate, home to a boutique hotel and rentable houses, is documented in Rizzoli's ‘Reschio: the First Thousand Years’ – and is open for stays
By Tianna Williams Published
-
Art takes London: Tiffany & Co, Damien Hirst and artists take over Selfridges' windows
Four British contemporary artists celebrate Tiffany & Co's pioneering history with a series of storied window displays
By Anne Soward Published
-
Wild beauties: high jewellery dripping with drama
The latest high jewellery collections are fantastic and flamboyant, drawing on a wealth of influences, from a Chopin composition and César Ritz to crocodiles and colour refraction
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Late summer jewels: what to wear at Golden Hour
Late summer signals a jewellery style-shift. These independent designers have got it covered
By Caragh McKay Published
-
Tiffany Wonder in Tokyo is ‘intimate, cinematic and refined’
‘Tiffany Wonder’, an exhibition at Tokyo Node Gallery, is a sparkling journey through the history of Tiffany & Co, designed by architects OMA
By Danielle Demetriou Published
-
All smiles: How a grillz jewellery making class in London became an international hit
What started as a passion project quickly exploded in popularity. We get the story behind the grillz-making workshop at Cockpit London
By Elisa Anniss Published
-
First look at Pharrell Williams and Tiffany & Co’s punkish titanium and gold jewellery
Pharrell Williams and Tiffany & Co reveal first jewellery collaboration, ‘Tiffany Titan’, featuring 19 yellow gold and titanium pieces
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Tiffany & Co nods to its theatrical history with a surreal new campaign
Tiffany & Co campaign ‘With Love, Since 1837’ sees Dan Tobin Smith and set designer Rachel Thomas create an offbeat set
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Emerging jewellery designers to get to know
These independent, new and emerging jewellery designers and brands from New York to Paris are firmly on our radar
By Hannah Silver Published