Jewelry Design Ideas: Necklaces

Necklaces are the hot category for fashion jewelry right now. The necklace can set the mood for an entire collection and right now great necklaces are showing up in some key silhouettes.

Number one: the bib necklace. This necklace is very much like taking a baby bib and decorating it with stones, flowers, chains, or any material that you find fabulous. Using fabric backings, or linking stone settings are two ways that this look is being accomplished. This is a dramatic look and is being done at high end designers as well as at great trend stores like Forever 21. The bib necklace can be created using plastic beads or plastic pearls in order to make it more affordable and to keep it light weight.

Number Two: Chain lengths. Chains of geometric shapes are coming on strong. Plastic links, metal links, wooden links, epoxy links,and even soft fine chains wrapped to create links is the look to go after.

Number Three: Side brooch necklaces. This look can be done on beads or on chain. It consists of a longer length necklace with a floral type motif placed on one side. Chanel has done one with chain that is woven with gross grain ribbon and has a signature Camilla flower placed asymmetrically.

Number Four: Ribbon bow tie back necklaces. This is a wonderful way to create a soft but lavish look for necklaces.
J.Crew has done some very simple styles that suspend bold chains and pearls from black gross grain ribbon.
Other designers are using this on layered mixed media necklaces. Take a look at styles done by Lulu Frost for inspiration. One very successful and simple way to use this look is on color beads. This is a best selling silhouette.

Number Five:Long y-necks. Shorter y-neck silhouettes still continue, however softer, multiple chains knotted at longer lengths are fresh and classy looking. These can have beads , pearls, or charms suspended from the ends as well. Mixed platings, snake chains, and color cords can be used to interpret this look as well.

When laying out your designs be sure to include at least three of these looks to update your collections, as well as looking at your own selling to see how you can apply the new trends to your personal best sellers.