January/February 2016^31
fl avored, sometimes combing several
design elements in one piece for added
glamour.
In this blend of trends, Gizzi sees
geometric designs inspired by nature
taking root, soft structures that repre-
sent the microscopic world like honey-
combs, coral, leaves, and even human
DNA. “Design concepts are fl owy
and tend to feature cutouts that form
negative space in a geometric pat-
tern,” she describes. “Typical of this
trend are holes that look organically
formed or leaves with prominent
veins in a repeating (but not always
symmetrical) pattern, commonly
seen in bracelets, wide band rings,
and three-dimensional earrings.”
Fashion’s favorite bling master,
Swarovski, issued the 13th edition
of its trends forecasting, Gem
Visions, with 2016 design direc-
tions forward-focused on ideas
and technological advances while
also celebrating past traditions.
In all four of the major design
directions it recognizes (Magic,
Eternity, Radical Craft, and Body
Art) texture is key — be it complex
and multi-layered, refl ective and
iridescent, rough and organic,
engraved and inscribed.
JEWELRY STYLE
TRENDS
What is most striking on the run-
ways, especially for 2016 are new
ways of wearing jewelry. Cheryl
Jester, trend and communication
manager for Swarovski genuine
gemstones and created stone,
cites Gem Vision’s Body Art as a
key trend that explores jewelry’s
intimate relationship with the body
and the human form as an installa-
tion space for new types of jewels.
There is much more ex-
perimentation with what jewelry
can be, as dramatically expressed by
Givenchy, which decorated its runway
models with far-out face jewelry set
on cheeks and chins and suspended
from septums and nostrils. Their ears
featured matching earrings from lobe
to upper cartilage in gems like sapphire
and ruby.
This spring Gizzi expects more em-
phasis on long earrings, which were big
on red carpets this fall. “Climbers step
aside to let dangles be the hot style for
the season. Also, bold bracelets
are the balance to big earrings.
Skin showing through is going to
be key with bracelets, especially
cuff s. There’s a feeling of airi-
ness to the design.” O’Connor“Jewelry is the ultimate accessory and it needs to work with
what is happening in fashion to be relevant.”
ABOVE LEFT
Thomas Wylde, New York Fashion
Week 2015.
PHOTO: FRAZER HARRISON/GETTY IMAGES
FOR NYFW: THE SHOWSLEFT
Eli Frei
Butterfly Pin
Black diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds,
yellow gold, black gold
PHOTO: COURTESY JEWELERS OF AMERICALEFT
Le Vian
Red Carpet Ring
Chocolate diamonds, vanilla diamonds,
14K honey gold
PHOTO: COURTESY LE VIANBELOW
Le Vian
Lacy Fishnet™ Cuff
Chocolate diamonds, vanilla diamonds,
18K strawberry gold
PHOTO: COURTESY LE VIAN