Fall Fashion 2009 Trend Forecast: Jewelry

This fall, fashion is all about large, statement-making pieces, and nowhere is the trend more evident than in jewelry. Taking the place of last spring’s layered looks, these hot-off-the-runway designs are sure to grace the wardrobes of celebrities as well as everyday women. Bright colors and bold accents abound, blending with unexpected shapes and sizes. Fall’s jewelry is definitely all about look-at-me moments. Trend-lovers, beware, though: Style experts warn not to go overboard with the haute looks. Balance the over-the-top accessories with a simple dress or toned-down blouse and skirt.

Amber-colored jewelry

Karen London, a jewelry designer based in Los Angeles, has created the Romanov Collection: Necklaces and accessories that are all different shades of amber. A hot request from Hollywood stylists for the fall, she credits its appeal to the renewed popularity of red hair combined with the rich, diverse fall color palette gracing the runways. Amber comes in a range of shades, from green to golden yellow and deep rust. Celebs like Celine Dion, Sharon Stone and Amy Adams have sported the colors on the red carpet.

The alphabet game

Large, in-your-face (but still elegant) necklaces are the rage this fall, and U- and V-shaped pieces dominate. Philip Crangi, who partnered with closely watched designer Jason Wu for the fall fashion shows, toughened up his collection with metal and hardware accents. “The pieces look inspired by both African culture and architecture,” says Helena Krodel, spokesperson for the Jewelry Information Center, a non-profit association that educates people on fine jewelry and watch trends. Simple silhouetted dresses were topped with V-shaped necklaces like those from Reem Acra, who presented Oscar-worthy versions featuring big, bold and regal-colored gemstones in navy blue and red.

off-the-cuff elegance

From the feminine to the more industrial, matching cuff bracelets are being worn on both wrists, as seen in the Fenton’s by Dana Lorenz collection, with hexagon quartz layered with pieces of mirror onto large metal plates. The white metal cuffs shown in the Abraxas Rex for Alexander Wang line brought a more girly look to the runway and showcased eye-catching accents like simulated shark fins. “The focus was clearly on the sleek shapes,” says Krodel. “Similar-in-size bracelets made by longtime collaborator Robert Lee Morris were worn over bountiful sleeves made of fur at the Donna Karan show in New York.”

Chandelier earrings

Large chandelier earrings have made their way back to the catwalk, and designer Tracy Reese paired preppy schoolgirl dresses with knee-high socks and a jazzy twist: Bell-shaped chandelier earrings worn with snug knit caps, according to Krodel. The combination of high-end jewelry with casual caps exemplified how modern women are dressing with the mixture of laidback and luxury. Also making a statement with large earrings was Isaac Mizrahi who aimed to take fashionistas’ minds off of the grim economy with luxurious designs that blended fur, bright colors and glitter. Large tassel pins were incorporated into his jewelry pieces to give the line an added boost.

Check out our Fall Fashion photo galleries:

Best of Fall Fashion 2009
Best of Fall Shoes 2009
Best of Fall Fashion 2009 Accessories
Best of Fall Fashion 2009 Outerwear