By chiaraferragni / Instagram
Times may be gloomy, but that doesn't mean fashion has to fit with the mood. So, wearing a turtleneck to keep heating costs down is fine, but only if it's matched with fun or bling accessories, or if you opt for a bejeweled version. This winter, crystals, pearls, rhinestones and other embellishments are here to brighten up the dullest of sweaters. Can you get more kitsch?
Times may be gloomy, but that doesn't mean fashion has to fit with the mood. So, wearing a turtleneck to keep heating costs down is fine, but only if it's matched with fun or bling accessories, or if you opt for a bejeweled version. This winter, crystals, pearls, rhinestones and other embellishments are here to brighten up the dullest of sweaters. Can you get more kitsch?
Driven by a kind of mass laziness, as well as a prevailing mood of gloom and a quest for comfort, fashion trends have not been their most cheerful for several months. Fortunately, social networkers have managed to foster more fun inspirations, like Barbiecore or the Y2K craze. But winter seems to have taken over, making fashion more subdued, if not to say dull, and decidedly less fun. Nevertheless, at the beginning of the year, a trend once thought forgotten seems to be resurfacing -- the jewel sweater -- determined to bring a little sparkle, if not lashings of crystals and pearls, into our lives.
Chic and kitsch
There are trends that we don't hear about for many years, and others that come back to the forefront as quickly as they left. This is the case of the jewel sweater, in vogue nearly five years ago, which is making a remarkable comeback to liven up winter outfits. The height of chic for some, totally kitsch for others, this trend will at least make you stand out in an era dominated by utilitarian and casual clothing. The jewel sweater is part of a larger trend, called Plazacore, which recently came about on social media. It seems to come straight out of the preppy chic wardrobe of Blair Waldorf, the stylish heroine of the show "Gossip Girl." Who better than the Upper East Side native to sport the jewel sweater, a piece that she seemingly made a must-have in a single episode.
On the catwalks dedicated to the fall-winter 2022 season, the trend went more or less unnoticed. However, many brands and big fashion houses included the jewel sweater in their year-end collections. Tory Burch showed sweaters embellished with sparkling threads, Acne Studios decorated sweaters with aged details and crystal buttons, and J. Crew adorned sweaters, cardigans and jackets with jewel buttons. And, of course, ready-to-wear brands followed the movement, in turn offering a multitude of knitwear decorated with crystals, pearls and other jewels. Gucci went even further by covering denim jackets and suits with jewels. And, from the look of the spring-summer 2023 shows, the trend looks set to continue throughout the year.
Worn by fashion icons
Bella Hadid and Chiara Ferragni are among the celebrities who have already embraced the jeweled sweater, opting for ultra-chic styles in bright hues for an even more eccentric touch. Kim Kardashian, who is always one step ahead, opted for leather pants entirely covered with jewels, showing that the trend still has much further to go. All that's left is to choose the style that suits you best. If you're not ready to take the plunge, note that it's always possible to opt for a classic sweater that you can then cover with a multitude of necklaces, belts, brooches and other jewelry accessories.
