Metal jewelry is a hot trend right now. There are two predominant looks in metal for fall 2011: 1) structured and large pieces and don’t let the size fool you—the hottest looks, with many in white and yellow gold, are quite lightweight; and 2) angular pieces displayed in an irregular fashion.
Metal is a favorite among jewelry designers because it is so malleable. Because its shape can be easily transformed, designers have a lot of options, from coming up with radial designs or more natural styling for bracelets, earrings and other statement pieces.
Some runway favorites this season include cuff bracelets, extra-long earrings with fringe and necklaces with a wild, more dramatic flair. As for the motifs, this season it’s largely about nature, with many designs featuring birds, flowers, snakes, leaves and even elephants.
If you’re looking for that one special piece to invest in this season: Think brown gold. The rich color is the result of rose gold that has been vaporized and is reminiscent of milk chocolate. The result: a new incarnation of a precious metal that’s always a classic, and the perfect accent for your autumn look. Another metal that is often overlooked but is a phenomenal accent for autumn dress is copper.
If you’re feeling daring, don’t just go out and buy a staple metal piece for the fall, considering making one yourself. At Metalwerx School for Metal Arts in Waltham, Massachusetts you can attend a jewelry-making class. Courses and workshops for beginners through professionals take place year round and are open to students of all ages. The beginner session begins Sept. 19 and goes through Nov. 28. During the 10-session course, students will learn fundamental hand skills and be introduced to the tools of the trade so they can craft their own sterling silver ring, pendant with a bezel-set stone or a forged bracelet.
Metalwerx also holds one-day workshops. For instance, on Dec. 1 from 10 am-5 pm you can learn how to create the cuff bracelet look that’s hot right now. You’ll learn the fundamental techniques of metal-smithing, from sawing and filing to annealing (heating), forming and polishing. The best part, at the end of the day you’ll go home with your one-of-a-kind handcrafted metal creation! For information on Metalwerx, visit www.metalwerx.com.
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Seeing Red
Bold statement jewelry pieces are gracing the runway this season. For Fall 2011, metal looks will be joined by red, which very well could be the in color for autumn and will provide a striking contrast to popular fall neutrals like black, brown and gray.
Red is also a tremendously beautiful color to pair with burnt oranges and scarlet hued garb. If you choose to don more than one red piece of jewelry, explore variations on a theme. Don’t go overboard with trying to match the color of your statement pieces; instead, mix and match earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings in various shades of red like crimson, persimmon, chestnut and other vibrant hues.
By Laura Starczewski
