Best Jewelry For 2008, Plus Celebrity Jewelry Trends

Now that the holidays are officially over, and the days are getting longer, it’s time to turn your focus from shopping for other people to shopping for yourself. Late winter is the perfect time to revitalize your wardrobe and get ready for spring. The big question on every fashion-forward gal’s mind: What trends are hot this season? Last year, it was all about fussy fabrics and flouncy details, which made it hard to wear bold jewelry, which couldn’t compete. This year, all the pomp has been relegated to the back of the fashion closet, and style gurus, including me, are calling for clean, classic lines with little or no fuss.
For jewelry lovers, this spring’s sleek fashion forecast is welcome news: The minimalist styles we’re seeing all over the hottest designer runways and in top fashion magazines’ spring fashion previews are the perfect blank canvases on which to showcase our most spectacular jewelry. Now is the time to add a few fun jewelry pieces to your collection and dust off pieces that have been in hiding in your jewelry box waiting for their time to shine.

As Clairee Belcher, Olympia Dukakis’s character in Steel Magnolias said, “The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize.” Indeed. Without further ado, here are my top six jewelry looks for spring 2008, along with the celebs who love them.

1. The pendant necklace. Like a charm bracelet, a pendant necklace is the perfect accessory if you’re looking for something to personalize. Take a chain or cord, and add anything that will give the world a glimpse of your personal style. Whether it’s a pretty stone in your favorite color, a teardrop-shaped pearl or an item that means something to you such as your grandmother’s wedding ring, a peace symbol, locket, heart or other lucky talisman, you can thread it on a chain and make it the focal piece of your ensemble. Wear the necklace long if you want to draw the eye down and create the illusion of a longer neck, or shorter if you want to accent your face. Pair the pendant necklace with an open-necked oxford, a simple dress or a vee-neck top. Jennifer Aniston has long been a fan of the pendant necklace, which is a perfect accessory for her boho vibe. For a super modern take, do like Jessica Simpson does and display your pendant on a leather cord rather than a chain.

2. Layered necklaces. After several seasons in the spotlight, the layered necklace look is still going strong. Dare we say the style might even become a classic? It’s certainly interesting, giving the eye a lot to take in, and, because it’s versatile and the combinations are endless, it works well with many different types of necklines. To pull off the look, pair a shorter, 16- or 18-inch necklace with a much longer chain—or three. For added contrast, choose different thicknesses, metals or materials. For instance, pair a pearl pendant and a long, pearl-and-chain rope. So fun because it allows you to wear two or more of your favorite necklaces at once, the layered look is favored by fashion-forward celebs like Maria Menounos and Joy Bryant.

3. Dangle earrings. While I adore diamond or pearl studs for day, dangle earrings are all the rage this season—for both day and night. Cate Blanchett and Rihanna love the style, and who can forget the huge turquoise dangle earrings Marcia Cross wore to the Emmys? Those giant blue babies, by designer Lorraine Schwartz, were the talk of the awards show! That’s because dangle earrings are anything but subtle, adding punch to any hairstyle or outfit. Just make sure you don’t wear other jewelry that will compete. Let the dangles do the talking.

4. Interlocking Hoops. Because bare skin is in this season, it’s okay to forego wearing a necklace once in a while so that your earrings (and sleek, bare neck) can be the focus. Want to be in vogue? The hot earring style right now is the interlocking triple hoop. What it is: three hoops starting at your earlobe that gradually get bigger to form a triple hoop style that’s fun—think hoops—and sophisticated—think dangle. Gold hoops are especially popular right now, as are diamonds, if you can afford them, or CZs, if you’re on a budget. Jessica Alba and Uma Thurman have both been spotted with this sassy style, so you know the triple hoop earring is a trend worth emulating.

5. Oversize hoops. Like the layered chain look, oversize hoops are here to stay. Kate Bosworth, Alicia Keys, Ellen Pompeo and Katherine Heigl are fans of the style, and it’s no wonder: Oversize hoops have an edgy feel that adds a funky, playful, urban vibe to an otherwise staid outfit. No wonder J.Lo and Jessica Alba rock the style so often. To make the style even more exciting, choose big hoops with dangling stones in a springy color, like green aventurine, or sterling silver hoops with peridot drops.

6. Cocktail rings. Cocktail rings pack a surprisingly big punch in a terrific little package! Draw attention to your hands (and look younger) by choosing unfussy rings with one big stone rather than stones with diamonds or other detailing. Choose rings made of bold, colorful materials like turquoise, onyx, mother-of-pearl or jade. Black pearls and oversize white pearls make great cocktail rings too. Trendsetters like Eva Mendes, Jennifer Lopez, Heidi Klum, Cameron Diaz and Catherine Zeta-Jones are all fans.