OH, WHAT A PEARL

Always in style, these classic jewels add a touch of simple, lustrous elegance. By Rita Guarna

Whatever oyster first dreamed of pearls had no idea the gems would shine for millennia. Pearls pop up in the Bible and the Koran; were prized by the ancient cultures of Egypt, India and China; and were a big reason—so the historian Suetonius tells us—that Julius Caesar invaded Britain. The costly gem symbolized purity, but also wealth, as usually only royalty or nobility could afford pearls. With the advent of cultured pearls in the early 1900s, that changed.

Since famous French fashion designer Coco Chanel incorporated them into mainstream fashion almost a century ago, pearls have become the accessory that makes a look—and never gets old. Today, a new generation of celebrities and tastemakers is appropriating this timeless gem, giving pearls modern meaning and edge. Far from Park Avenue, fashionable women of all ages are throwing on strands of pearls with everything from black lace cocktail dresses to blue jeans and white T-shirts.

From the concert stage to the red carpet, British singer Rita Ora has used a smattering of different-sized pearls to create youthful yet ethereal hair accessories. Singer-songwriter and beauty mogul Rihanna rocks pearls with sexy multi-strand collars and layers upon layers of matinee-length strands. Actresses Emma Stone and Lupita Nyong’o have added luster beyond their accessories, wearing pearl-covered gowns for black-tie events.

Actress Jessica Alba has been photographed many times wearing pearl earrings. From decidedly modern black pearl-drop earrings to a pair of hanging gold chains punctuated with small luminescent pearls to front-and-back bauble pearl studs, Alba proves that pearl earrings transition seamlessly from day to night.

Whether you prefer the iconic five-strand pearl necklace Audrey Hepburn wore in Breakfast at Tiffany’s or Kate Middleton’s funky white pearl lariat, there are many trendy ways to wear pearls now. For a preppy look, headbands, hair clips and other hair accessories are getting the spotlight. For a more avant-garde approach, pearls are being used as accents in art-inspired sculptural earrings. The unique shapes and textures of baroque pearls make the perfect accessories for a free-spirited boho style. For traditionalists looking for a twist on a classic, the Gucci loafer received an update with pearl-studded heels.

But perhaps the final word on pearls came, with fitting simplicity, a half-century ago from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. “Pearls,” she said, “are always appropriate.”

Freshwater or saltwater, natural or cultured, Tahitian or Akoya, pearls inspire a love that spans generations.