Traditionally, we’ve aimed to match jewelry with clothing styles. However, fashion icons like Rihanna are now embracing “contrasting cute,” seeking strong visual contrasts. Their fashion sensitivity is undeniable – this approach makes jewelry more eye-catching and emphasizes personal style, definitely worth learning from!
After the success of “A Dream of Splendor,” Liu Yifei’s rose-patterned dresses became the latest trend. Observers noted that her chosen print dresses have an Impressionist style, with irregular, blurred floral patterns creating a romantic atmosphere. The fashion world quickly caught on, giving birth to the “Monet Garden” trend.
Floral dresses have always been a summer staple, but this “Monet Garden” style is more wearable. Unlike small floral prints that can appear rustic, or abstract florals that can be visually expanding, it possesses the haziness and tranquility of Monet’s paintings, exuding a gentle, romantic vibe.
Interestingly, when Liu Yifei showcases this aesthetic “Monet Garden” style, it doesn’t come across as overly sweet. Instead, it radiates a youthful energy of an individualistic girl. Look closely, and you’ll notice her clever use of metal hoop earrings and chain jewelry to “reduce the sugar” in her overall look, demonstrating that even the passionate “Yellow Rose” (her character’s nickname) hasn’t lost herself in love.
This “contrasting cute” jewelry pairing technique isn’t exclusive to the “Yellow Rose.” New York socialite Olivia Palermo has also mastered it well. Instead of hoop earrings, she opts for more assertive and rugged metal studded bracelets and large chain necklaces to pair with the “Monet Garden” style, creating a strong contrast with the soft, sweet floral dress.
Olivia expertly handles large jewelry pieces, always finding a subtle balance with her outfits. While floral elements have always been her favorite, she consistently chooses powerful metal jewelry designs to break the “little woman” stereotype. Whether necklaces or bracelets, she aims for these shining focal points to temper the softness of florals, showcasing a subtle strength within softness.
If Olivia’s bold jewelry feels too overwhelming, don’t worry. You can achieve the same “contrasting cute” effect by reducing the weight and choosing some modern, metallic designs. Popular chain necklaces or snake chains, when layered, can be very effective.
For smaller “Monet Garden” style pieces with less floral coverage, basic styles can perfectly balance hardness and softness. Tiffany‘s T series bracelets or even stacking a few sculptural rings can easily achieve the “contrasting cute” look.
Key takeaway: Jewelry pairing with the “Monet Garden” style emphasizes a sense of power. Punk or sculptural designs can do the job, as the metallic feel is needed to create a strong contrast with romantic florals. This achieves the chic effect demonstrated by the “Yellow Rose” – sweet with a cool edge.
Many jewelry brands’ Everyday collections can achieve this effect, such as Tiffany‘s T series, HardWear series, and the new Titan series; Cartier‘s Juste un Clou and Clash are also excellent, unique yet sharp; Chopard’s Ice Cube, Boucheron‘s Quatre, and Bvlgari‘s B.Zero 1 are all great choices. In short, you likely have a suitable piece in your jewelry box; you just might not have thought of pairing it with romantic florals before.
Deriving fashion trends from popular dramas isn’t exclusive to China; the Western world is equally obsessed with hit TV series. For instance, “Bridgerton,” which has been popular for the past two years, sparked the “Regency Core” trend.
This Netflix series seems to have taken over the influential power of “Downton Abbey,” bringing the fictitious “Regency era” style back to the forefront of fashion. From celebrity street styles to major fashion week runways, it’s everywhere.
This show has been recommended multiple times (revisit “Show Your Love with Jewelry: This Time-Travel Drama Gives You Great Tips!” & “‘Bridgerton’ Prequel is Hot, the ‘Diamond Queen’ Teaches You How to Make Vintage Jewelry Look Trendy!”).
However, while we previously introduced the jewelry styles of the “Regency era,” the current popular “Regency Core” isn’t an exact replica. Yes, fashion is cyclical, but each “vintage revival” needs new creativity to be considered a new trend. So, there’s no need to dig up antique jewelry; “Regency Core” now favors modern minimalist jewelry!
This “Regency Core” trend focuses on puff sleeves, low necklines, corsets, and soft pastel colors. Celebrity stylist Alex Longmore offers professional guidance: “Regency Core is exciting; it’s full of femininity, bright and beautiful. But when imitating, try to choose only one or two signature pieces rather than replicating from head to toe, otherwise you’ll look like you’re cosplaying.”
Indeed, avoid piling on these elements. Fashion bloggers have provided excellent examples. Puff sleeve dresses are the star choice, as they’re easy to wear, suit various body types, and effectively conceal “toned arms.”
For jewelry, we should think outside the box and not blindly pursue vintage styles. Pearls were the most popular jewelry material back then, but now we want to create a “temporal distance.” Various materials like yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, and titanium are all good choices, especially those with mirror-like surfaces that create a futuristic effect.
Metal chain necklaces, sculptural earrings emphasizing linear beauty, and rings paired with puff sleeves can better create the trendy feel of “Regency Core.”
Many fashion enthusiasts have also chosen corsets, a more sensual element that requires a good figure. In “Regency Core,” corsets are worn for casual, everyday looks, aiming for effortless sexiness. Therefore, if you choose the intricate Georgian-style jewelry designs popular at the time, it would actually be quite incongruous. Instead, opt for more abstract, modernist-style jewelry to create a “visual contrast.”
Minimalist and geometric jewelry are great pairings, aiming to transcend time and create a mix of eras. The more classical the design, the more it should break away from the original setting, handling the opulent court style of the “Regency era” with effortless grace.
If you want to incorporate pearls, consider the currently popular baroque pearl designs, which are modern and unique, completely different from the delicate and dignified pearl necklaces popular in the “Regency era.”
The “Regency era” also popularized Rivière necklaces set with colorful gemstones, as these necklaces complemented the soft, bright colors of the period’s fashions. Interestingly, these antique necklaces pair well with modern wardrobes.
However, if you’re creating a “Regency Core” look, pairing it with antique jewelry might be too much. Since the clothing already has a strong courtly, vintage feel, it’s better to opt for minimalist jewelry pieces. Colored gemstones are fine, but the designs should be more modern. For example, Pomellato’s Nudo series or Bulgari’s Diva’s Dream series can satisfy the need for color-coordinated accessories.
Beyond these two hot fashion trends embracing “contrasting cute,” Hollywood celebrities have recently begun leading a new trend of pairing street style with classical jewelry, spearheaded by jewelry enthusiast Rihanna.
Just this month, Rihanna attended an event wearing a burgundy leather ensemble paired with regal red gemstone jewelry. The leather outfit, designed by Khaite and Manish Malhotra, featured oversized silhouettes and loose structures, embodying street style. Surprisingly, Rihanna didn’t opt for punk or rock-style jewelry favored by rappers, but instead chose three classically-styled pieces.
The opulent choker necklace, from Manish Malhotra’s fine jewelry collection, is set with vibrant rubies. This jewelry designer, with a background in theatrical costume design, expertly expresses drama. The large, uniquely-cut rubies are outlined with diamond lace decorations, exuding a strong Rococo style and extraordinary opulence.
Not content with just this, Rihanna also chose a rubellite tourmaline pendant necklace and ring designed by another Indian jewelry designer, Sabyasachi Mukherjee. The color scheme complements the overall look, while the modern design effectively bridges the “time gap” between the classical choker and the biker outfit. Undeniably, Rihanna’s understanding of fashion is a step ahead of most.
Zoe Kravitz also joined this trend. She has long been an antique jewelry enthusiast, particularly favoring Georgian-style pieces. Her engagement ring is a vintage-inspired creation by Jessica McCormack, a New Zealand designer known for her signature Georgian-era buttercup settings.
This technique involved setting gemstones in closed-back mounts with colored metal foil to enhance the stone’s color intensity and uniformity. Jessica McCormack combines this setting technique with more modern, abstract jewelry designs. The button-style flat bottom settings sit closer to the skin, offering more comfort.
Zoe Kravitz favors these modern designs with vintage flair for both red carpet events and daily activities, finding they pair well with street-style looks. When combined with softly glowing rose-cut diamonds, it creates a perfect combination, masterfully capturing relaxed luxury.
Giovanna Engelbert, Swarovski’s Creative Director, is another antique jewelry enthusiast. She particularly loves Retro Style jewelry popular in the mid-20th century, personally demonstrating and promoting these pieces on Instagram, effectively becoming a popular influencer. Despite collecting exaggerated, flamboyant large pieces, she always pairs them with casual wear, bringing a light-hearted, unique personal style to the opulent jewelry of that extravagant era.
As you can see, even street style can incorporate classical beauty, emphasizing “contrasting cute.” We’ve long pursued harmony between jewelry and clothing, but it’s time to shake things up and make styling more interesting. Creating a strong contrast between jewelry and the overall look can sometimes highlight both elements better, don’t you think?
It’s time to change our styling approach, friends. Say goodbye to “harmonious uniformity” and embrace some “contrasting cute.” So many celebrities and trendsetters have shown us the way!
Don’t hesitate, step out of your comfort zone and try something different. It’s also a great opportunity to give the treasures in your jewelry box more chances to shine!
Monet Garden Chic Meets Vintage Heiress: The Surprising Trend of ‘Contrasting Cute’ in Jewelry Pairings
Tweet
