Hannah Jackson|
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On the autumn/winter catwalks, we saw a wave of nostalgia and retro references, with plenty of all-black looks (thanks, Valentino) and high-octane eveningwear which came in the form of sheer dresses and separates. Jewellery played a key role in setting the tone, too: maximalist pieces of every description; sculptural earrings, vintage fine watches and bangles, were all trending.
At Saint Laurent’s autumn/winter show, we saw sheer evening looks in caramel and navy worn with open-toe heels and textured bags, finished with a stack of chunky bangles – sometimes as many as three on each arm. Meanwhile, DSquared2 showed high-impact all-black, 80s-inspired evening wear finished with a stack of five or six bangles up a single arm.
Bangles were styled with playful daytime looks – chunky cuffs with knitted cream twin sets and belted all-black looks were worn at Chanel and over slim knitted tops at Tory Burch, styled with knee-length vinyl skirts and point-toe pumps. Over at Fendi, stacked, studded bangles were styled with layered knitwear in navy, yellow and olive tones.
Jewellery designer Jessie Thomas believes a gold bangle is one of the most versatile pieces of jewellery you can own. “A plain gold bangle that fits well and you can leave on all the time is basically the best everyday piece you can own,” she says. “They are so easy to wear, work with and elevate every outfit and still feel fresh and modern even though they are one of the oldest jewellery designs in the world.”
Whether you are investing in one – or several – bangles to wear, there are plenty of options to consider away from the runway. Pandora’s sculptural medium-sized open gold-plated bangle looks great worn singularly or doubled up over a knit or oversized shirt; Thomas Sabo’s simple, minimal gold and silver cuff looks stunning with a long-sleeved knitted black midi dress and kitten heel boots. For something more impactful for the evening, YSSO’s recycled gold cuffs are a guaranteed conversation starter. It’s a small autumn outfit update that will make a big impression.
Alexia Karides, founder of YSSO, says: “Bangles can become a form of expression. We see huge demand for them as you can mix and match them differently according to your outfit or mood. We also find that paired stacks work well; for example, our bold studded bangles, which are sold as a pair on Net-a-Porter but can be worn separately if you wish. We also created the calypso bangles to form a set that melts into each other – they were designed to be facing one another but they too can be split. It’s all about giving the consumer the flexibility to buy into something that will be agile and allow them to be playful with their jewellery.”
Eliza Walter, founder of Lylie, adds: “Bangles are really having a moment. They are perfect in the winter months when paired with a big knit and rolled-up sleeves. The way they tinkle and chime as you move feels so chic and feminine.”
Amandine Lhoste
Alessandra Signorelli
Eva Thomas
