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| ‘Kaufman House’ by Slim Aarons |
Sunbathing under a pastel-coloured parasol wearing cat’s-eye shades, a high-waisted bikini and sporting perfectly coiffed hair… it sounds like a 1950s dream but was it reality in California’s Palm Springs all those years ago? The name alone – Palm Springs – conjures up hazy images of cocktail glasses clinking, big smiles and shimmering azure swimming pools. The style was glamorous, colourful and feminine. The women were beautiful, their look was timeless. The jewellery was bold, sweet in colour and made from materials such as Lucite and Bakelite, teamed with faceted glass and rhinestones.
Fast forward to today and a contemporary Palm Springs look has landed for spring/summer 2011. The sugar sweet ‘it’-colours of the trend – egg shell blue, cool mint green, peach, rose pink and buttery yellow – clash with polished metals, contrasting shapes and an edgier style.
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| ’Trapeze’ earrings by Merle O’Grady |
Leading the pack is jewellery designer du jour Merle O’Grady, with her aptly named ‘Poolside’ collection. Her smart take on the colours and materials of 50s costume jewellery has appeal to everyone; it’s wearable, it’s eye-catching and the fashion pack love it. Key pieces which channel the Palm Spring look include Merle’s pink Trapeze earrings and purple Crystal Spike necklace.
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| ’Spike’ necklace by Merle O’Grady |
With a softer look, Lucy Hutchings’ must-have Coral Tassel earrings are a luxe combination of cream rope and smooth Swarovksi coral beads. Teamed with a sweetheart neckline and a dash of black eyeliner, they’re ideal for the move from sun lounger to sunset cocktails.
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| ’Bonbon’ bracelet by Laura Tabor |
Laura Tabor’s yummy ‘Bonbon’ bracelet looks good enough to eat, with its bubblegum-inspired design. Crafted using dyed jade and with a lovely attention to detail from the sweet-shaped clasp, Laura’s bracelet gives the contemporary Palm Springs look a softer, girly edge that any 50s teen would love.
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| Floral Lucite bangle by Alexis Bittar |
Attention to detail makes designer Alexis Bittar one of New York’s best-loved imports. His hand-carved Lucite designs play on retro themes, adding in Swarovski crystal studding, on-trend colours and contrasting textures. This year’s Rope Drop earrings, Forget-me-not necklace and Flora cuffs are the ultimate Palm Springs jewels with a modern twist – perfect for city girls who want a luxe edge to their costume jewellery.
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| Stack rings from Topshop |
And of course we can’t forget the high street. Always fast to pick up on any trend, high street stores have already started working the Palm Springs look into their jewellery collections. Topshop’s stack of semi-precious stone rings features a carved jade rose and smooth cream agate stone. An affordable way of putting the spring into Palm Springs and for less than £10. Lovely!
