Fringe Benefits
Photo credit: @neimanmarcus & @oscardelarenta
Jewelry that dances
Tassel and fringe have held sway for centuries. Back in ancient Egypt, the adornments crossed over from the textile industry into the realm of personal accoutrement. Made of silk, they were considered opulent statements to be worn by the highest-ranking individuals—including King Tutankhamun, who was buried with an assortment of tasseled jewelry.
The look came and went for hundreds of years, enjoying a golden period during Art Deco days when flappers’ dropped waistlines, plunging necklines, and shorter hair demanded longer tassel pendants and earrings. For the 1974 film The Great Gatsby, which revisited the Jazz Age, Cartier supplied the tasseled jewels that brought the characters Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker to life.
Except for a brief respite during the minimalist ’90s, tassels and fringe never truly left the scene. These days, they’re hanging in delicate threads from gold chains, pearl strands or metal frames. Swaying gracefully and capturing light with every head turn, wrist bend, or finger tap. There’s just something in the way they move.
Pearls of Wisdom
Designer Samira Sizdahkhani’s obsession with Tahitian South Sea pearls began more than a decade ago while she was working as a stylist in Los Angeles. Her stretch bracelet featuring rose-gold threads unexpectedly showcases the pearls’ natural beauty.
Fringe Bracelet With Pink Freshwater Pearls, $650 at Samira 13
A Good Hang
This handmade fringe pendant dangles from a sterling-silver chain and reveals a rose-tone heart pattern. It’s available at Atlanta-based Worthmore Jewelers, a 26-year-old shop that’s been named Coolest Store in America by InStore Magazine.
Handmade Heart Fringe Necklace,* $399 at Worthmore Jewelers
*This item is sold out
On the Fringe
Crafted from silver-tone brass, these bold drop earrings from Isabel Marant harken back to the last days of disco. They’re equally suitable for a casual dinner date or glamming it up on the dance floor.
Isabel Marant Fringed Drop Earrings, $430 at Farfetch
Just Drop It
This versatile pendant boasts a diamond flower motif and satin finish. The tassel is handcrafted in Redlands, California, by family-owned Emerson Fine Jewelers.
Roberto Coin Princess Tassel Necklace With Diamond Accents, $299 at Emerson Fine Jewelry
String Theory
This 18k ring mesmerizes with a swishy diamond-topped tassel and a band wrapped in Creative Director Steven Lagos’ signature beading. The Caviar Gold collection also includes a matching tassel necklace and earrings.
18k “Caviar Gold” Tassel Diamond Ring, $2,350 at Lagos
Hanging From a Thread
Pavé diamond fringe adds playful sparkle to this white-gold necklace on a 17-inch chain. The stunner’s available at Siebke Hoyt, serving the jewelry needs of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, since 1889.
Gabriel & Co. Diamond Fringe Necklace, $2,299 at Siebke Hoyt
*This item is sold out.
Pulling Strings
Glass-bead tassels and clip-on backs give these upbeat earrings a retro feel. They’re made in the US by the house of Oscar de la Renta, whose late founder used to say, “Fashion is only fashion once a woman puts it on.”
Oscar de la Renta Short Beaded Tassel Clip-On Earrings, $350 at Neiman Marcus
Common Thread
These flirty hoop earrings, featuring diamond-encrusted, blackened gold, have lots of movement. They’re made by Oster Jewelers, a boutique just north of Denver.
Oster Collection Diamond Fringe Hoops, $17,500 at Oster Jewelers
Editor: Gail Goldberg
Wordsmith/Curator: Maryann LoRusso
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