Fashion Classics: The ultimate guide to Pearls



We all know the beauty of shiny little objects. As a child, we've all been attracted by tiny pieces glistening in the sunlight. One's eyes will always be looking at the source of the light, reflected in the creations, made in co-operation with both human and nature. All those aspects, of what we like to call "beauty", are captured in this one single article: a pearl.


The pearl, is the perfect symbol of elegance and refinement.
People have searched for pearls for thousands of years. Mongolians believed the water they used to boil their pearls in, would give them extra strength and great powers. People in India used the pearl as some kind of talisman. The Romans used their pearls as a symbol of power, wisdom and above all: Luck
I just think they're very VERY pretty...

the now following paragraph contains a 'highly scientific' explanation on the process of creation of a pearl. If you do not want to be bored by my endless monologues feel free to jump to the next paragraph to read my view on pretty pearls...
Pearls are created in the shells of several molluscs (species living in a shell, oysters for example). The inside of the shell is always shiny and has the same gleam as a pearl. The creature living inside the shell creates these shiny layers as a mantle to protect itself. When something like a grain of sand, enters the shell, it will be covered in a shiny layer to protect the creature inside the shell. Year by year, layer by layer will be added to this grain of sand, making it bigger and bigger. Eventually this little glittering bulb is what we call: a pearl. This process takes years and because of this, pearls can take on enormous proportions. The biggest pearl ever is about the size of a basketball. Natural pearls are very rare and far from perfectly round. They're often very rough and uneven. Because of their rarity,  one natural pearl often cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. That's why people started to create ways to insert little pieces of dirt into various sorts of shells, to create a perfectly round pearl. 

The western tradition of using pearls as jewelry started around the 15th century. Pearls  had to be found accidentally inside a shell. Therefor they were very rare and only aristocratic and royal people could afford them. People like the wives of the Russian tsars often wore pearls around her neck, her wrist in her ears and on her crown. In the late 19th century people started to find out how to "create" pearls and more and more of these "semi-natural" pearls were made. It became more and more affordable to obtain a pearl neckless. Because of the great depression, the pearl devalued rather quickly which explains the increasing populairity of the pearl neckless during the thirties and fourties. These necklaces with relatively cheaper pearls, became longer and longer. The fake plastic pearl also made an appearance. These pearls were often hard to tell apart from real pearls. And by the time of the 1950's almost every housewife had a pearl necklace, fake or real.

There are certain types of pearl necklaces. The appropriate length of the neckless depends on the occasion...

The key to wearing pearls is: simplicity. Keep your outfit simple and elegant. 
(Normally I would say: "One can never really be overdressed". But in this case, I'm wrong!)
Of course the painting of the russian princess below is lovely, but those times are over! You don't want to be looking like a christmas tree, so try finding a plain dress or suit with no further decorations and preferably in one color. Black is (as always, like DUUH!) the best option, the contrast with the white pearls will make them look even whiter. Don't wear any other jewelry while wearing pearls. Of course you don't always have to wear pearls around your neck. You can wear them as earrings, as a bracelet, anything as long as you keep it simple. Be sure to keep the focus around the pearls and absolutely nothing else. Another tip for the necklace : watch out with low-cut dresses! People will be staring at your neck AND cleavage. Because of the pearls, of course ;D. Now we dont't want them to see your entire "bustier" so keep them safely tucked in...


Now in my opinion, the pearl necklace is made for the more older woman (I mean the non-teenage ones...). In your twenties and thirties you could try the pearly look, but only to very formal occasions. But even then, there will be a high risk of being overdressed. The secret to rocking this "pearl -look" comes with the years. It's much like the pearl itself. When you wear the pearl around your neck, the touch of your skin will gradually make the pearl shine brighter. The longer you wear your pearls, the prettier they get. The older you get, the better this "pearl-look" will suit you. In your forties the time will be ripe to purchase yourself a pearl neckless. In my opinion every woman above forty should be in possession of a pearl neckless. You can even start wearing pearls in your everyday life. Using for a simple collar-necklace, for example. It will give you a very refined look, without overdoing it...



(click on the images to enlarge)






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