A beautifully styled pendant is like the last missing piece needed to complete the puzzle of your super-chic and super-unique look. With a necklace chain tailored to the perfect length to suit your neckline and a pendant design exquisitely capturing the impeccable vibe you’re going for, a truly effective pendant necklace will elevate your look to the maxx. Or, as it turns out, to the min—if that’s the look you want. Avoid a pen-don’t with Deutsch Fine Jewelry’s fabulous new pendant styling guide, molded and shaped by summer 2022’s hottest styles, like the clean girl aesthetic and the spiritual girl look. Whether you’re looking to achieve minimalist sophistication or maximalist charm, our summer pendant guide is here to keep you in the clear!
Less is More
Many fashion trends in recent years have been shaped by idealized, daydreamed visions of the past. Shaped by nostalgia and a vision of history glimpsed through rose-tinted glasses, cottagecore arrived on the scene first. Braided hairstyles, prairie dresses, and romantic milk-maid tops dominated the fashion world, crafting a dreamy, pastoral look that made Little House on the Prarie cool, somehow. After Bridgerton aired, a similar phenomenon happened and regencycore descended. Empire waist dresses and satin pearl chokers exploded in popularity. Trends like these have emerged from a world of high fantasy, which, while romantic and enchanting, sometimes strayed a little too far from reality. Plus, the giant organza sleeves were simply getting too hot! Just in time for soaring temperatures, summer 2022’s hottest new look has done away with the dramatic swathes of fabric and puffy sleeves that defined previous trends. Welcome to the stage: the clean girl aesthetic, a new wave of carefully curated and highly polished fashion looks that values effortless femininity above all else. [Cottagecore exits, pursued by a bear.]
The clean girl aesthetic aims to simplify and elevate, taking a neutral palette and staple closet pieces and pairing them with sleek updos, natural makeup, and classic, minimalist jewelry. As Gen Z’s pared-down version of the New Look, this aesthetic is all about finding balance and saying more with less. Combine sweet and sporty for the ultimate clean girl look, by pairing a sporty athleisure outfit with a fun pair of dressy sandals and a classic diamond pendant. Introduce an element of femininity to this look with a heart-shaped pendant like Norman Silverman’s Diamond Heart Shape Solitaire Necklace. Available in multiple carat weights ranging from delicate and dainty to sizable and spectacular, this white diamond necklace features a stunningly simple heart-shaped diamond pendant hanging from a 16-inch 18k white gold chain. At this length, the diamond pendant falls perfectly at the hollow of the throat, creating a stark line between the necklace and the lower necklines of athleisure pieces and low-cut button-downs that populate clean girl aesthetic looks.
For our clean girls who prefer slightly less sparkle, we recommend pairing Mikimoto’s 3 Akoya Pearls Pendant with light jeans and a crisp white shirt. Set in 18k yellow gold, this pearl pendant features a center 7.5 mm Akoya A+ pearl flanked by two 5.5mm Akoya A+ pearls on either side in a refreshing interpretation of the three-stone design. Adjustable at 18 inches, the length of this pearl necklace means that it sits elegantly at the clavicle, adding a soft touch of sophistication to your perfectly manicured clean girl aesthetic outfit.
More is More
Alongside the minimalist clean girl look, however, exist other equally popular styles. Bohemian and spiritual-inspired looks, emulate the drama and fun of fashion trends like cottagecore and regencycore while also expressing deeply important spiritual beliefs. As cultural awareness has spread thanks to platforms like Tiktok and Instagram, New Age practices, as well as traditional cultural, religious, or spiritual practices previously unfamiliar to some, have received the spotlight. The influence of healing crystals, tarot reading, magic, and folk traditions shape the enchanting bohemian spiritual girl look, which combines flowy fabrics and vibrant prints with rough-cut natural gemstones, amulets, and celestial jewelry. With sources of inspiration ranging from the stars and moon above to Stevie Nicks’ particularly witchy ‘70s wardrobe to medieval religious icons and amulets, modern bohemian jewelry draws from the past and present to craft a uniquely out-of-time look—one that, despite its definitely Earthly inspirations, appears almost otherworldly, fantastical.
Channel the mystery and magic of fantasy worlds in your bohemian summer look with voluminous beachy waves, loud patterns, crochet details, and gigantic sunhats, finished off with eccentric and eclectic 18k yellow gold jewelry layered to perfection. Stack your rings, layer your bracelets and bangles, and complete the picture with an enchanting Temple St. Clair pendant. As a designer, Temple St. Clair draws inspiration from Renaissance art, heavenly bodies, ancient magic, and centuries of fine Italian goldsmithing, resulting in a signature brand aesthetic that perfectly toes the line between fantasy and reality. Known for their amulet pendants, Temple St. Clair produces ethereal, 18k yellow gold pieces that radiate magic and mystery and just a wink of playfulness. A perfect example of this bright, mischievous perspective can be found in the Temple St. Clair Moonface Pendant, a finely polished rock crystal pendant carved with the likeness of the mythical “man in the moon”. The moon grins impishly in this 18k yellow gold pendant, his cheeky smile lit up by a trio of tiny diamond accents.
A more botanical option among Temple St. Clair’s bewitching pendant designs can be found in the Temple St. Clair Diamond Dragonfly Amulet. Set in the brand’s world-famous Florentine 18k yellow gold, this bohemian amulet features a clear rock crystal core held by an 18k yellow gold cradle. Along the front of the amulet, a delicate dragonfly takes flight, studded with glittering pavé diamonds. We promise you’ll be soarin’ and flyin’ with this dragonfly pendant; there’s not a star in heaven that you won’t reach!
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