I remember my grandmother in the following way – auburn hair, cuffed blue jeans, high heels and her pearls mowing the lawn! She owned a resort in the New York Catskills where we always spent our summers. This was the summer of 1966 and my grandfather had just passed away so the lawn mowing became her responsibility.
Those pearls were part of her “go to” uniform. She was never without them. I once asked her why she wore them all the time. She answered that it made her feel like a lady. I guess that’s how pearls made everyone feel in the 50’s and 60’s – ladylike and demure. She passed away in 2000 at the age of 95 and I truly miss her every day.
So who wears pearls? Audrey Hepburn (down her back), Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga (on her face), Audrey Tautou, Michelle Obama, Queen Elizabeth I of England and of course, Coco Chanel.
Pearls are timeless, elegant, sophisticated and classic. They are also fun to wear.
There are many different ways to wear them; I find that a long strand of pearls is the most versatile.
If you have a long strand of pearls, wear it wrapped around your neck several times for a choker effect. I love to wear my necklace as a bracelet. They also look great mixed with gold chains or attach a pretty brooch or a pendant. I also like to mix my pearls with colored beads or stones, twist them in with the pearls to give a modern torsade effect.
However you wear them, they will look modern and fresh. I don’t go anywhere without my pearls!