Pearl Happy

PEARL HAPPY! By Johanna Lolax, GIA Pearls Diplomate

When Newbie Member Johanna Lolax told me of her expertise with pearls, I invited her to write a fashion article about the beauty, the luster, of one of the greatest accessories a gray-haired gal could wear. Let’s take a closer look at one of nature’s most beautiful gifts.

Those of us with pearly highlights in our hair know how to enhance our natural beauty. That’s why lots of us wear real pearls.

Pearls light up the face with reflected glory, something every woman will appreciate. But how to wear them? What does the well-dressed woman need in her pearl jewelry wardrobe?

Start with the classic pearl strand, and you can wear white even after Labor Day. The classic strand is sixteen to eighteen inches of brilliant white, 7-8mm pearls strung on natural silk thread, and knotted between each pearl. Choose pearls, cultured or natural, from at least the top 5% of the harvest for excellent luster and few blemishes, and you’re on your way to a fresh look.

I like to add matching pearl studs at least one size larger (the 8-9mm size is easy on the earlobes) for a big pop of light near my cheekbones. Pearl strands and studs together lend polish to business suits, sparkle with evening wear, and give those old jeans a dash of real panache.

Power up with big, bold choices if you like, choosing statement strands such as Michelle Obama’s double-collar of quality pearls. Don’t be afraid to experiment with 8-9mm pearls (about marble-size) or larger. They can go from the board room to the dining room, and are more affordable than ever thanks to advances in freshwater pearl farming technology.

Sick of old standards? Try out pearl strands in the new, natural colors, which reflect much more light than their dyed cousins. Iridescent choices such as lavender pearls look great with this season’s dark red and silver-gray outfits, peach-colored pearls always are gorgeous with brown, white, or green, and the brand-new silvery-blue tones go with everything from black, to white, to teal, navy, and beyond.

Follow new trends in pearl jewelry to wake up your look. How about a one-hundred inch pearl rope cascading down a soft sweater dress to lengthen your look, a sexy lariat-style pearl necklace for an evening out, and attractive chandelier-style earrings to dress up your pretty face? Don’t shy away from chunky pearl bracelets, either. They’re a great finishing touch, often available on stretchy thread or with toggle-style clasps for easy on-and-off action.

Still want more? Pearls can be strung with turquoise, silver, gold, gemstones, crystals, jade, and diamonds. They are available suspended from leather cords, woven into braided leather bracelets, and set into brooches of every imaginable style, such as crescent moons, flowers, dragonflies, and spiders.

There’s no limit. Anything you can do with diamonds you can do with pearls. There even are faceted pearls on the market now. Bouncy and fun, they look like luminous little golf balls. The classics never go out of style, and with a few good strands and some bold new trends in pearl jewelry, you can keep your look youthful.

Special Member Offer: Johanna has graciously offered all GGLG Members a 10% discount at her site www.tenderbeautypearls.com. And now she's extending it through February. So if you're going to start hinting for Valentine's Day, this is the place to get some love-ly ideas. Simply use the code GGLG when ordering.