STYLE EVOLUTION: Jewelry Trends in 2011





From the very first 'rocks' sported by early fashionistas the likes of Thelma Flinstone and her best friend Betty Rubble, jewelry has seen many a change. This article speaks to the latest & greatest of these ...

Peek Preview Jewelry Trends: Twenty-Eleven

Remember that old saying "less is more" . . . well it does not apply in the coming year!  The hottest trends in jewelry for the Spring 2011 season are the ones that make the biggest, boldest fashion statement.

 Spring 2011 - An interesting combination of both warm and cool tones

The colors designers have chosen for the spring season also make a bold statement.  They've created a unique intensity to color by cleverly combining complementary colors, those that are opposites on the color wheel.  These unique color combinations are nontraditional and combine unexpected warm and cool tones. Even Pantone's Color of the Year seems to be

hot & cold at the same time.



Color of the Year ...  Honeysuckle is a perfect post Winter pick-me-up

JEWELRY TRENDS FOR SPRING:

Stacked and Tangled Chains

Now it's are now very fashionable to have a mass of twisted jewelry around your wrist or neck. Remember how upsetting it used to be to get a kink in your necklaces or for them to become tangled? Well, no more!

 



 

 

Even if you choose not to tangle your jewelry together, stacking bangles with other bracelets, multiple rings, and multiple necklaces will also be very popular for the upcoming season.

 



 

Stacked and Layered Jewelry



'All Wrapped Up' Stacking Bracelets - IdaEstelle  on Etsy





Sterling Silver Beaded Stack Rings - LuckyStaar (L) and  FoxyGirlBoutique (R) on Etsy

Geode Jewelry

Crystals and gems are already starting to appear in costume jewelry rings and necklaces. By the time spring rolls around, geode jewelry is going to be on every fashionista's must-have jewelry list. Look for jagged cuts of gemstones and not the typical smoothed, sanded ones with rounded edges.  Check out Etsy to find a variety of crystal and gem geode jewelry including necklaces, pendants, earrings, rings, bracelets and brooches. 

Wisteria Charmed Stalactite Necklace - ErinGotz on Etsy

Feather Jewelry

Funky jewelry like feather earrings have been rapidly gaining popularity, but in the spring they are really going to start popping up everywhere!  I've already seen some bold, pheasant feather earrings out there that are long enough to brush your shoulders. Some designs are bright and colorful and some are toned down and neutral. JMHO, but as far as I'm concerned, Owlita is the best of the best.  Many Etsy sellers have been selling feather earrings for a while now, and the way I see it,  bethNOUVEAU stands out in a crowd.



Beautiful Feather Earrings by Owlita



Industrial Jewelry

Expect to see a lot of metal, spikes, and studs this spring. Alexander McQueen has skull drop earrings with a spike on the end for $285, and of course, Etsy has many talented jewelers who
design Industrial & Steampunk style pieces.  ClockworkZero has a real feel for this style, although her Etsy shop is currently on hiatus.

        Alexander McQueen Industrial-style Earrings                                    Industrial Pendulum by ClockworkZero

                                                                                                                           ~ Steampunk jewelry meets Dieselpunk ~

Remember, the Trend-setters of Spring 2011 are all about making a statement when it comes to jewelry. Choose bold pieces and don't be afraid to stack up your accessories or shy away from vibrant colors!



It's a Brand New Year at jQ jewelry designs ...



As I turn that last calendar page for 2010, I've imagined some special goals for myself as well as my business ...
jQ jewelry designs.

On a personal level, I want to maintain and grow strong relationships with those people that are most important to me, continue in the revelation that it is not material objects that make my world go 'round, and not gain back any of the relatively large amount of weight that I've lost over the past two years. It appears there are more Don'ts than there are Dos, but that's only a matter of semantics. I'm still moving towards a positive outcome.

And then there is the matter of setting business goals for jQ jewelry designs ...



Lake Hartwell


2010 was a very important year for my jewelry business; not as an online Shop on Etsy, but in the fact that I have been able to develop a presence in the real world ... the Brick and Mortar!





Katy Trail Gift Shop, St. Louis



I have a new line of handcrafted jewelry, named 'small pleasures', designed around vintage beads that has been selling quite well in my former hometown of St. Louis. There is a sprinkling of my sterling & gemstone designs from jQ jewelry designs available in these shops, but my entrance into the B & M world has been mainly due to beads with Provinance.





Missouri Botanical Gardens Gift Shop



And so I go about setting some priorities for 2011, both on and off Etsy . . .

~ Develope personal website as a wholesale source. Etsy has been disappointing for me the last half of the year, while sales have been growing offline.

~ Grow jQ jewelry designs in present Brick and mortar venues.

~ Online presence for 'small  pleasures', not necessarily on Etsy

~ Facebook business presence

~ Blog more often, and comment frequently on targeted  blogs of others

~ Utilize flickr more often. Buyers come from all sorts of places!

~ Maximize Etsy Opportunities

        - Increase listing of new items

        - Increase relisting activity for the for the first quarter

        - Promotional Frenzy   > Commit to spending five hours a week on these activities
                                            > Don't expect overnight success, but consider this form of
                                                  promotion as a long-term investment

~ Use materials I already own. I have a huge collection of precious metals, high quality gemstones, lampwork and vintage beads and components. Use em up!