Hot Spring/Summer 2016 Trend: Lace Jewellery

May 18, 2016

By Katerina Perez

9 min read

What could be a more seductive than understatement? What is more attractive: the openly nude body or its veiled outline? A little translucence always leaves room for the imagination, it fascinates and attracts the gaze, lends itself to the most trivial together with femininity and romanticism. Designers have turned to various types of lace to create this effect in the spring-summer season. Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, Celine, Balenciaga and other fashion houses have boldly decorated hems and necklines on flowing silk dresses with lace, and tops with netting and sheer fabric inserts.

Fashion designers can be called art folk. In handling rolls of fabric, they imagine in fine details the finished outfit, in the very same way that jewellers, having picked up only a handful of gemstones, manage to dream up a unique piece of jewellery. Many fashion gurus admit that the material sometimes becomes the source of inspiration for the entire collection. And this in vogue trend for lace inspired me to make a selection of jewels for this gallery which displays how fashion trends are reflected in the art of jewellery.

Could a subtle, almost aerial view of a fabric be encapsulated in metal? Well, to achieve the affect of a visual lightness, jewellery designers have adopted various techniques, starting with perforating the surface of gold for ornamentation, as with the Carrera Y Carrera earrings, or laser cut gold, as done by Alia Mouzannar for earrings, as well as the filigrée finishing technique that the Eleuterio brand specialises in. The Russian brand Alexander Arne launched a jewellery collection in which the pieces resemble bejewelled lace. The items are made of a variety of elements – butterflies, snowflakes and brand logos, that are linked together and all encrusted with diamonds. No matter the method used to achieve the desired effect on the jewellery, the end result of all the brands has been similar: they created delicate and romantic jewels.

Alexander Arne

Alexander Arne

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen

Chanel

Chanel

De Beers

De Beers

Althea

Althea

Chaumet

Chaumet

Autore

Autore

Mouzannar

Mouzannar

Buccellati

Buccellati

Carrera Y Carrera

Carrera Y Carrera

Casa reale

Casa reale

Celine

Celine

Chopard

Chopard

Dionea Orcini

Dionea Orcini

Faberge

Faberge

Lalique

Lalique

Givenchy

Givenchy

Fei Liu

Fei Liu

Garrard

Garrard

Sutra

Sutra

Jewellery Theatre

Jewellery Theatre

Balenciaga

Balenciaga

John Rubel

John Rubel

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton

Maria Kovadi

Maria Kovadi

Piaget

Piaget

Inbar

Inbar

Tiffany&Co

Tiffany&Co

Chaumet

Chaumet

Messica

Messica

The Cannes Film Festival: Chopard Presented Two New High Jewellery Collections

continue reading

Essential Passion: The Artistic Pursuits of Mehragin Rahmati of Mergin Jewelry 

Jewellery can be thoughtful and insular, or it can be effusive and bold and full of character that makes it stand out from the crowd. I would put the colourful and charismatic creations of Mehragin Rahmati into the latter camp because of their attention-grabbing silhouettes, unusual structures, and confident mineral palettes.

by Katerina Perez

Maestro of Masterpieces: New High Jewels in the Picchiotti Classics Collection

Ahead of this year’s Couture show in Las Vegas, Picchiotti has revealed some of the latest additions to its high jewellery repertoire, including new suites in the Picchiotti Classics collection.

by Sarah Jordan

Reasons to Shop: The Moments that Demand a Fresh Jewellery Purchase 

There's no rule that says you need a reason to buy a new piece of jewellery, but sometimes, a little encouragement makes the decision even more exciting. If you're looking for a playful excuse to book your next jewellery appointment, here are a few irresistible reasons to treat yourself.

by Hirshi Sujanti

Grecian Glamour: The Designers Preparing to Spotlight Greek Style at JCK Las Vegas

Recently, I was approached by the organisers of a special ‘Greek mission’ who are supporting 11 independent designers and brands as they seek to make their mark at JCK Las Vegas from June 6-9, 2025. Below, I would like to introduce you to each of the businesses participating in this incredible showcase of Greek design, ingenuity and craftsmanship.

by Katerina Perez

Naked Attraction: The Best High Jewellery of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival 

Here’s a rundown of some of the best Cannes jewellery looks from the 78th annual festival (May 13-24), including the likes of Dakota Johnson, Angelina Jolie, and Natalie Portman, who all make striking jewellery the star of their ensembles

by Sarah Jordan

In Conversation: Discussing Paraiba — The Legacy of a Color with Vogue Singapore

The conversation encouraged both myself and Kevin Ferreira, my co-author, to recall exactly why we wrote Paraiba: The Legacy of a Color, and I am pleased to share more with you below

by Katerina Perez

Semi-Precious vs Precious Gemstones: Why the Old Labels No Longer Work

I can’t count the number of times I’ve asked myself: what really sets so-called precious and semi-precious stonesapart? Is it their rarity? Colour? Durability? Value? Or is it simply tradition—an outdated hierarchy we’ve inherited without question

by Katerina Perez

Larger than Life: New Mineral Masterpieces and Global Adventures with Margot McKinney 

Let’s take a closer look at the pieces and places that have helped to shape the Margot McKinney brand over the last 12 months, including the rather sensational Marina, Aurora and Bloem necklaces

by Katerina Perez

Male Adornment: The Evolution of Men’s Jewellery from the 1400s Until Today

Men's jewellery is often overlooked, yet its history is both rich and cyclical. Over the past six centuries, the popularity of male adornments has fluctuated, reflecting shifts in fashion, status, and cultural values. Here, Amanda Triossi examines the reasons behind male jewellery, along with its periods of abundance and decline.

by Amanda Triossi

Perfect Proposal: The Top 10 Engagement Ring Mistakes to Avoid 

The moment you start thinking about proposing, everything shifts. Ordinary things become significant: dinner out, a walk in the park, a glance at their jewellery box. And then comes "the ring": a symbol of love, yes, but also a silent spokesperson for everything you feel and hope for. No pressure, right?

by Claire Roberts

Couture Show 2025: The Top 10 Debutants Heading to Las Vegas 

The much anticipated Couture Show will return to Wynn Las Vegas from June 4-8, 2025, shining a spotlight on established design talent, new creatives, and international brands that are vying for attention on the global stage. Just like in previous years, I am focusing my attention on the debutants

by Katerina Perez

Designing the Future: Revealing the Winners of the Katerina Perez x Osmium Institute Design Contest

What a ride it has been, witnessing such pure creative energy and original thinking, especially with a material as rare and futuristic as osmium

by Katerina Perez

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Legacy of Love:The Dreamlike Jewels of Emirati Designer Mariyeh Ghelichkhani

During our meeting in Dubai, we spoke about the importance of family, the sweetness of finding joy through creativity, and the ability to translate dreamy visions and deep feelings into wearable pieces…

by Katerina Perez

Jewels Katerina Perez Loves

Continue Reading

Writing Adventures:Co-Authoring the Book

Paraiba: The Legacy of a Color

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.