Staying on Top of Trends

Sandy Paluzzi
The Bead Peddler

I show my jewelry with two friends named Jean and Kathy.  Jean's jewelry is very classic, Kathy goes for stylized designs and I look for unusual beads to highlight.  Each one of us has a 'look' to our jewelry; we can tell who made what.  Our jewelry styles remain true to themselves year after year.  However, we still stay on top of the trends and incorporate them into our designs.

Staying on top of the trends is not hard, but it does require time.  The Pantone color chart is the gospel for color trends.  Bethany usually publishes this in her design column.   If you miss it here, just google Pantone's color chart for the appropriate season (e.g Pantone's color chart for fall 2008).  This color chart will also give you an idea of the season's clothing fashions. 

If you live in an urban/suburban area, you can visit the local department stores.  Cruise not just the jewelry aisles, but also the clothing departments.  What jewelry would you wear with the current clothing styles?  In addition to the department stores, visit  boutiques and turn on your tv.  The shopping networks are always showing the 'hot' jewelry designs.   

Now that you've done your homework. you have a good idea of the current colors, clothing styles and jewelry trends.  You can personalize this information with a combination of your design preferences and budgetary concerns.  If, for example, you have found a beautiful pendant you want to highlight, you will have to decide how to drape it around the neck.  Whether that pendant dangles from a silver chain, hangs from a few seed bead strands or  embellishes a plain organza ribbon is a choice that will take a trend and make it uniquely 'yours'.

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