From oversized bangles to huge hoop earrings to a mountain of gold chains, we’ve certainly seen it all when it comes to large over-the-top jewelry. Designers send costume-y pieces down the runway, but in reality, we see a lot of these trends carry over to the street scene. Celebrities such as Beyonce, Rhianna and Gwen Stefani are often seeing rocking huge earrings while out and about. Upscale retailers such as Nordstroms and Blooomingdales stock a wide variety of this type of jewelry. Even Target is in on the trend, offering statement rings and oversized bangles to the masses for a fraction of the cost. So what’s all the fuss about?

It’s about getting noticed. It’s about making a statement. It’s about defying the previous rules of fashion and pushing the envelope in terms of how much is too much. Bold jewelry was very popular in 2008, with everything from neon geometric shapes to layer-upon-layer of chains. Today, we continue to see everyone from pop icons to movie stars to college kids wearing this fashionable trend.

The great thing about bold jewelry is that it’s meant to be exaggerated. It’s meant to have a sort of costume appeal to it. Therefore, many of the pieces available are inexpensive, simply a replica of the real thing. Since all it takes is one bold piece to make your outfit stand out, most anyone can afford to get in on this fun trend.

If you’re a little wary about wearing statement jewelry, start with something low-key like a giant cocktail ring, which can add a whole lot of pizzazz to a basic outfit. Work your way up to Cleopatra style bracelets or arm cuffs, if you’re daring. Bold jewelry is meant to grab attention, so just be confident, and let your jewelry sets do the rest.

Fashion in the 80’s broke the mold and took big steps away from traditional styles. There was big hair, accessories galore, nautical themes and layered clothing as essential components. This year’s runway was full of all these components. You’ve got the nautical trend, layering tees, the bangles, and the bigger your hair is the better. We see it all the time, styles come back decades later it odd haunting forms that are incorporated into current styles creating a nostalgic feeling from yesteryear. People make emotional connections with their fashion and it holds fond memories of special or not so special parts of or lives.

Leather, metal, chains and black were dominant in the punk scene of fashion. I’m not talking runway fashion now I mean what you saw on the streets, what musicians and teenagers wore. Well now it’s coming out on the runway and it is smoking hot. On Elle’s website you can find 80’s style that showed up on the runway for fall fashion week. Another trend was work wear for women featuring broad shoulders, forgiving fabrics, the masculine pant suit with a modern look and bold hairstyles.

The designers are targeting a market that is slow right now and must make clothing that working woman can wear. By giving women the style of clothing they desire for work the purchase of the clothing is justified as a necessity for work. The emphasis of evening gowns and cocktail dresses just don’t appeal to the working woman who spends more time at home now. It is power dressing in the fullest, a women can show her sense of power through her attire. Demanding attention through your look, respect with your boldly defined eyes and defying gravity with your big hair it is a fierce look. You can see an example of the look in the photo I have posted courtesy of the mindfood website covering the 1980s power dress trend.

The empowerment of women began in the sixties when they strayed away from the safe dress and threw on a chic short dress and a pair of go-go boots. Then in the seventies the trend went further to become more risqué and the population started fighting for their rights. Now the eighties are when the clothing scene really took a twist with bold new style and the masculine pant suit. Of course when Madonna threw on the pant suit the trend was really set off. Fall fashion week was real interesting this year with the jump back into the 80’s with a modern twist.

It is cool to bring back the styles but the designers took it to the next level by adding a modern flair. I know that the spring fashion included a lot of pastels and the summer look kind of went back to the nautical theme. The nautical theme was one that was popular in the eighties as well. You can look at some old Gucci pieces circa 1980’s such as the classic doctor bag in one of my other hubs and find the colors to be of nautical decent. Then some of the summer styles that are no longer in the boutiques for 2009 were also reminiscent of the nautical colors of navy blue, red, and white. Of course white is just a classic color that will never go out of style but red and navy blue are not always as popular as they are when the nautical theme comes into play.

All in all I like what I’m seeing in fashion trends and I anxiously wait to see what comes next. The eighties had some great pieces but there were also some awful trends that came with it. It is as if the designers are fixing the bad to make a new 80’s era of clothing that we can all be proud to wear. I welcome the past and future fashion trends the designers got to keep it interesting. They are doing it in a big way. There are so many talented designers out there with so many ideas. We really are lucky to live in an age where there is so much diversity in our choices of clothing.

Express Your Individualism with Contemporary Jewellery

In our age of mass media, mass consumption and mass consciousness being different is not an easy task. Contemporary jewellery has been for a while predominately minimalist, using smooth, curved lines to create a polished look that embodies the form of industrial mass consumerism. But this is changing; when this year is remembered it will be for change, development and progression. Not many months have passed and yet many events have taken place that have changed the course of history, stimulating global awareness in a way that is itself a cause for hope. Jewellery trends for 2009 are riding the wave of this change, fashion has always demonstrated dominant ideology and this year is no different, except that the ideology has changed. We are arriving at a mind set that has natural beauty and self worth at its heart; this is the phoenix that has arisen from the flames of global discord.

Catwalk Styles

Look no further than the catwalk and you can see the importance that is being given to symbolic adornments that glamorise and accentuate the strength and uniqueness of us as individuals. The bottom line in these uncertain times is that we must empower ourselves. Statement necklaces, long earrings and multiple bangles can be used to achieve this; they get us noticed as creative individuals and dramatically show that we have something to say. Not many of us can afford or would wish to wear the spectacular but impractical styles flaunted on the catwalk in our everyday lives. But we can bring the vibe of haute couture and the realism that characterises 2009 to our wardrobes with key statement pieces, so that we can visually demonstrate that we are moving with the times, that we are the embodiment of contemporary thinking.

Black Jewellery

There are a number of trends that are emerging; the first involves black and silver jewellery. This trend is a good one to develop because black jewellery can be worn on all occasions, you can dress it up or dress it down. Buying striking black jewellery allows you to draw together many different outfits and you can keep the key vibe, big impressions, without making a huge impression on your wallet. An extra bonus is that black jewellery is not going to go out of fashion, invest in a quality piece and you will be wearing it for many years to come.

Quality Over Quantity

Quality is another thing to come back into mainstream fashion, the throw away culture of the 90’s is being outmoded by products that last far longer than a season. It is no longer stylish to have many disposable pieces of jewellery, the focus on being green has now extended to our jewellery boxes. Mother nature is once again being recognised as the greatest designer of all. Natural, floral and leaf form jewellery are now considered highly desirable as they are a symbolic indication that you are ethically inspired. Similarly the focus is on natural stones such as onyx, agate and mother of pearl. All of which are relatively inexpensive, but tick the contemporary ethical and natural boxes.

So get ready for a new beginning, individualism is back. Express yours!