Does This TikTok Show the Calm Before the ’00s Revival Jewellery Storm?

“I like your necklace,” my friend said, referring to my Beyond Bea chain with a little mother-of-pearl pendant that I never really take off.

“Oh, thanks!” I replied, surprised by the compliment as I was reminded that I’m now a person who wears a necklace almost every day. I’ve never considered myself a necklace girl, until the last six months.

Before 2022, every time I’d put on a necklace with any outfit; it just didn’t feel right. I felt as though it made the outfit look “too much”, like I’d tried to accessorise just for the sake of it, not because it looked good.

And then, somewhat abruptly, I started rocking necklaces and loving them. Pairing a chain with a dainty pendant necklace, sometimes adding in a colourful beaded moment, or something with pearls on it. Maybe it’s because my style has changed?

After years of wearing fitted vintage dresses, I’ve moved now to still bold, but more comfortable styles. Thanks, COVID. Relaxed floral pants with a matching shirt, oversized linen, black knitted one-shoulder numbers… more classic styles that can be dressed up and down.

It’s true that a more relaxed kind of dressing lends itself to more accessories. You can use them to jazz up an outfit, without it looking over-the-top.

My colleague, Sangeeta, has also experienced this newfound love of jewellery.

“I’ve barely ever worn jewellery, but in the last couple of months, I’ve really seen how a few key pieces can totally transform an outfit,” she says. “Now I think jewellery is a great way to change up a look without having to buy all new clothes. Sustainability win!”

But, while relaxed dressing is in… necklaces are out. Or so says this TikTok video from user @ufodelaney, pointing out that celebrities have been going noticeably necklace-less in recent months.

@ufodelaney

#greenscreen I love necklace #celebstyle #2023trendpredictions #2023fashion #fashiontok

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“Are necklaces out?” she asks. “Celebrities have not been wearing necklaces like they used to.”

Using examples such as Hailey Bieber, Olivia Wilde, Katie Holmes, Zoë Kravitz, Kylie Jenner, Jennifer Lawrence, Selena Gomez and Margot Robbie, who have all popped up on red carpets and in Instagram posts rocking the naked jewellery look — with noticeably no necklaces.

@ufodelaney‘s TikTok video suggests that we’re revisiting the controversial “heroin chic” era of style, that controversial early 2000s supermodel look that embodies androgyny and minimalism.

And, while that can definitely be said, with Y2K fashion well-and-truly having a resurgence in the high fashion world; it doesn’t necessarily mean that necklaces are “out”.

Have we forgotten the chunky pearl necklace trend? The chunky colourful rings?

Early 2000s fashion has been back for a while now, and with it, different iterations of some staple trends.

We’ve seen the rise of the platform shoe, the low rise, layered crop tops and slinky Paris Hilton-inspired dresses. Things we never thought we’d see again, like butterfly clips.

And, while minimalism and the more androgynous high fashion of the late ’90s and early 00s is certainly also back, so it the highly colourful, chunky, Bratz-esc look.

So, is this necklace-less pattern that we’re seeing in celebrities, just be the calm before the storm that is 00’s maximalism chunky necklaces and bangles?

Our wrists are not ready.

It’s hard to forget the days of stacked bangles, friendship and personalised bracelets, all stacked up your wrists like jingly arm candy. Then, of course, we have the statement necklaces; whether it be a long necklace with a standout pendant, a chunky choker or just a stack of different necklaces that don’t really go but also kinda do — a statement necklace moment was very much a thing in the Y2K madness. Basically, it was the more the better.

Gone are the days when one look conquers all. We live in a world of fashion today where anything goes. If the ’90s and 00’s fashion is back, then it’s more than just one element of major trends that will grace the shelves once more.

So, whether you’re more into a minimalist adrongynous look or a super bold, poppy and chunky look; Y2K is still set to rule the world of fashion trends, necklace or not.

But if I were you, I’d prepare myself for the stacked jewellery trend to come back. It just makes sense.