Erik Madigan Heck x Rodarte

Found on the photographer's tumblr

Rodarte Fall 2011

New York Fashion Week Recap: Pearls, Polka Dots and Prairie-Wear

Donna Karan, Fall 2011 RTW

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is in full swing in the Big Apple this week, and the jewelry hunting has been slow-going. In all fairness, ready-to-wear collections (vs. couture shows) aren't usually jumping with jewels - the past few years of blinged out bangle-wear and statement-makers were one big exception.

Now that we're headed back toward minimal, sleek looks - the jewelry is following suit with a pretty pendant here a well-placed bracelet there - and the surprise of the season: pearls.

Donna Karan

Like Giorgio Armani did with gemstones in Paris earlier this year, Donna Karan is doing with pearls for her Fall 2011 RTW line. Namely, designing their entire collection around a jewelry style.

Style.com reports:

"Donna Karan named her Fall collection Pearls of Wisdom and recruited Erickson Beamon to design the pearl necklaces that accompanied all the looks and informed the show's all-neutral palette."

Donna Karan

This isn't just good news for Nancy Pelosi, Michelle Obama and the rest of the DC ladies who lunch. Pearl strands are the perfect complement to any ensemble, and designers are getting creative with both shapes and colors this year.

I loved this Lorraine Schwartz pearl cuff spotted on singer/dancer, Mya at the Grammy's, for example.

Lorraine Schwartz cuff on singer, Mya

And here's a unique 'twist' on a classic from JewelClub's sample sale that's a wise choice for both the fashion-forward and the budget-conscious at only $67.60 (down from $199).

 
While polka dots (Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg) and prairie-wear (Rodarte) were the two big clothing trends to emerge so far, I'm going to declare 2011 the "Year of the Pearl".

Marc Jacobs

Diane von Furstenberg

Rodarte

What does the jewelry-hound peanut gallery think? Am I on to something? Or is this just a limited runway interpretation of an old classic?

Rodarte's for Black Swan