I don’t want to overstate things, but I’m in my beaded jewelry era, and frankly? There’s no going back.
Somewhere between nostalgia and “just got back from a gallery opening in Tulum,” beaded jewelry has officially made the leap from campy to chic. Think less summer camp, more cool girl who owns linen everything and somehow knows her aura color.
And the best part? It’s fun. Remember fun? Tiny glass beads. Glossy pearls. Random charms that feel like inside jokes. Jewelry that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still looks like you have taste (because you do).
Here’s how to embrace the bead boom without looking like you raided a craft bin:
1. The Color Pop Necklace
One strand, multicolored, maybe with a random fruit bead or fun pendant tossed in? Yes, please. It turns your plain white tee into an outfit and makes your neutrals look suddenly intentional. Layer it with gold chains for a high-low moment that says “I have both whimsy and a Roth IRA.”
2. The Anklet Comeback
I said what I said. A beaded anklet especially with charms or a single pearl is summer’s most underrated accessory. It says “I drink coconut water and flirt with lifeguards,” even if you’re just going to Trader Joe’s.
3. The Bracelet Stack: Chaos, But Make It Cute
Mix and match: tiny beads, oversized pearls, alphabet charms, smiley faces, evil eyes. Stack like your inner child is styling you and then add one more. It’s the serotonin hit your wrist has been waiting for.
4. The Delicate Dangle Earring
Not all beaded jewelry is chunky. Some of it’s downright elegant. Think single strands of seed beads in ombré tones, or tiny dangling drops in glassy pastels. It’s like confetti, but curated.
5. The Custom Piece: Say It With Beads
Your name. Your mantra. Your dog’s name. Your favorite coffee order. There’s something charmingly chaotic about a custom beaded piece, it’s personal, playful, and practically begs someone to ask, “Where did you get that?”
Beaded jewelry is like a fashion palate cleanser. After all the sleek minimalism and moody neutrals, it’s refreshing to wear something that feels lighthearted but still editorial. The key? Let the beads do the talking and keep everything else simple(ish). Or don’t. It’s bead season, rules are soft.
So go ahead. String some color into your life. Play with texture. Mix metals with plastics. Wear a plastic smiley face next to a real pearl and call it contrast. It’s not just jewelry, it’s joy, strung together.
