170/ Schools Of Fish Make The Ultimate Necklace Stack
DIY ideas + Pedro's tank top + modest summer pieces for scorching hot weather
It’s not often that the paper of record devotes ink to a jewellery trend, but earlier this year, The New York Times clocked that pescatarian motifs were surfacing in stores, online, and dangling from décolletage on SS25 runways.
As far back as 10,000 B.C., fish carved from jade were worn as amulets in what is now China (there’s nothing new under the sun!). So, what’s driving the uptick today?
The 121,000 tinned seafood afishionados over at subreddit r/CannedSardines have weighed in — is the humble, nutritious snack a recession indicator? Or, perhaps it’s the logical evolution of the recently trending #marinecore and #fishermancore aesthetics? The Times speculates that the latest wave of interest likely stems from the motif’s appearance in SS25 shows:
At the Schiaparelli show, Daniel Roseberry went for drama with a single long gilded brass earring in the shape of a fish skeleton, its tail encircling a pearl. At Roberto Cavalli, Fausto Puglisi sent out a brass swordfish pendant dangling from a chunky aluminum chain. And in his final collection for Bottega Veneta (before moving to Chanel), Matthieu Blazy went for a quirky effect, giving his 18-karat gold-plated silver fish earrings pearl bodies and agate eyes.
I’ve been having fun with the trend myself this season:
And while I’ve seen plenty of #marinecore jewellery over the past year, the other day I stumbled across what might just be the ultimate summer necklace stack:
The balance of materials, weights, lengths, colours, and patina in this school of fish necklace stack is pitch perfect — and I was determined to recreate it.
The stack’s centrepiece is a rondelle pearl necklace fastened with an aged double-sided padlock. A bit of sleuthing revealed that the piece is handmade-to-order by Istanbul-based fine jewellery brand, House of Sol. The necklace and padlock are available together or sold separately.
If that’s out of budget, Etsy offers affordable DIY supplies — I found these padlocks, for example, as well as several sources for rondelle pearl strands. NEST also makes a necklace in a similar style at a more affordable price point. And don’t forget to finish with an elegant end cap!
The next layer is an adorable red beaded necklace featuring a tiny silver fish nibbling on what appears to be a … block of white quartz? I couldn’t track down the original source, but luckily there are plenty of options on the market that can be used in its place.
For minimalist sardines and articulated koi, Etsy and eBay are treasure troves. Just make sure the hoop is on the mouth side!
While sourcing, I came across the brand Julietta, which might be of interest. The brand offers a necklace reminiscent to Juju Vera’s Petra, but at a more palatable price point. They also do tubogas collars — I’m seriously considering asking my sister in NYC to order it for me (more about tubogas jewellery here).
Non sequitur, but OMG — Pedro Pascal in this Calvin Klein muscle tank! I especially love the uber subtle mockneck detail that sets it apart from its athleisure cousins, e.g. Lululemon. The closest I’ve found so far is Heidi Merrick’s Expat tank, and this KOTN one is decent. Wear it over a bikini top or bandeau.
And, of course, this look is eminently DIY-able — just watch this tutorial on YouTube and keep a pair of quality fabric scissors handy!
And finally, I know some of you — hi Mary! — prefer long pants and pieces with more coverage, even during the steamy summer months. These lightweight, 100% cotton styles from Chan Luu might do the trick. Each piece follows my advice for summer dressing: never settle for basic!
…add individual pieces that are interesting enough to stand on their own. The biggest impact will be from adding pieces with impactful shapes and lines whether in the neckline, sleeve, body or leg. Secondarily, you can achieve this through texture, colour, etc… (Bonus if the piece can also be worn year-around!) You can pair the elevated piece with a basic, or you can wear them with each other, which is often where the unexpected magic happens.
Talk soon!
Irene
Thanks for introducing me to Chan Liu. So many special pieces. Hoping they ship to Australia!
Julietta is available on Net-A-Porter and Zalando. Nice design & quality but some necklaces are too short, at least for me.