Chanel says pearls are still in, and who are we to argue?

(Image credit: 2019 Kristy Sparow)

If you can only follow one rule in fashion, it is this: trust Chanel. I find that this has never let me down, so when I saw pearl jewellery everywhere at the fashion house's Metiers d'Art 2019-2020 show at Le Grand Palais this week, I knew I had to step up my pearl game.

The likes of Kaia Gerber stepped out in layers upon layers of chokers and long pearl chains, which even got a coral makeover for spring.

Let's be clear, the trend isn't a new one. Seen a few seasons back at Simon Rocha and Shrimps, and taken on by Alighieri, Timeless Pearly and Anni Lu, it has simply been given a little update for the festive season.

Make no mistake, we’re not talking a dated Girl With The Pearl Earring teardrop or Bree Van Der Kamp string of pearls here. This season, pearls are enjoying a chic baroque twist, embellished with semi-precious stones and collaborating with heavy gold coins and gems, or weighing down a delicate hoop. Look to Alighieri, Saskia Diez and Anissa Kermiche for trend-setting styles.

If you really don't want to let go of that luxe feeling, then designers like Anna + Nina and Anni Lu perfectly bridge the gap between everyday classics and ethereal, by marrying their pearls with gems.

Mis-matched earrings have made their way back into fashion with a growing list of celebs and social media influencers wearing these classics. They are easy to accessorise with any outfit and any occasion this season, from slip dresses to all-over denim.

As for necklaces, they are best worn layered, and the more pearls the better, though they go just as well with coin or shell necklaces, and the same goes for bracelets.

Whatever your style, shell out and shop our edit of the best pearl jewellery below.

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.