Not Your Grandmother’s Pearls: The Trending Pearl Choker

Mini Bas Relief Choker Three Row Pearl Bas Relief Choker Gold-Tone

Vivienne Westwood gained recognition as a designer amidst the punk fashion movements of the '70s and '80s, creating fabulously disruptive clothing and other accessories to promote social and political change. One of the most notable pieces of jewelry she has made is the Mini Bas Relief Choker. This necklace has been all over Pinterest feeds, TikTok, and Instagram because of its simplistic yet elegant look. 

HISTORY OF THE BAS RELIEF PEARL CHOKER

Source: Instagram

The pearl choker was seen first on the runway in 1992, along with Westwood's signature corset. The Mini Bas Relief Pearl Choker uses the iconic Vivienne Westwood Orb and Saturn ring as their inspiration. Studded with Swarovski crystals in an Imitation Rhodium setting, the Orb is centered in a faux pearl choker. 

Westwood created this necklace as an ode to jewelry worn by royal women of the past, with a more contemporary grunge look. With the rise of her corsets in 2019, there is no doubt a Vivienne Westwood piece has become a must-have on everyone's list. 

HOW THE CHOKER BECAME A FASHION FAVORITE

Sources: Pinterest and Instagram @saweetie & @thewestwoodarchives

With celebrities such as Bella Hadid, Madison Beer, Saweetie, and Kylie Jenner wearing the infamous pearl choker, the trend began trickling through every social media platform. Instagram and TikTok helped boost the pearl choker trend for guys. Celebrities like Shawn Mendes, Harry Styles and influencers like Rickey Thompson have sported the trend.

Sources: Miss kyra, Instagram, & Marie Claire

TikTokers such as Ellie Zeiler and Jordan Huxhold helped make the necklace all anyone could see on their “For You” page. The choker is $195 for the Mini Bas, and $590 for the Three-Row Choker. While these prices are not extremely expensive, they are still a bit steep for the average college student to afford. 

Pearl dupes are sold on Amazon and Depop for prices as low as $20. Jewelry brands such as The M Jewelers sell pearl choker necklaces similar to the Westwood one. The M Jewelers is a New-York based jewelry brand that focuses on sustainability when creating handmade jewelry. While their version of the pearl choker is slightly different, it is still cheaper at only $185. Similarly, Evry Jewels is a small online jewelry company that focuses on making quality jewelry affordable for everyone. Their Westwood dupe goes for only $40. 

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The choker fits into many style categories and has the aesthetic of Y2K yet casual preppy. It is both opulent and effortless; it can be styled with anything from a sweater vest and a white collared shirt or a sparkly dress and classic hoop earrings.

Since the choker is so simplistic, it can be worn as an everyday staple. It's the perfect item to make a sweatshirt and leggings look just a bit more put-together than the average Zoom-University outfit. A modern alternative to grandma's pearls, this Vivienne Westwood trend is worth investing in!