Have you heard of PERALCORE?
Due to its eye-catching performance at the fashion week not long ago, the “PERALCORE” trend has undoubtedly become the focus once again. From the pioneering designs presented by designers to the individualistic styles captured in urban street photography, wherever fashion enthusiasts go, there is bound to be the appearance of “pearls”.
According to Pinterest’s previous forecast, 2022 is destined to be the year of Pearlcore. Pearlcore is a style that focuses on pearls, amplifying their beauty infinitely. “People from various cultural backgrounds and age groups will fully embrace pearls and related styles in 2022, from jewelry boxes to interior decorations, and even nail art.”
The resurgence of pearls actually began with men’s pearl accessories, breaking gender boundaries and the connotations of pearls.
It is no longer just the elegant demeanor of Grace Kelly at important diplomatic occasions, nor is it just the standard of style of Audrey Hepburn in a Givenchy dress standing in front of Tiffany.
Pearlcore has actually evolved into a lifestyle aesthetic centered on self-expression, which is prevalent in social media’s #ootd and has permeated every aspect of our lives.
Pinterest Pearlcore Series
Last year at this time, on the field of the Major League Baseball, a photo of Atlanta Braves outfielder Joc Pederson not only became a popular image in sports news but also quickly occupied the hot topic section of fashion channels. The reason was that the athlete paired his uniform with a string of pearl necklaces.
We are very certain that this is the first set of pearls to appear in the history of baseball. At that time, GQ magazine gave such a headline as the interpretation of this picture.
After the Warriors’ victory parade, Pederson also contributed this highly fashionable and historically symbolic accessory to the National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum in the United States for display, which is a well-deserved W.O.W moment.
The global media and fashion people have given this moment how much attention and importance, and the protagonist’s starting point for doing this is how ordinary and sparse, there is no hidden metaphor behind it. For Pederson, it is just an ordinary day in an athlete’s life, choosing a set of ordinary necklaces to be used as accessories.
01 The Pearl Necklace Inducted into the Hall of Fame
Lewis Hamilton
Of course, Pederson is not the only man who wears a pearl necklace in the sports arena.
One of the most successful racers on the F1 track, Lewis Hamilton, a legendary figure who is almost inseparable from jewelry, is also a fan of pearl accessories. People often catch a glimpse of pearls on his neck, along with Lewis’s strong personal taste, matched with colored gemstones and metal chains, which occasionally causes controversy.
Lewis Hamilton
Musicians who have been active in public discussions for years have played a particularly important role in the revival of male pearl accessories. The first to start this revolution was Pharrell.
Chanel once established a unique style of modern female pearl accessories. As the first male face to appear in a Chanel handbag, Pharrell, who broke gender boundaries with Chanel, also interpreted Mademoiselle Chanel’s pearl necklaces extensively, appearing at shows, red carpets, music videos, and everyday life. This pioneering style has influenced a group of musicians in the following years, including Drake, A$AP Rocky, and Harry Styles, the muse of the fashion world who has received countless favors from Gucci.
Harry Styles portrayed the Dutch masterpiece “The Girl with a Pearl Earring” at the Met Gala.
A$AP’s love for pearl accessories has permeated into everyday attire. Inspired by the Dutch painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” a single pearl earring made an appearance on the red carpet at the Met Gala, officially marking a new chapter in men’s accessories alongside a pearl necklace on the baseball field.
These fashion icons have physically increased the exposure of a string of pearls to the headlines, not only bringing a surge in sales of pearl accessories but also bringing a trend of accessory style evolution.
Actor Ranveer Singh embraces pearls in a photoshoot.
Gentlemen who wholeheartedly embrace pearls not only love the “grandmother’s white pearls” but also have a special fondness for colorful pearls and exotic Tahitian pearls. Their styling is bolder, continuously breaking through the modern imagination that a pearl accessory should be elegant, intellectual, and exude feminine charm.
Mikimoto has recently launched a series of new men’s pearl accessories to meet the personalized needs of consumers.
✦ Mikimoto and GDC Launch a Collaborative Pearl Accessory Collection
Skull and animal elements, layered mix-and-match of metal chains, brands are also taking advantage of the trend, tailor-made for these men who wear pearls, with larger sizes, more vivid colors, and a more wild design sense of pearl accessories, depicting a brand new fashion accessory landscape for the 2020s of the 21st century.
Pharrell Williams and his pearl accessories
Exotic Tahitian Black Pearls from kalinasperles.com
In fact, the connection between pearls and men has a long history.
From the British royal family in the 16th century, to the Indian princes and nobles in the 18th century, including writers, Hollywood stars, and party gentlemen in the golden age of the last century, pearl accessories frequently appeared at the moments when these gentlemen made their social debuts, and were regarded by them as a symbol of social status and male power. However, with the rise of modern accessories among women, pearls briefly disappeared from the daily jewelry boxes of men.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not groundless that pearl accessories have once again become a choice for contemporary men. A professional accessory buyer has expressed such a view – people will also turn their attention to more classic accessory choices during a crisis, and pearls are undoubtedly the classic among classics.
From the perspective of dressing, after all, a string of pearl necklaces is a choice that will not go wrong in most cases, or when you don’t know what kind of accessory to choose for your #ootd, a pearl necklace + pearl earrings can always help the wearer solve the urgent problem.
✦ Last century’s Vivienne Westwood show “Mars” pearl’s stunning moment
02 Pearls go from fadding to expressing individuality
Carrie Bradshaw Wearing Pearls in “And Just Like That”
In recent years, pearl accessories have not only regained popularity among men but have also made a comeback with the resurgence of 80s and 90s retro fashion. A pearl necklace designed thirty years ago has been reactivated in the new online space – Vivienne Westwood’s iconic Mars pendant pearl choker has become popular on TikTok. The brand has also catered to the aesthetic preferences of the younger generation by reintroducing pearl collections with larger pearls and more layering.
The resurgence of pearls, represented by the punk mother, although carrying a strong retro tone, has more motivations than the retro aesthetic. It is the younger generation’s playful contemporary interpretation of pearl jewelry, which symbolizes perfection.
From the classic and elegant style that never goes wrong, to the individual expression of youthful vitality, the “Pearlcore” trend emerged in 2022, becoming one of the hot trends of the year. It is not only a choice of fashion accessories, but also extends to more aspects such as interior design and beauty, becoming a manifestation of a certain aesthetic of life.
Pearl Gold Napkin Ring Set by Aaya Home Décor
Pearls may have represented a certain kind of perfection in a certain historical stage, but now the definition of beauty is becoming more diverse.
In the style of dressing centered on pearlcore, baroque pearls, as representative of irregular pearls, have become the favorite of new punk girls. Their changeable edges and sense of shape, reflecting neon light in warm white, are used to adorn handbags with extra-large pearl chains, or embellished on nails and hair.
Audrey Hepburn’s image of wearing Givenchy and standing outside Tiffany’s in pearl-style is being broken by the new generation’s imagination in 2022.
Embedded surfaces, lighting, paint gloss finishes, chandeliers, curtain fringes, tableware and plates, and even wallpaper… Yes, the design trend that has made a big splash in the field of interior design this year is also Pearlcore.
This is not about embedding pearls in the countertop or the corner of a bedside lamp, but rather a design trend that pursues the luster of pearls. You can, of course, use pearls to decorate the details of your home. If you have enough imagination, you can replace tiles with mother-of-pearl to adorn your modern new home, as long as you don’t place it in the shower room.
Layered Lounge is a pasta bowl inspired by pearlcore design.
03 Pearls are about the imagination of the self
✦ Live Laugh Love Candle Holder with Pearl and Crystal Design Elements
Natural pearls, originally a gift from the sea, take people up to six months to five years to wait for a perfect and elegant pearl. Before that, pearl farmers need to wait for three years for an oyster to mature enough to produce pearls.
After Coco Chanel boldly used artificial pearls as a twin sister to her quilted jacket, expressing oneself through pearl elements has also become a contemporary convention.
Pearlcore Interior Design
Pearls and everything related to them have always been a blend of classic tradition and avant-garde rebellion, originating from ancient Greece and Egypt. Today, they represent a contemporary aesthetic stream that is being redefined, found at the bottom of the sea, in gardens, at sunrise, and in the everyday life of those who truly live.
