Five jewellery trends to follow this season

Fashion, jewellery designers, ear cuffs, chokers, ring bracelets and mesh pieces, Nargis Fakhri, Sonam Kapoor, trends

Picture this: You step in front of the mirror to take a last look at yourself before you leave for a party. You are happy with what you see - your make-up elevates your features, not a strand of hair flies astray, and your stilettos compliment your outfit. But something seems amiss. The perfect accessory, maybe?

Be it a casual attire or a formal evening wear, the right piece of jewellery can make or break a look. If you don too many pieces, you may be unable to make an impact as none of the accessories will stand out. Play it down, and you won't make a power-packed statement. Like model and television anchor Padma Lakshmi once said, "Jewellery should not upstage you. I pick one hot point on my body that I'm going to highlight. Let one area do the singing - you don't want to hear three songs at once."

Here are five jewellery trends to follow this season:

Choker
Remember those spiral plastic Goth-inspired choker bands we wore around the neck back in the '90s? The history of this magnificent piece originated in 1700s and continued through the French Revolution. Chokers sit snugly around the neck. "A chunky statement necklace elevates an ordinary dress," says Ruchita Sharma, head of marketing, Swarovski India.

Nargis Fakhri accentuated her Indian ensemble at the Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014 by wearing a choker. Pic/Yogen Shah

Available in a varied range of widths, these are getting increasingly popular with the fashionistas. From bold spikes to traditional motifs dripping in diamonds and other precious stones and metal, choker neckpieces are available in a varied array of designs.

These look best on deep-cut dresses, maxi dresses and bridal trousseaus where you need to draw attention to your decolletage. "Ideal for day and evening wear, chokers go best with collarless shirts or strapless dresses," says Tarang Arora, CEO and creative director of Amrapali Jewellery. Jewel couturier Mrinalini Chandra, who has styled for Sonam Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra and Kalki Koechlin, finds the choker neckpiece fascinating. "It's a must have in every girl's wardrobe as it accentuates the most beautiful part of a girl's body - the neck and the collar bone," she adds.

Ring bracelets
Adorning the fingers and the wrist, ring bracelet or the haath phool is a sophisticated and delicate accessory that highlights the hands. "It should be worn with an elegant/formal garment," opines jewellery designer Shaheen Abbas. Traditionally a bridal accessory, the haath phool is a delicate chain that attaches the finger rings to the bracelet. "Perhaps the most unique and fascinating piece of jewellery in an Indian bride's trousseau since time immemorial, the ring bracelet has carved a niche for itself as a statement accessory only recently. These can also be paired with Anarkali dresses or evening gowns for a royal, majestic look," advises Chandra.

Ring bracelets, which have been an important part of a bride's trousseau since time immemorial, can also be paired with Anarkali dresses or evening gowns for a majestic look. Pic/Laila Singh

Opt for a single-chained, contemporary-styled ring bracelet for Western outfits. Conceptual jewellery artist Eina Ahluwalia's latest collection has arrowheads on the finger rings attached to pearl strings that run down the back of the hand and around the wrists. From Hollywood hotties Mylie Cyrus at the Hunger Games premiere to Kelly Clarkson on her Stronger album cover to Aashiqui girl Shraddha Kapoor at an award ceremony earlier this year, a host of celebs have been seen flaunting this Indo-Western trend.

"In the past two years, designs of traditional pieces of jewellery have become monotonous. This wedding season, the ring bracelet is the new star in statement jewellery," says Ahluwalia. "It's a good idea to wear ornaments on the hands because it looks beautiful and feminine," adds celebrity jewellery designer Farah Khan Ali.

Mesh jewellery
A rather new entrant in the category of chic jewellery, mesh is soon gaining prominence as a trendy accessory. The mesh is a malleable super net of intertwined metal wire. Easy to use, one can buy mesh wire from the market and create DIY adornments, too.

A rather trendy accessory, mesh jewellery can be worn around the neck or can be used as a hair accessory to uplift a simple outfit. Pic/ Vasundhara Mantri, Minerali store

"In my latest collection, I have twisted, braided, and woven mesh to create accessories with a modern edge. The collection has an ethnic undertone, which gives an overall ‘Victorian face, Indian soul' look," says jewellery designer Vasundhara Mantri. Another winning quality of the mesh jewellery is that it's light and can be worn for long hours.

"Mesh accessories even make great hair accessories, too," says Varun Raheja, director, Minerali Jewellery. "A chunky mesh necklace teamed with a plain dress completes a look well. Meanwhile, dainty and delicate mesh necklaces, either worn individually or complimented with matching pieces, are also a versatile fashion feature this season," concludes Arora.

Ear cuffs
Kill the monotony of wearing regular tops and dangling earrings with the ear cuff which, according to designers, has made a bold comeback this year. It is a semi-hoop, which traces the ear and clings on to the cartilage.

Ear cuffs, which have become quite popular among Bollywood celebrities, can be worn with both Indian and Western outfits. Pic/Yogen Shah

Depending on your style, choose from floral designs to Gothic motifs. You can wear them as a pair or on a single ear to make a statement. "Ear cuffs of all sizes are a top jewellery trend this year. They are the most sought-after accessories for both Indian and western ensembles. These solo pieces are, in fact, selling more than traditional earrings," says Arora.

"While a simpler, oversized design goes well with a casual attire, ear cuffs give a bolder look to evening wear, too. Ear cuffs, inspired by tribal couture, make an individual style statement," says Ali. "I like the effect a single ear cuff makes compared to a pair. My next line of ear cuffs are edgy designs that incorporate precious stones," she further adds.

With the wedding season around the corner and Christmas and New Year in tow, throw the spotlight on any of these quirky pieces and make your ensemble standout. Be it an office party, a family get together or an intimate outing, it's simpler to make heads turn with one, bold statement piece.