TRENDS: JEWELLERY’S CUTTING-EDGE NEW TERRITORIES
The jewellery aficionado has had a change of heart. Till only about a decade ago, the pièce de résistance in a woman’s wardrobe would be glinting diamonds and exorbitant jewellery sets fashioned from heavy duty gold. There were chokers, earrings, rings, jhoomars, teekas and bangles, glinting in gold, engraved with a constellation of precious stones. Gold, of course, is still a wardrobe mainstay especially for the newly married bride or the woman wanting to add an expensive touch to a simple outfit — but close on its heels is intricately crafted statement-wear paving a new realm of sartorial options.
“The bride will always wear gold but other people at a wedding may opt for a single piece of jewellery that stands out,” says Sana Hafeez Sheikh, the representative of Indian brand Outhouse Jewellery in Pakistan. This single piece may be gold or it could be metal dexterously designed into a variety of options. The latest line at Outhouse, for instance, varies from the delicate ‘Bridesmaid’ collection to the ‘Butterfly’ line. The jewellery varies from earrings, chokers, bangles and rings, proceeding on to hand harnesses, ear-cuffs, midi rings, body harnesses, head harnesses, maang teekas and ear pendants that dangle right down to the shoulder bone!
Gold is not out but designer jewellery in polished gold is making a mark among the hip crowd
“I introduced Outhouse to the Pakistani market about three years ago and I have noticed that the more avant-garde pieces, like body harnesses and ear pendants, are admired but not usually purchased,” continues Sana. “Inevitably, women will opt for jewellery that they can use on multiple occasions. And while Outhouse jewellery is basically metal, plated with 22 karat rose-gold or gold, it is created with great finesse and worked with precious and semi-precious stones and Swarovski crystals. A single piece can allow the wearer to stand out.”