NEW YORK, Jul 1, 2010 / — Get ready for a summer gold rush of bikinis, one pieces and the infamous monokini sizzling with gold hardware, fabrications and layers of gold jewelry.
Bling is no longer just confined to daywear and eveningwear as designers like Patricia Field, Oye and Carmen Marc Valvo make gold as a girl’s new best friend at the beach.
Award-winning costume designer Patricia Field who dressed up Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte in “Sex & the City” recently launched her new swim line, House of Field Swimwear.
Field’s Swim-sational Disco Soiree featured a collection full of gold embellishments paired with golden accessories including chic handbags and radiant gold jewelry by Ippolita. From modern cuts to classic shapes, gold is the accessory of choice.
Trendy styles including the provocative “monokini” which features plunging necklines and large, carefully placed cut-outs, are warmed up with layered gold necklaces, bold cuffs and chic hoop earrings.
“Gorgeous! Glamorous! Sexy! That’s gold jewelry on a tanned body!” said Patricia Field.
Other swimwear designers like Oye romanticize the 1950’s with form fitting maillot swimsuits featuring gold straps accenting warm fabrics. Styled with elegant gold earrings and stacked bangles, the radiant tones of gold prove once again that the valuable metal has relevance, allure and longevity in fashion.
Carmen Marc Valvo put a golden spin on his Spring 2010 collection, featuring radiant gold hoops, layered chains, stacks of bangles and sensual gold earrings on sleek swimwear. Valvo demonstrated that gold is both fashionable and eternal by pairing his designs with both classic and unusual styles of gold jewelry, including rose gold and chocolate gold.
This year, celebrities including Cindy Crawford, Mena Suvari, Serena Williams, AnnaLynne McCord, Kim and Kourtney Kardashian have been photographed on beaches wearing gold jewelry. Gold can be worn in the sun and the sea and will withstand the test of time if cared for properly.
Caring for gold jewelry has never been easier; its versatility and durability enable gold to remain at the forefront of fashion both on and off the runway (and the beach). Here are some tips from World Gold Council to keep your gold jewelry glowing all year:
- After swimming, clean the jewelry with a home cleaning kit including mild soap or jewelry cleaning liquid, warm water, and a scratch free chamois polishing cloth, or take it a local jeweler for cleaning once every couple months.
- When swimming at home, take your gold off if swimming in chlorinated water. Excessive, repeated exposure to chlorine can weaken gold’s chemical structure.
- Wrap each piece separately in tissue paper and store in box with satin or velvet lining.
- Hang gold chains or lay them flat to avoid tangling, crimping or bending.
