Seaside Chic
Photo credit: @sequinjewelry
Shell yeah!
If you told 12-year-old me that 20 years in the future, I would still be obsessing over the same puka and cowrie shell jewelry donned by surfer dudes (and the actors who played them on TV), I’d probably have laughed. But here we are—in 2022—and shell jewelry is hotter than ever.
There’s more to this trend than high tides and good vibes—shells actually play an important role in the history of human nature. A strand of shells found in a Moroccan cave, believed to be around 150,000 years old, is thought to be the first evidence of self-expression through adornment. Conchs, cockles, clamshells, and more have been used in various parts of the world for centuries, for purposes including currency, communication, and even religious rites.
Anthropology and ‘90’s nostalgia aside, I’m still thrilled to see this trend revived—and in a much more refined way. Whether gilded with gold or bedecked with beads, these under-the-sea finds are sure to elevate your summer wardrobe.
Editor: Rebecca Daly
Wordsmith: Sam Van deWalle
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