Is it okay to wear Pearls these days?

[TalkingShop]

Hi,

I just wondered if it okay to wear pearls these days or would I look as though I'd got up in the morning and landed in the wrong century?

I was watching this really interesting video on youtube, which was an interview with Diana Mosley and she had a three strand pearl necklace over a navy blue roll neck jumper with a very striking broach just below.

This is the video:
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She was being interviewed about her association with the fascists, which was not so great, but I really liked her necklace and roll neck jumper and broach and how they complement her hair. I also live in roll neck jumpers with a similar hairdo, and I wondered if I could do that too or if I would look like a total idiot.

I'd have to wear plastic ones on a nylon thread from a craft shop, which might be fantastically naff too. That does sound naff actually doesn't it? Maybe it only works if they are real pearls and the person has the classy accent to go with them? I don't.

Anyway, do you think this is a bonkers idea? I thought it might be a bit nicer than a knackered gap sherpa hoodie, but maybe I can't carry it off. I'm nearly 50, tall slim, knackered looking. Same build and hairdo as Diana Mosley, but not the same posture or accent.

My hair is brown but with a silver streak at the sides.

Thanks!

I love love love the outfit. Feels thoughtful and put together.

I do think it will be better with real pearls though! I don't think it would have the same effect with plastic ones. (sorry).

As long as you clutch them regularly

Yes, if real. I like costume jewellery but it should be bold and unapologetically costume. There's loads of big, bold costume jewellery which would give the same effect.

And whilst SnowFrogJelly's post above is obviously intended to be a joke, I hate, hate, hate the expression "pearl clutcher"

Whilst Lady Mosely is very beautiful and elegant I'm not sure I'd be using her for style tips. You might find pictures of say, Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn with a similar look.

I have a couple of gold and seed pearl Victorian brooches very similar to hers. They can be worn as pendants or brooches. I don't think they make me look like a Nazi sympathiser.

Pearls are beautiful and fashions cycle. If you want to wear them, do it.

I'm not convinced that channelling your inner Mosley is a particularly appealing aesthetic, tbh.

It might not be immediately obvious to everybody, but there would be a significant proportion who would unconsciously realise you're evoking something deeply, deeply unpleasant.

I have a string of pearls that were a 40th birthday gift from DH. I wear them to weddings and to go out for dinner but have worn them just with jeans and a jumper to schlepp round the supermarket.

Have a look for some vintage fake ones in a charity shop. I volunteer in one and we sometimes get them in, I think the quality is better and we sell them for about £10 to £15.

I have always loved pearls, I can spot a fake one a mile off but I suppose many can’t plus people probably assume most pearls are fake. I gave a pair of Pearl earrings as a gift at my last session with a Heath care professional once as she had worn fake ones often, she was delighted.

I have a set of pearls and I love them. I think they go with everything

Yes, pearls are beautiful. I feel sophisticated wearing my pearl earrings.

Pearls are lovely. You can get some very nice necklaces in charity shops, car boots or even vinted.
It's a nice look. Especially with wide leg trousers and a nipped in waist.

Nobody associates pearls with di moseley

Black pearls, yes, - white pearls, no, unless they're huge and you're a duchess.

I have 2 strings of real pearls. One was a present from a boyfriend when I was 23 and other from my husband last year (when I was 64)

I wear them a lot. Also have several Victorian and Edwardian brooches and pendants set with seed pearls, which I also get good wear out of and 3 pairs of pearl earrings.

I can spot fakes- I've had fakes and they're obvious. Not sure why there's an assumption they're fake.

Doubtful... she's not that distinctive. If that's the look op is going for its not going to seen as specifically imitating lady mosley

Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn were famous pearl wearers, although I can't find photos of either of them wearing them that way.

As you're a crafter, could you consider a string of mussel shell pearls for about £25? They come on a nylon thread and you'll have to string them - you don't have to knot them, but it does make the necklace look higher quality (it's not difficult, just bloody time-consuming!)

https://www.thecuriousgem.co.uk/shell-pearls.html

Thanks, this is really helpful.

I figured nobody would associate me with Diana Mosely as I'd never heard of her at all before I saw that video. I mean not even at all.

I've seen Audrey Hepburn a lot, but I would never imagine being able to carry anything off that she does. I'm not at all like her. I'm definitely much more boring than that.

I haven't thought about real pearls. I'll have a look online. I've just been thinking it might do the world a favour if I was less scruffy, and I need to boring and classy rather than coquettish, because that's the only thing I can do.

Thanks for the thoughts on this. It's really helpful.

Of course you can. Pearls haven’t gone away. Just Google pearl wearing images

I think of Jackie Kennedy Onassis first when I think of pearls, or the late Queen's lovely three strand set. But it was watching the tv drama about the Duchess of Argyll that got me hunting on eBay for some vintage fakes: it was the insouciant way she wore them with everything and nothing.

@ShowAndGo I saw the Duchess of Argyll's video too. The thing that strikes me most about the Diana Mosley one and the Duchess of Argyll is how they seem very calm and socially appropriate on the videos and say nothing that would make you think they'd done anything wrong. Then if you read the background, they've had such hair raising stuff going on it. I was a bit flabbergasted tbh.

I haven't read about Jackie Onassis. I will do that.

If I try to copy the fashion of a famous person, am I sort of radioing a message that I agree with their philosophical position? I didn't know that. I'm very ASD and a bit useless socially. Up to now, I suppose I've been copying the fashion choises of Carole Baxter from the Beechgrove Garden, and that is a pretty safe way to live.

I tried looking in the mirror and realised that I have brown eyes and brown hair, so maybe I would be meant to wear brown beads rather than white. Maybe on balance it would be safer if I didn't.

Then I realised that if I wore a roll neck I would get absolutely boiling hot.

I think being fashionable seems like quite a lot of work.

Surely depends how old you are, your build etc. Pearls themselves are fine aren’t they? But as a fat 35 year old I would look utterly ridiculous. Also where you’re wearing this outfit probably matters - sitting on the sofa or out at a bar are probably not it.

You’re definitely over thinking this. Do you like the look of pearls? If yes, wear them Nobody is going to associate you with a certain cause because of your jewellery unless it is a pearl swastika! It’s just jewellery and pearls are so ubiquitous!

Pearls are absolutely beautiful and I have a number of different necklaces. All real.

I’ve been in the corporate world for decades now and wearing pearls almost always ups your game in the style stakes. Strange but true. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman wearing pearls in the boardroom that hasn’t looked amazing!

I've got some lovely pearls which I'd forgotten about. I might give them a whirl as pearls are apparently supposed to be worn frequently to improve them somehow. Although next to the skin so maybe the poloneck might get in the way.

I don't associate any jewellery with any politics at all. Certainly not a Nazi unless you were over 80 surely?? Pearls are very Jackie Kennedy/Audrey Hepburn. Maybe you could wear them with some other necklaces for a more modern look although I think the look you like is cool too.

@greengreyblue Oh that's good then.

I was sort of thinking that if I have a daughter in law one day then I might possibly need to look smart, just very occassionally, if she wanted me to. I've been reading the MIL threads on here and I was thinking that I would like to be a good MIL when my moment comes, and that that might involve behaving differently from my usual, to fit in with my DIL's family. I am trying to get my head around the idea that I might need to be able to dress smartly on demand, and to work out what that would look like.

My DS is only 14 and probably won't even think about getting married until he's 35 so it's a while away, but I don't corner quickly, so I'm trying to think ahead.

My MIL hates my clothes but she is no longer speaking to us, so it doesn't matter

My DH made this pearl necklace entirely by hand for me to wear to our wedding and it was very nice.

My hair and eyes are very brown though. Maybe I could make something like that with brown and white beads, for emergency "smart dress" moments?