e all know that a statement necklace, bangle or earrings can provide the finishing touch to an outfit, but it's easy to forget that until costume jewellery appeared on the scene this was an option only available to those with healthy bank balances. Prior to this, "women were wearing fine jewellery or no jewellery," says jewellery historian Carol Woolton, who has written the text for Costume Jewelry, a new illustrated Taschen book on the subject.
Costume jewellery – in other words, jewellery made with inexpensive materials or imitation gems – emerged because of multiple factors, notably World War Two's impact on the availability of materials, and the changing position of women in society. And although instigated by European designers, it came into its own in the US.
"I think it was embraced much more in the States because you didn't have that idea of heritage jewellery that was entrenched in Europe," says Woolton. "European women were so used to wearing family jewellery or being gifted it on significant milestones in their life, but in America there was a freedom."
Hollywood's influence was immense. When film stars like Marilyn Monroe started wearing costume jewellery both onscreen and off, they transformed it into a highly desirable and affordable commodity that was worn by everyone from socialites to secretaries.
Here are nine of the most influential costume jewellery pieces and the designers who created them.
Source : BBC
