Pearls: Magnificent 8 Collaboration

Nestled and nurtured within an oyster, a pearl is said to represent hidden knowledge and is considered highly feminine. Pearls are unique among gemstones because they don’t arise from the depths of the earth but from the sea.

It’s the wondrous beauty of the pearl that made its selection as the theme for this edition of the Magnificent 8 Collaboration so marvelous. Back in time, wearing a strand of pearl implied superiority, a certain level of class, for they perceived as gemstones suited only for the wealthy due to their rarity. That exclusivity began to change about 100 years ago. That’s when the process of making cultured pearls was discovered and became a commercial endeavor.

And the symbology connected to the origins of the pearl. Starting out as an irritant and yet the oyster reforms it into a precious gem. Over time, the pearl has become a metaphor for something rare, fine, admirable and valuable. Today, they are regarded as both classic and contemporary among the fashionable, available in a variety of styles beyond that of the traditional strand of pearls.

“Why wear one string when you can wear two?” – Coco Chanel

Taking my cue from Ms Chanel, I’ve created a cascade of pearls using two very long necklaces that are doubled over on each other. With earrings to match. And lest you worry that I wasn’t taking precautions to protect myself while out and about, my mask choice was influenced by this theme as well.

To showcase my pearls is an ensemble influenced in part by a mannequin I spied last week at that nation-wide retailer 🎯 so many of us hold dear. It was this skirt paired with a light-toned sweater, denim jacket, and black hiking boots. I have little resistance when it comes to lace skirts. I quickly went hunting for it among the racks and snatched up my size. And I’m so glad that I didn’t hesitate on that purchase because I later tried to find it at other stores in my area (no luck there). It’s not even shown online so “snooze, you lose” incident avoided.

Obviously, my outfit is quite different than what was on the mannequin but isn’t that how inspirations are supposed to work? You take an idea and work it into something that is uniquely you. So the pullover sweater and denim jacket were swapped out for a loose-fit tee and a corduroy jacket and moto-style boots instead of hiking boots.

This is the tenth edition of the Magnificent 8 Collaboration. The previous ones were; Life’s A Beach, Distressed, Workout Wear, Spring Pattern Mixing, White Dress, Animal Print, Family Heirloom, Garden Party, and most recently Hello, Yellow!  Have you visited any of the other Magnificent 8 gals yet and seen their spins on the theme of Pearls? In case you haven’t, let me show you the way.

The Magnificent 8 is a collaboration among 8 stylish women, each in a different age bracket, ranging from early 20’s to early 80’s. The intent of the collaboration is to show that there are no age restrictions on style. So wear what you want, when you want, add a smile, and strut your style with confidence. And be sure to check out the other 7 amazing gals! We are sharing these posts on a quarterly basis … be on the lookout in January for the next post in this series.

Grace of Graceful Rags
Mica of Away From The Blue
Roxanne of Glass of Glam
Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge
Rena of It’s All Fine. Whatever Tickles The Fancy
Eugenia of The Age Of Grace
Lesley of Jodie’s Touch of Style
And Charlotte of Jodie’s Touch of Style

Remember, you can’t put a number on style!

From casual to formal, worn traditionally or with creative flare, real or costume, pearls are timeless and ageless. Is there any ensemble that isn’t instantly transformed by the addition of this luminous orb?

Be well and let’s stay in touch! Subscribe, tweet, follow, friend, love, pin … all options are available and waiting for you. I look forward to hearing from you.

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Note: This is an unsponsored post; however, the links to clothing items are associated with an affiliate program where I earned a few cents for each click.