STATEMENT JEWELRY TAKES OVER AT NEW YORK FASHION WEEK
- BY KRISTOPHER FRASER
- 17 SEPTEMBER 2025
- 4 Min
While ready-to-wear is always front and center at New York Fashion Week, this season the accessories had a moment to shine. Statement jewelry had one of the biggest moments on this month’s runways, as designers styled their looks with chunky necklaces and statement pendants.
Although Michael Kors is best known for his ready-to-wear and handbags, this season on the runway he accessorized his models with pendant necklaces that elevated classic workwear pieces like power suits. They also served as the perfect accent for caftan dresses. As Kors finds new ways to grow his business, he’s looking to accessories beyond just bags.
Photo: Courtesy of Launchmetrics
Michael Kors wasn’t the only one in love with a good necklace. Over at Ralph Lauren, the designer showed his latest spin on upper-class Americana, with a color palette heavy on red, white, and black—just a shade of blue shy of being American-flag-inspired. Beyond beautifully tailored suits and resort-ready dresses, many of Ralph’s looks were accessorized with statement pendants and decorative necklaces, also paired with caftans and power suiting.
Photo: Courtesy of Michael Kors
Beyond the realm of statement jewelry, with more minimalist and workwear pieces, was the world of Anna Sui. Sui is known for her bohemian and vintage aesthetics, which she has remixed every season to make many of her pieces recognizably Anna Sui. For this season, she collaborated with New York-based jewelry brand Erickson Beamon to adorn her models with opulent beaded necklaces and colorful stone and crystal pieces. Erickson Beamon has been a longtime collaborator of Anna Sui, having worked with the brand on countless runway shows in the past.
Photo: Courtesy of Anna Sui
While statement jewelry can range anywhere from rings to bracelets, neckpieces are having their moment. It’s an interesting turn of events after the red carpets of the past year have seen fewer stars opting for necklaces and instead choosing statement earrings. Like all things in fashion, though, the pendulum eventually swings to a different trend. It looks like necklaces are finally making their comeback.
Necklaces and pendants started making their slow and steady comeback thanks in part to the fragrance industry. While fragrances and accessories don’t always go hand in hand, earlier this year fashion-savvy fragrance consumers began attaching perfume pendants to their necklaces. While these no longer have the practicality they did during the Victorian era, when they were used to mask the scent of city streets, they were the catalyst for the love everyone is showing a good necklace right now. Time to adorn your neck with something big, bold, and beautiful.