The '80s Jewelry Trend Revival Proves Girls Still Want to Have Fun

1980s fashion trends were all about excess. Flaunting "it"—your status, personality, and power—was the motivating force behind getting dressed during the decade. Along with the era's boxy blazers and souped-up shoulder pads, the '80s jewelry trends were just as instrumental in achieving a more-is-more mood. The bigger, bolder, and more maximal an accessory, the better.

Madonna, being the "Material Girl" she was, layered gold chains with cross pendants and charms. Princess Diana wore big button earrings and looped her pearls in three and four strands. Joan Collins, as Dynasty's vengeful Alexis Colby, was draped in multicolored gems or chunky yellow gold in every episode—melodrama and maximalism personified.

While a lot has changed since those days, the style sentiment that defined that decade of decadence mirrors this one. Chanel, Schiaparelli, and Versace are selling circular earrings the size of half-dollars, a supersized silhouette that's the clear jewelry front-runner of the fall 2024 trends. Fashion's favorite trendsetters are wearing their best bangles like they're Wonder Woman cuffs: Kylie Jenner wore massive Schiaparelli bangles to Paris Fashion Week that were as forceful as they were fabulous—and a statement set that Alexis Colby would absolutely covet and scheme to steal.

Jenner isn't the only tastemaker of today in a throwback mood. Bella Hadid attended the 2024 Cannes Film Festival with her wrists wrapped in gold bands and ears studded with solid gold squares. Sister Gigi Hadid pairs pendant necklaces with an extra chain of charms on city strolls, while Adele endorses the '80s jewelry trend with hefty, yellow-gold knot-motif earrings worn courtside at soccer games.

Helping modern muses tap into the glitzy glamour of the past is precisely what founder Pia Mance hopes to do with her vintage-inspired jewelry line Heaven Mayhem. “My biggest inspiration comes from the idea that vintage pieces stand the test of time,” says the jewelry designer. “[Heaven Mayhem’s] are pieces my grandmother wore, my mum would still wear, and I would love to pass down one day.”

Mance counts Emily Ratajkowski, Lori Harvey, Sofia Richie Grainge, and Sydney Sweeney as fans, but her most loyal customer is unquestionably Hailey Bieber: the Rhode founder owns Heaven Mayhem’s Vase Earrings, Ribbed Earrings, and Tabi Gold Earrings, all gold square-shaped sets similar to the pairs in your mother’s cherished jewelry collection.

Consumers are quickly catching on to the most sought-after styles. Isaac Manevitz of Ben-Amun, a brand known for its kitschy-chic costume jewelry, reports “a huge spike in our chunkiest jewelry pieces since last year,” as well as its “larger-than-life earrings and bold bangles.” Vintage jewelry specialist and collector Susan Caplan also shares that sales of her authentic 1980s earrings, “from oversized hoops and discs to excessive crystals and oversized pearls,” increased by 30 percent on her site, with demand growing.

Admittedly, the revival of bodacious ‘80s jewelry is a hairpin turn from last year’s quiet luxury minimalism. But it does track with the public’s growing pursuit of personal style. “80s jewelry is a grand way of saying, ‘I’m here, I want to be seen, and I am important," says Manevitz. "The 1980s style resurgence goes back to the idea of independence and finding your own style instead of wearing what everyone else is wearing. Personality brooches, easy-to-wear earrings, and stackable bangles are an easy way to showcase your style in a way that is completely and totally you."

In other words, 2024’s fashion girls just want to have fun, and today's newfound take on ‘80s jewelry trends lets them do just that.

Ahead, you'll find a thorough breakdown of the '80s jewelry experiencing a revival, according to fashion's recent runways and the key styles to shop. And remember, when it comes to styling the below pieces, more is more.

Bold and Gold

Nothing screams the '80s like a bodacious gold bauble—preferably, several worn at once. To start, consider knotted double-hoop earrings like Heaven Mayhem's or St. Morna's bulky chain-link cuff.

Hit the Button

Button earrings—or as some simply called them during the 1980s, "Big Earrings"—are back, baby. Take your pick of metallic, color, and price range—though we'd be remiss not to shout out Versace's signature medallion studs featuring the fashion house's signature Medusa emblem.

Long Layers

In 2024, it's no longer a matter of which necklace to wear, but how you wear multiple at once. A pre-layered option—like Tory Burch's trio of gold chains—makes necklace stacking easier, but mixing and matching yourself is always a worthwhile option. You'll just want to keep an eye on the lengths of each piece, though.

Pile on the Pearls

2024 encourages you to put pearls in the center stage. Whether you're drawn to supersized single-pearl drop earrings or singular strands (or several worn at once, as seen at Moschino and Alessandra Rich), invite the milky gemstone into your jewelry box this year however you please.

Beaucoup de Bangles

Be it a hefty bracelet sculpted from molten metallics or translucent resin, make 2024 the year you commit to the bangle. Wear one on its own, or take a styling cue from Fendi, Saint Laurent, and Schiaparelli and slip on a stack.

Put a Pin in It

Again, the '80s were about adding flair whenever and wherever you could—thus, clip-on brooches played a big part in the decade's signature style. As seen at Tory Burch, Carolina Herrera, Moschino, Miu Miu, and more, ornate pins offer extra impact to a blouse or blazer.