Jewelry Trends Through the Years

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1985: Dangling Triangle Earrings

1985 was all about geometric accessories, so these triangle-shaped earrings that Diana Ross wears here would have been all the rage.

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1986: Mixed-Media Tassel Earrings

The mid-'80s were rife with huge-ass bling, and this trend, which basically meant that you tack a bunch of stuff onto an earring thread and call it a day, was part of that! Here, Jean Kasem demonstrates the everything-in-tassel-form trend (and many other '80s fashion trends, obviously).

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1987: High-Impact Chandeliers

Why even wear chandelier earrings if you can't see them from space? That was the general motto in 1987, and Oprah obviously followed suit.

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1988: Statement Hoops

Everyone wanted to wear hoops in the '80s and the bigger, the better. Vanessa Williams definitely got the hang of the style here.

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1989: Mismatched Moon and Star Earrings

Moon and star symbols were super prominent in the late '80s and so were mismatched earring styles. Jane Fonda represents both trends with aplomb here, right?

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1990: Chain-Link Headbands

Though headbands aren't technically jewelry, designs with gold chains and rhinestones certainly made them feel like they were in 1990, as Madonna's look so clearly indicates.

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1991: Ultra Dangly Pom Earrings

As Heather Locklear illustrates here, dangly earrings with pom poms or large beads were a pretty big deal in 1991.

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1992: Drapey Gold Chain Belts

In 1992 a belt wasn't just a run-of-the-mill accessory—it was a piece of jewelry just like a necklace or earring. Tyra Banks demonstrates the trend perfectly during a Chanel runway show here.

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1993: Lace Chokers

Lace chokers—as well as those wirey black tattoo chokers—had a major moment in 1993, as evidenced by Cindy Crawford here.

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1994: Epic Collar Chokers

In 1994, the chokers took up basically your whole neck, as seen in this particularly OTT crystal piece on Naomi Campbell. The matching shades are a nice touch, no?

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1995: Delicate Cuff Bracelets

Intricately designed thick diamond or crystal bracelets, like the one Gwyneth Paltrow's wearing here, were a major accessory trend in 1995.

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1996: Earrings That Exactly Match Your Jeweled Choker

It was totally common to wear a completely matching set of earrings and necklaces, especially chokers, back in 1996. Here, Nicole Kidman demonstrates the idea.

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1997: Diamond Solitaire Studs

In 1997, people were all about that classic diamond stud. Here, Sarah Jessica Parker models the style with an also '90s-appropriate high-crown updo (more of those to come in the following slides, too).

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1998: Sparkly Layered Chokers

Chokers were clearly a major part of all '90s fashion, so it's no shocker that Jennifer Aniston—and pretty much everyone else—doubled up sparkly diamond/crystal/rhinestone ones like these by 1998.

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1999: Gemstone Studs

Classic earrings in the form of precious stone studs had a nice time in the spotlight in 1999. Here, Lucy Liu wears a ruby pair.

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2000: Cuffs

Cuffs—huge bracelets that almost look like Wonder Woman's wrist armor— showed up everywhere in 2000, especially in Paris Hilton's wardrobe.

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2001: More Chunky Bracelets

Everyone wore statement bracelets with big beads and bright colors in 2001, including Cameron Diaz.

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2002: Huge Pearl Studs

As demonstrated by Drew Barrymore here, large, round pearl earrings were in everyone's jewelry box back in 2002.

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2003: Outward Hoops

Instead of the regular hoop style, which is vertical, circle earrings like the ones on Lucy Liu here, which were more horizontal, had a moment in 2003.

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2004: Lariat Necklaces

Lariat necklaces—the ones that come together and form one cascading line down the decolletage—were ultra popular in 2004, as evidenced by Lindsay Lohan's piece.

Rachel Torgerson is the fashion features and lifestyle director at Cosmopolitan, overseeing fashion and lifestyle coverage online, in print, and on our various social media platforms. She has over a decade of experience in the fashion and media industries. Before landing at Cosmopolitan as a digital fashion editor in 2016, she worked at Us Weekly, The Knot, and Fitness Magazine, among others. When she's not discussing runway trends, you can definitely catch her trying out (and, in many cases, failing) a new crochet cardigan pattern or in a spirited debate about the difference between the Bridgerton books vs the Netflix series. Follow her on Instagram and TikTok: @RachelTorgs 

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