Chanel Earrings

In contrast to the simplicity of the clothing, Chanel's jewelry is bold and theatrical. She embraced the primitive and barbaric in her accessories, which elevated her trim, tidy clothing, creating a look so womanly and sophisticated that it has never gone out of fashion since she first imagined it more than 90 years ago. Chanel draped herself and her models in ropes of faux pearls and goldtone chains. She commissioned masterpieces of poured glass from Maison Gripoix. Adopting red and green as her signature color combination, she drew inspiration from numerous sources: The Treasury of St. Mark's in Venice with its Byzantine treasures, the Moghuls of India, Persia, Egypt, Renaissance pearl chains with delicately wrought metal, Baroque era pendant pearls, African carvings, the Etruscans and Visigoths and Celts.