Yves Saint Laurent – 1980's Chunky Jewellery Is Back
Gold-plated Yves Saint Laurent jewellery from the 1980s: earrings, brooches and a bracelet, why chunky pieces are back, and where to look for them.
Yves Saint Laurent was born in 1936 in Oran, Algeria. He started young, at Dior, and then opened his own fashion house. He changed the way women dress with Le Smoking, his tuxedo suit for women.
For me, Yves Saint Laurent is the brand I know best, especially the bags. I can spot one from a mile away. It is such a 1980s brand.
One of the photographs below shows a 2021 bag next to a black one from the 1980s, with its round gold medallion.
Yves Saint Laurent vintage chunky jewellery
The jewellery in these photographs is all from my own collection. These pieces are from the 1980s, and they are plated in 22-carat gold. The quality is exceptional. They are chunky, and they go with any outfit I wear. I love how they feel and how they look.
If you want distinctive YSL jewellery of your own, search on platforms like Vestiaire Collective and eBay.
What to look for
How do you know a piece is right? Turn it over. Yves Saint Laurent costume jewellery of the 1980s is signed, usually on the back or on the clip, and much of it is marked Made in France.
Then feel the weight. These pieces are heavy for their size. The earrings are clip-ons, so check that the clip still closes firmly. And look at the plating on the edges, where it wears first.
Yves Saint Laurent: chunky gold jewellery is back
Chunky gold jewellery is back. Fashion trends come round again, so it is no surprise. A chunky necklace, a bracelet or a pair of earrings is a statement piece on its own.
For how to wear it, I take my inspiration from television series such as Miami Vice: a pale jacket with the sleeves pushed up, and nothing fussy underneath. Jewellery this bold wants a plain outfit around it.
Try a piece on. If it suits your personality, it belongs to you.
