
The bright-white platinum and diamond aesthetic of the early Art Deco era expanded to incorporate yellow gold and more colored gemstones and asymmetry became more of an acceptable idea.Īs World War II ended, though, styles began to change. When do we see dress clips begin to decline in popularity? In the 1930s and ‘40s, the style of dress clips evolved alongside other jewelry. Kwiat added that the Art Deco period is also the first time dress clips appeared, whereas one could go as far back as the Ancient Egyptians and find brooches. “The dress clips are two pieces that can be worn together or separate whereas a brooch is typically a single element.” He said pairs of dress clips often had a back that secured the two halves together so it became one piece, like a more classic-style brooch. However, they also could be worn together. What separates the dress clip from the classic brooch? Kwiat said in the beginning, dress clips were always in pairs, worn separated from each other on the strap or neckline of a dress, and almost always symmetrical. “The costume jewelry industry,” Selva said, “gave such a boost to that concept.” This, in turn, feeds back to the fine houses and the dress clip quickly establishes itself as a “must-have item in fashion,” Kwiat said. Some of the big thrust was the movies, people going to the movies in the 1920s, and they’re seeing these beautiful women with these dress clips and they want that.”Īnd so companies started making them in great number, and not just the great houses such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Raymond Yard, but famous costume jewelers of the era too, like Trifari and Coro.

“Designers are putting them on these dresses that they are making. “I think it’s a real phenomenon in a way because dress clips become the piece of jewelry you have to have, and becomes integral to a dress and a look,” Selva said. This new style of dress called for more ornamentation, and Kwiat said dress clips evolved as a reaction to that and were worn not only on dresses but also on furs and accessories, like handbags. “The tight, corseted dresses of the Edwardian period came into a much more free-form flowing, adventurous, romantic style,” including the famous flapper dresses of the era. Fashion in both clothing and jewelry changed as the world worked to recover from the “Great War” and time marched on into the 1920s, a famous decade for style.ĭuring this time, “fashion began to dictate some of the jewelry trends” in many respects, Kwiat said.

When did women first start wearing dress clips? Dress clips, Kwiat said, first began to appear post-World War I. Greg Kwiat, CEO of Fred Leighton, and Rebecca Selva, chief creative officer and public relations director for the jeweler, recently took the time to chat with National Jeweler about this Art Deco-era trend, and some of the ways in which Fred Leighton is finding new life for these classic clips.

So, what forced dress clips out of fashion, and will they ever come back in style again? The style, however, fell out of favor in the 1950s when classic brooches regained popularity, and it never really recovered. Most of our dress clips for sale are for women, but there are 40 pieces available to browse for men.New York-Dress clips are a type of pin that first gained prominence in the 1920s and were worn in pairs, often opposite one another on the neckline or straps of a dress. A selection of round cut, mixed cut and brilliant cut can be found today on these pages. Browse our collection of 53 Diamond versions today to add the perfect touch to your look. Many examples in our inventory of these items are appealing no matter their origins, but Tiffany & Co., Alfred Philippe for Trifari and Cartier produced popular versions that are worth a look. Art Deco and Retro are consistently popular styles when it comes to dress clips. Our inventory is broad and distinctive, with accessories on offer that were made as long ago as the 20th Century to those produced as recently as the 21st Century. Our collection of these items for sale includes 191 vintage editions and 3 modern creations to choose from as well. Frequently made of Platinum, Gold and 18k Gold, these items were constructed with great care. Find an expansive variety of dress clips available on 1stDibs.
