Go Buy Now: Chain Necklaces

On any given night, you can find us in our beds—but unable to sleep—our brains abuzz with some seemingly urgent fashion-related question. We can’t tell you how many hours we’ve spent wondering about such vastly important things like: who makes the best boyfriend jeans, what shade of nail polish we'll be coveting next spring, and how we can get our hands on Mary-Kate Olsen's latest handbag? The only way we seem to be able to silence our midnight musings is to discuss our fixations in a public forum. Today, dear readers, we’re happy to exercise (or at least address) our current craving: chains, chains, chains!



As we mentioned in our seasonal preview, we spotted chain link details in many of our favorite fall runway shows, including Chloe, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Gucci. The boldest version appeared at Givenchy, where Riccardo Tisci draped his models in heaps of chain necklaces festooned with cross, coin, and horseshoe charms. Happily, this wasn’t just one of those dramatic runway looks that never sees the light of day (or a store floor, more specifically). Givenchy actually created several versions of this astonishing look, including the aforementioned Gold Metal Two-Stranded, Six-Stranded, and Multi-Chain & Charm Necklaces ($2500), as a part of their stellar fall accessories collection.

While we would flip for any of the Givenchy necklaces, truth be told, we don’t really have any reason to wear half our body weight in gold chain, nor do we have many upcoming events for which this exact look would be appropriate. However, we could work some less intense, but still substantial, versions into our daily outfits with ease (more on that in a moment). We’d also like to remind you that there’s more than one way to introduce this runway-inspired look into your wardrobe. If you’re interested in a slightly more subtle chain effect, go for a heavy metal bracelet like Kenneth Cole New York’s Multichain Bracelet ($48) or Iosselliani’s Tangle Cuff ($495). After all, a wrist wrapped in bracelets will always be a less intense look than a sternum covered in chains, right?

As for your WhoWhatWear.com editors, we’re still trying to figure out which piece we want to buy (we found so many!). Until we decide, we’re going to get crafty and mix a handful of our vintage chains with some new cheapie pieces (recession style—oh yeah) from Forever 21. But if jewelry making isn't your forte, perhaps you should check out a few of our favorite necklaces, all of which are listed below!


1. ASOS Multi Chain Beaten Disc Necklace ($30)
This assortment of gold, bronze, and silver chains is sure to cause envy and enthusiasm amongst your peers. It’s also a practical purchase, as the versatile multi-colored metal will go with anything.

2. Maison Martin Margiela Chain Necklace ($275)
This intricate piece is several necklaces in one and the shape reminds us of a dream catcher. It’s a truly a statement piece, thanks to cubic zirconia, chrysolite, and a variety of metal details, and should be worn with something simple and unornamented, like Love Yaya's Claire Tee ($90).

3. Banana Republic Multi-Layer Chain Necklace ($49)
We rely on Banana Republic's inexpensive high-quality baubles to round out the contents of our jewelry boxes. Lately we’re in love with their six-stranded steel chain necklace because it's a sleek take on the trend at a great price point.

4. Forever 21 Knotted Multichain Necklace ($6.80)
Leave it to Forever 21 to create an absurdly affordable version of any trend or style. The longest strand of their chain cluster necklace measures a whopping 36-inches long, so it drapes beautifully, and the cost is minimal, so you won’t feel guilty indulging!

5. Lucky Brand Love Layer Necklace($95)
Lucky Brand offers more than just jeans, as this excellent triple-layered, gold-tone wooden disc necklace shows us! It has very bohemian feeling and we could picture Sienna Miller wearing it with any of her neo-boho outfits.

6. Marciano Cynthia Multi-Layer Necklace ($198)
We're assuming Madonna's Like A Prayer video must have inspired this dramatic piece. This necklace combines two trends in one with countless metallic chains and a large cross pendant for a perfectly Givenchy-like look. —Jessica Amento