Tassel and Pom-Pom Jewelry

Design Idea GA31 Hair Stick
by Barbara van Look, Content Development Group, Exclusively for Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®

They're sprightly and sassy, elegant and chic, exotic and all-American. They're on purses and shoes and headbands and belts and jewelry, of course.

Lots of jewelry.

Pom-poms and tassels are a fun fashion trend that just keeps going.

Fiber

Beadalon Tassle MakerBeadalon Tassel Maker Bright and bold, fiber tassels are a popular, lightweight addition to jewelry and accessories. Many add a bohemian touch to style, with color and movement. Jewelry makers can create their own tassels using the Beadalon® tassel maker and pom-poms using Clover pom-pom makers.

The light weight of fiber tassels and pom-poms means they can be layered on for nomadic flair, or added to Gossamer™ chain and other fine chains for the ''barely there'' trend.

Layering multiple lightweight necklaces is still a hot commodity for fashionistas, and colorful tassels and pom-poms are part of the style, as seen at Neiman Marcus. Add a tassel or pom-pom to multi-charm necklaces, such as those from Alexander McQueen, and it's right in line for style.

Can fiber tassels really go dressy? Oh, yes--in neutral or metallic hues, they're an ideal component. For something more casual, a cluster of tiny pom-poms at the end of a ''barely there'' seed-beaded necklace brings the boho-artisan look to life.

Oversized fiber tassels are popular on purses at Tory Burch, with fringe-style tassels embellishing gowns at Marchesa. They're also showing up on earrings (at Elie Saab), shoes and bracelets--single or in clusters.

Leather

Tassel and Pom-Pom Jewelry For a little more heft and swing, tassels made with leather are common on accessories usually also made of leather: purses, shoes and belts. Pom-poms made of leather could be a popular fixture on shoes for the coming seasons.

These heavier versions are often accented around the base, with metal studs, sparkling rhinestones, different colors or textures of leather and more. These types of tassels are often detachable, too--clip them on for more dazzle or remove them for a more streamlined look.

Medium-sized leather tassels showed up on purses at Tod's and Dsquared2, while longer leather tassels fluttered on both jewelry and purses at Tory Burch.

Beads

Seed beads are queen when it comes to beaded tassels and pom-poms.

Part of the ''barely there'' trend, the tiny strings of beads under a cap (or a cluster of beads in a burst) are a way to add color with more heft than leather and less than metal. Using silver-lined seed beads brings a little shimmer, too. Tiny gemstone beads, if they're similar in size and shape to seed beads, are a fully upscale version.

Tassel and Pom-Pom Jewelry
Tassel and Pom-Pom Jewelry

Metal

Tassel and Pom-Pom Jewelry The classic chain tassel's making a comeback, too--only now with additional sparkle. It's not a popular material for pom-pom making, sadly.

The metal tassel is where the variety is really at:
  • Some chain tassels are getting charms added to the end of one or two longer chains in the bunch
  • Mixing metals (gold with silver, bronze, copper or gunmetal) as well as finishes (shiny with matte or antiqued)
  • Mixing chain types (curb, figaro, ball and snake chain in one tassel) as well as adding sparkle with diamond-cut styles or lengths of cupchain

Tassels and pom-poms are having a moment, and it's easy to see why. The variety of materials and methods--as well as a range of uses--mean these styles can work for any wardrobe.

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