Beaded Anklet

What Beaded Jewelry Is Trending Now?

Search data gives a clear answer for anklets. US searches for beaded anklets run at more than double their yearly average in June and July. The look that keeps coming back is the beach souvenir: small beads, a single charm, and colors borrowed from water and sand. White with turquoise, soft pink and plain silver tone all sit in that palette, which is why they never look dated by the next summer. The other steady trend is mixing textures, a beaded strand worn beside a cord or a chain, so the ankle carries a small stack rather than one piece.

• Summer peak. June and July bring the most searches.
• One charm up front. A starfish, shell or heart gives the strand a face.
• Sea and sand colors. White, turquoise, pink and silver tone.

Seed Beads, Glass and Gemstone Beads

The bead decides how an anklet moves and how it reads from standing height. Tiny seed beads make a strand so flexible that it curves around the ankle bone. Frosted glass has a matte skin that glows softly instead of flashing. Silver tone ovals catch the sun in quick sparks. Gemstone beads around 6mm are heavier, so the strand hangs straight, and they are big enough that their color shows clearly from across a patio.

• Seed beads. The most flexible, curving strand.
• Frosted glass. A soft matte glow.
• Gemstone beads. Weight and color you can see.

Beaded Anklet With Clasp or Without

A beaded strand on elastic has no clasp at all: you roll it over your heel and it finds its own spot above the ankle bone. A strand on a sliding cord ties itself to size and loosens again with a push. A beaded chain with a lobster clasp and extender is the one to choose when a charm should sit right at the front, since the clasp can be turned to the back and stays there. If you plan to wear the anklet in the sea every day of a trip, the clasp style is also the easiest to take off and dry between swims.

• Elastic. Rolls on with no clasp.
• Sliding cord. Adjusts with a pull.
• Lobster clasp. Keeps a charm centered at the front.

Pairing a Beaded Anklet

A beaded anklet looks best with some contrast. Wear it alone on bare skin with flat sandals, or put it beside a fine chain so the beads have something smooth to play against. For a full vacation look, see the beach jewelry page, and echo the anklet at the wrist with a strand from the beaded bracelets.

• Bare skin. Let the colors stand alone.
• Beside a chain. Smooth metal next to texture.
• Match the wrist. A beaded bracelet ties the look together.