Earrings

Yves Saint Laurent|Yves Saint Laurent

1983–84 · glass, rhinestones, metal · Costume Institute

The 1980s represented a moment in time for exuberance in costume jewelry, seen particularly in large-scale pieces that incorporate large stones or swinging elements. Designers like Yves Saint Laurent, who conceived these earrings, embraced faux stones with a fervor not seen since the 1940s, when large sets of matching faux jewelry served as a means of enlivening wartime suits. In this witty and effective design, each earring represents one half of a bow. When worn together, the pair creates a whole bowknot and frames the wearer's face with glittering stones some of which swing with every turn of her head.

Artist

Yves Saint Laurent|Yves Saint Laurent

Date

1983–84

Medium

glass, rhinestones, metal

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Yves Saint Laurent, 1987