Jewelry Trends That Were Shaped By Celebrities In The '70s

The 1970s were a vibrant decade characterized by bohemian and disco-inspired aesthetics. Unlike the refined pieces worn by celebrities years prior, during this era, jewelry took bold forms and became more than just an accessory. With the rise of glam rock trends, statement pieces became powerful symbols of a person's attitude, charisma, and style. Chunky yellow gold accessories were also popularized by celebrities who set out to ooze glamor and lavishness on red carpets. While bold pendants and oversized hoop earrings helped define the decade, several jewelry collections nodded to hippie trends by incorporating natural gemstones in earthy hues. Famous icons not only used jewelry to elevate their appearances, but also to reflect their personas.

The 1970s made a profound impact on the jewelry industry, and disco-inspired pieces that dazzled under the spotlights were popularized by the prominent party culture that helped define the decade. Celebrities were often seen stepping out wearing diamond chokers and dramatic crystals. Like other 1970s fashion trends that have had a resurgence in recent years, jewelry trends that were shaped by the decade's icons have come back in fashion — or maybe they never went out of style.

Cher made headlines for her bold wardrobe in the 1970s. With her most renowned outfits created by her longtime friend and legendary designer Bob Mackie, the singer undoubtedly wore some of the most iconic celebrity outfits that defined the era. Accessories were a major part of Cher's image, and the singer well and truly mastered the art of using jewelry to express her bold character at the start of her career. From giant mohawk headpieces to crystal crowns, the singer was hardly afraid to make a statement.

In 1971, the singer appeared in an episode of "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour," a CBS series hosted by Cher and her former husband and duet partner Sonny Bono, wearing more than $1 million worth of crystals. At the center of her iconic look was a statement choker which featured layers of encrusted necklaces and one of the world's largest gem-quality star sapphires. She finished her ensemble with crystal cluster-drop sapphire earrings, as well as several oversized diamond rings and encrusted bangles. Cher's shimmering accessories made a profound international impact, considering it was one of the first times that the Black Star of Queensland was showcased to the world.

Throughout the decade, Cher's unconventional and bold style helped shape statement jewelry trends. In recent years, celebrities have continued to step onto red carpets covered in chunky diamonds and bold gemstones.

Elizabeth Taylor began making a profound impact in Hollywood when she was just nine years old. However, the actor has continued to be an icon of celebrity culture, even after her death in 2011. In recent years, Taylor's legacy has lived on through her distinct taste in jewelry. The actor was known for inspiring a new generation of jewelry wearers with uniquely shaped necklace pendants and lively charm bracelets. Taylor helped popularize serpent designs and vibrant gemstones, famously wearing a stunning emerald choker to a gala dinner in 1976. She also sported colorful, bold earrings, which quickly became a staple of her red carpet appearances.

Taylor was a huge fan of jewelry designer Bulgari, and vice versa, as the brand went on to honor her with her own jewelry collection. Not only did her regal diamonds reflect her glamorous personality, the actor occasionally appeared in films donning some of her most magnificent pieces. She was an expert at merging art with accessories, and as her jewelry collection extended to include brooches, too, the actor was able to experiment with even bolder designs. Taylor's aesthetic has continued to inspire red carpet looks and jewelry collections. Her favored serpent-inspired designs continue to be embraced by some of Hollywood's most famous and freshest faces, including actor Zendaya and supermodel Bella Hadid.

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Donna Summer is a renowned singer-songwriter who ultimately paved the way toward the resurgence of statement hoop earrings in the 1970s. Summer was a major icon of the era, and throughout her career, she won a staggering five Grammy Awards. With hits including "Hot Stuff" and "She Works Hard for the Money," Summer has long been considered the queen of disco, and in 1970, she performed wearing her staple accessories. As part of her disco-obsessed aesthetic, the singer often took to the stage wearing large hoop earrings. While the bold accessories were also embraced by the likes of Cher, Summer helped shape an entirely new meaning behind hoop earrings.

Not only did her statement earrings symbolize her larger-than-life personality, but the accessory also became a staple for the singer amid the "Black is Beautiful" movement. As the inclusive movement set out to empower Black women and address racism across the globe, hoop earrings became a symbol of Black identity and cultural history. In a 2002 interview with Fresh Air, Summer spoke about the importance of authenticity. "[The record label] wanted me to look a certain way, to be a certain way," Summer said. "It wasn't a place that I was comfortable," she added. Summer is remembered for her lasting love for hoop earrings, and the bold accessories have continued to reflect Black and brown cultures across the U.S.

Unlike Elizabeth Taylor, actor and human rights advocate Bianca Jagger's subtle and chic approach to accessories altered contemporary bridal jewelry. Throughout the 1970s, Jagger rarely embraced the maximalist or bohemian fashion trends that dominated the decade. Instead, the actor opted for structured silhouettes and low-key jewelry accents. Just a few days before Jagger married English musician and songwriter Mick Jagger in May 1971, she was captured having a shopping spree in Paris. She wore a minimalist outfit that included a bride-to-be blazer. 

She completed her outfit with almost no jewelry at all, as Jagger accessorized with a singular black choker, complete with a crystal encrusted heart — she was very much in her romance era, after all. Her lack of jewelry was clearly intentional, and ironically, her choker made a bold statement on its own. The deep V-neck of her blazer cascaded below her collarbones and drew attention to her bare chest. 

In a decade characterized by a "more is more" attitude, Jagger's look suggested confidence and personal style could replace extremely heavy ornamentation. Her unique approach to bridal-inspired fashion highlighted a shift to modern and individualistic wedding fashion. Her lack of accessories showed that an absence of jewelry doesn't reflect a lack of wealth or style, but rather it can actually enhance one's sophistication.