If you had asked me about pearls a few years ago, I would have said they reminded me of my grandmother. Flash forward to now, and pearls are everywhere you look, with a gold pearl necklace being the ‘it girl’ of summer 2025 jewelry trends. It’s always been a timeless staple that deserves a spot in every jewelry box, but our go-to style muses and fashion influencers have been reimagining how to wear the classic pearl choker.
Gone are the days when you’d only ever see a gold and pearl necklace being worn for a special occasion. With the right styling, your gold pearl necklace can be your signature piece to elevate your workwear or give your clubbing looks a ‘quiet luxury’ feel.
I’m sharing three styling tips for wearing a gold pearl necklace in a modern way to give you the best cost-per-way from your favorite Cult of Sun necklaces.
Pearls with Animal Print
When the “mob wife” aesthetic was trending on TikTok, I fell back in love with animal print dresses. There’s something so effortlessly chic about wearing an all-over animal print with a pearl choker being the cherry on top. If you’re daring to walk on the wild side this summer, styling a gold and pearl necklace with your animal dresses can make it more versatile.
I love the ‘Half Pearl Choker’ as it gives you the best of both worlds with a trendy paper clip chain and rectangular freshwater pearls. This is the style I always recommend to friends shopping for their first pearl choker necklace.
A Gold Pearl Necklace + Classic White Tee
If you’re like me, a high-quality white cotton t-shirt is your ride-or-die. It’s the first thing I pack when going on vacation and it’s on a weekly rotation in my closet. Wearing a pearl choker like the ‘Pearl Rhapsody Choker’ or ‘Mint Sensation Choker’ adds a contemporary twist to this classic staple with mismatched pearls, funky charms, and colorful pearls making the necklace feel more modern.
Trust me, pearls work with any outfit. I’m even known to bring a pearl necklace along to the gym to throw on to jazz up my outfit before meeting the girls for a post-workout matcha. It’s the chic sports look you could imagine athletes like Serena Williams or Leah Williamson wearing.
Workwear with a Gold and Pearl Necklace
Repeat after me: workwear does not have to be boring. Whether you work in an office or you’re a freelancer jumping between coffee shops in the cities, you can jazz up your workwear by layering a pearl necklace. Mix a gold and pearl necklace with other gold chains or statement necklaces can upgrade your outfit, taking you seamlessly from a 3pm meeting to after-work drinks.
My two go-to pearl necklaces for work days are the ‘Pearl Obsession Necklace’ and the ‘Floating Pearl Necklace’. You easily style each pearl and gold necklace solo or layer with other pieces for a quirky necklace stack.
Now you have three fresh ways to style your gold pearl necklace, whether you’re adding it as an unexpected twist to your activewear or as part of your workwear closet. Don’t keep your pearls for special occasions – they deserve a spot in your weekly rotation.
Want to learn more about the latest jewelry trends and styling? Check out these posts:
3 coolest layered necklace ideas for summer 2025
5 biggest pearl necklace trends in 2025
Jewelry gifts for her under $100: a roundup
