Many 'It' pieces are made in the hands of a Hadid, but most fall out of fashion as quickly as they came in. In fact, few viral must-haves manage to maintain their desirability for longer than a single season. But, a far from a flash-in-the-pan accessory is Bottega Veneta's Drop earrings, which have withstood the whims of the trend cycle to become a contemporary mainstay - and the A-list approval is still going strong.
From Kendall Jenner to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (and Bella, of course), the Drops have been seen framing so many famous faces, but it's actually the wearability of these bold earrings that underpins the demand.
The oversized silhouette, available in sterling silver and 18kt yellow-gold plating, is smoothly sculpted to resemble an oversized water droplet, and curves around the ear from above the lobe. There are two sizes available: the smaller makes a statement, but the larger is truly memorable.
Perhaps surprisingly, these large, sculptural metal studs can be styled with pretty much anything. Take your cues from Huntington-Whiteley and use them to lift a palette of neutral separates, or take the Gen Z route and let them elevate a Nineties-era look. Once the temperatures climb, a tank top and silk slip skirt make obvious partners, while come cooler days they'll look just as good with supple leather trousers. Truly, the styling opportunities are plentiful.
Demonstrating their season-transcending appeal, the Drop earrings first appeared on Matthieu Blazy's autumn/winter 2022 runway - his first as creative director of the house. Since then, they've sold out, reappeared, and been reinvented in a multitude of guises: find them in ridged silver metal (Hailey Bieber's choice), painted with primary-hued enamel, and sliced to reveal slivers of lacquer in tell-tale Bottega Green.
Akin to Blazy's blockbuster bags for the brand, the Drops demonstrate the design nous powering the Bottega boom: they're an investment piece made to be seen, but not one that will fade into the back of the wardrobe come the new season. Polished and sleek, they speak to the consumer that favours clean lines over filigree sparkle, summing up how so many of us want to wear jewellery today.
Really, it's little wonder the brand has struggled to keep them in stock. An 'It' piece with longevity? Sign us up.
As you're likely expecting, the Drop earrings are notoriously tricky to score - but we've found the original gold and silver iterations in stock at Mytheresa. For something more vibrant, the paintbox-bright enamel versions are available directly from Bottega Veneta now.