PITTSBURGH _ Want to add some sparkle to your life in 2017? Crystals and gemstones are one way to do it.
These majestic minerals are having a moment in fashion. On the runway, designers Elie Saab, Givenchy and Dries Van Noten dressed up their collections with oversized stone accessories. Seeing them on celebrities _ Adele, Victoria Beckham and Katy Perry _ have only added to their popularity.
A gem dangling from a skinny suede choker or chunky leather wrap bracelets mixed with crystals are some of the ways the trend has been adapted from nighttime glam to casual chic.
"I'm seeing more of a day crystal," says Kimberly Coppola, owner of Serendipity, an accessories boutique in Pleasant Hills. "It's nice to see some wearability."
Meanwhile, other local shops have seen a surge in interest in not only these stones' alluring looks but also in the ancient beliefs that they may promote self-restoration, protection and prosperity.
In recent seasons, a number of beauty products formulated with crystals have appeared with claims that they can help stimulate the skin. Some are for sale at RadRitual, a holistic wellness store in Bloomfield. In particular, soaps and "bath bombs" with crystals inside have been "crazy popular," owner Chloe Nordlander says. It also carries locally sourced stones and rare finds from around the world, which are incorporated into on-site Tarot readings and Reiki sessions it offers.
At Juju in Point Breeze, a large table of stones is a centerpiece inside the store, which specializes in vintage clothing.
"I think the reason we choose to wear crystals as adornment is it tells other people that we're tapped into these energies," says owner Leslie McAllister. "I ask people, 'What are you attracted to?' I let them feel that magnetic pull to what they're needing in they're life."
Want to try crystals and stones? Here are some basics ...
Amethyst: Sobering and clarifying
Rose quartz: Self-love and healing
Black tourmaline: Considered the "evil eye of minerals" because it's believed to repel negativity
Citrine: Wealth and abundance
Rubies and garnets: Vitality and vigor
Clear or smoky quartz: Paired with other stones to amplify their properties
