Pearls That Aren't Stuffy—Courtesy Of Venessa Arizaga

What's up with "growing up"? Meaning, you can't have fun, colorful things in life anymore? Fluttery, pink dance recital costumes are suddenly "tasteful" black LBDs, light-up sneakers become nude pumps, sparkly hair bobbles turn into invisible hair ties. While all that is good and well, sometimes... it's simply no fun. Luckily, we can depend on our lovely friend Venessa Arizaga to bring a kids' classic into the adult world: friendship bracelets. 

For Resort '15, aside from our favorite wrist candy (calling all sugar mamas!), New York-based Arizaga sought a new way to work with pearls, collaborating with young artist Marina Silva on painted bananas and pineapples, miniature works to showcase on your ear or decolletage. Also new this season: the designer's take on current culture and society—made playful with her kitty-adorned Pussy Riot Bracelet or the limeade-colored Selfie Bracelet, in case you forgot about that little phenomenon.


Check out the designer's special-to-OC lookbook in the slideshow, and shop all Venessa Arizaga here! "For my Resort '15 collection, I wanted to create a new way of working with pearls." — Venessa Arizaga. Model wears the Pina Pineapple Earrings and Suba Libre Pineapple Necklace, both in silver. Photos by Shawn Roche'Pina Pineapple Earrings in silver Suba Libre Pineapple Necklace in silver "I collaborated with Marina Silva, a young artist who spends her time between Mexico City and NYC. Her work is amazing – she sketches the female human body and injects surreal elements like plant life to it. I want to put the spirit of her artwork in the pearl pieces." Pearl Banana Earrings and Pearl Banana Choker Necklace, both in silver.Pearl Banana Earrings in silver