It's a look that was first made chic by Coco Chanel, the famous French fashion designer whose influence on haute couture embodied success, personality, style, and confidence. Her Chanel suit, with its knee-length skirt and boxy jacket were paired beautifully with large pearl necklaces. And who can forget Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's, donned in an amazing black dress by Givency and the fabulous pearl necklace. Another pearl wearer icon of the 1960s was of course Jackie O. She perfected nearly every outfit with a beautiful strand of pearls.

Although the two women couldn't have been more different, in the 1980s both Madonna and Barbara Bush had pearls in common and used them to express their unique and classic approach to fashion, respectively. In the new millennium, Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barak Obama, has once again shown the world a strand of pearls can never be beat when you want to look your best.

What's fun about pearl choices for the season is that they come in so many shapes and sizes - from bulbous baubles to luxurious strands - and can be worn with your favorite little black dress or a pair of jeans. High-end jewelry designer Mikimoto has taken the pearl strand to a whole new level. A one-of-a-kind pearl strand is available for a mere $1 million and is, according to Mikimoto, unique because it is made from South Sea pearls of the highest quality. In fact, the pearls took 10 years to cultivate and are rated AAA, meaning they possess a superb silver white luster. Twenty-seven cultured pearls are complemented by an art deco clasp made of 11.92 carats of diamonds.

For the rest of us who can't spend a million bucks, but want to look we did, designers are also producing some exciting, affordable alternatives. For the girl who loves an edgier look, some designers are combining the traditional strand with chunky beads and crystals. To copy the style so many celebrities are sporting, the main must-have look for fall is long, layered strands. Have fun mixing colors as well as lengths for some variety.

Pearl Care

Today, most of the pearls worn are cultured pearls, meaning their creation was initiated by human hands. A bead, mantle tissue, or other object is inserted into oyster or clam. The foreign object inside the clam is coated with nacre, the patina that gives pearls their unique appearance.

The quality and durability of a pearl is based on how long the nacre coating is allowed to thicken, what type of creature is involved, and how long the bead is left in place. As nacre thickens, the quality of the pearl increases.

The important thing to remember with pearls is that even those cultured pieces that possess a thicker coating are still more delicate than most other gemstones. Pearls should be handled with care to ensure superior condition. Follow these guidelines:

1.Apply makeup, hand creams and perfume before putting on your pearl jewelry.

2.Clean pearls gently with mild soap and warm water.

3.Dry pearls with a soft, lint-free cloth. This cloth can also be used to clean your pearls after wear.

4.Avoid ammonia or harsh detergents to clean pearls.

5.Avoid using an ultrasonic cleaner on pearl jewelry.

6.Have pearl necklaces checked periodically and/or have them restrung to ensure the nylon or sink cord holding them is on good shape.

Storing Pearl Jewelry

Pearls should not be stored with other jewelry because they can be scratched by gemstones or metal. Pearl jewelry should be kept in a separate compartment or in a bag made of chamois or another soft material.