CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A single strand of custom pearls is the Queen of Gems -- at one time the most expensive jewelry in the world. The oldest known jewel is elegant, classic, timeless and simply beautiful. For old Hollywood, it oozed sophistication, class, grace and talent.

While never out of fashion, pearls can be more complicated than they appear. In everyday fashion, wearing pearls can take your look from demure to dramatic. The current trend dictates layering and mixing different pearl sizes and lengths with reckless abandon, while keeping them close in color for the most wow.

The single strand of pearls is probably the most popular fashion choice, but long, swinging pearl earrings and pearl bangle bracelets, big and small, have taken center stage for this season.

The wearing of pearls is steeped in history and tradition. Style masters, celebrities and other famous women have influenced today's world of fashion. Pearls have proven themselves a safe political choice for former first lady Barbara Bush, who often wore a three-strand short necklace, and current first style icon Michelle Obama, photographed in an oversized strand of pearls.

The Tiffany pearl bracelet, earrings, necklace and brooch given to Mary Todd Lincoln by President Abraham Lincoln on his first inauguration reside in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Queen Elizabeth I is said to be one of the best-known lovers of pearls and always wore seven ropes of pearls that reached to her knees.

American-turned-French socialite Sara Murphy, who hung out with Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald on the French Riviera in the 1920s, used to wear her pearls thrown down her back, because in her words, the gems "wanted sun."

No discussion about pearl jewelry can be had without first noting that it was French designer Coco Chanel, probably the most influential and innovative fashion designer in history, who made pearls her signature gem. The line of celebrity interest in pearls forms behind Chanel, who single-handedly launched a fashion empire.

As Christian Dior put it, "In a black pullover and 10 rows of pearls, she revolutionized fashion." She mixed excessive amounts of genuine and costume pearls on long ropes in the 1920s and introduced her collection of "real fake jewelry" in 1924.

Actress Elizabeth Taylor owns the largest and most important pearl in the world. It is called La Peregrina and is more than 400 years old. The white pear-shaped pearl originally arrived hanging on a delicate chain of small pearls. A gift from husband Richard Burton, it was originally given to queen-to-be Mary Tudor of England by her future husband, Prince Phillip of Spain.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A single strand of custom pearls is the Queen of Gems -- at one time the most expensive jewelry in the world. The oldest known jewel is elegant, classic, timeless and simply beautiful. For old Hollywood, it oozed sophistication, class, grace and talent.

While never out of fashion, pearls can be more complicated than they appear. In everyday fashion, wearing pearls can take your look from demure to dramatic. The current trend dictates layering and mixing different pearl sizes and lengths with reckless abandon, while keeping them close in color for the most wow.

The single strand of pearls is probably the most popular fashion choice, but long, swinging pearl earrings and pearl bangle bracelets, big and small, have taken center stage for this season.

The wearing of pearls is steeped in history and tradition. Style masters, celebrities and other famous women have influenced today's world of fashion. Pearls have proven themselves a safe political choice for former first lady Barbara Bush, who often wore a three-strand short necklace, and current first style icon Michelle Obama, photographed in an oversized strand of pearls.

The Tiffany pearl bracelet, earrings, necklace and brooch given to Mary Todd Lincoln by President Abraham Lincoln on his first inauguration reside in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Queen Elizabeth I is said to be one of the best-known lovers of pearls and always wore seven ropes of pearls that reached to her knees.

American-turned-French socialite Sara Murphy, who hung out with Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald on the French Riviera in the 1920s, used to wear her pearls thrown down her back, because in her words, the gems "wanted sun."

No discussion about pearl jewelry can be had without first noting that it was French designer Coco Chanel, probably the most influential and innovative fashion designer in history, who made pearls her signature gem. The line of celebrity interest in pearls forms behind Chanel, who single-handedly launched a fashion empire.

As Christian Dior put it, "In a black pullover and 10 rows of pearls, she revolutionized fashion." She mixed excessive amounts of genuine and costume pearls on long ropes in the 1920s and introduced her collection of "real fake jewelry" in 1924.

Actress Elizabeth Taylor owns the largest and most important pearl in the world. It is called La Peregrina and is more than 400 years old. The white pear-shaped pearl originally arrived hanging on a delicate chain of small pearls. A gift from husband Richard Burton, it was originally given to queen-to-be Mary Tudor of England by her future husband, Prince Phillip of Spain.

The story goes that Taylor lost the 55.95-carat bauble in her white carpet, but found it in the mouth of one of her Pekinese dogs. She commissioned Cartier, the famed jewelry designer, to incorporate the gem into an absolutely breathtaking necklace.

Marilyn Monroe sported a demure single strand of pearls given to her on her honeymoon with Joltin' Joe DiMaggio. They were a 16-inch strand of 44 matched Mikimoto saltwater pearls.

Forty years after Chanel made the gems popular, Audrey Hepburn showcased her elegance and effortless style in pearls in the classic film "Breakfast at Tiffany's." The six-strand pearl and rhinestone necklace in the film is faux, but those imitation pearls cascaded gorgeously on Hepburn's graceful neck.

Surprisingly, the triple-strand pearl choker Jacqueline Bouvier wore on the day she became Mrs. John F. Kennedy were simulated, but typified the look for which she was known -- crisp and elegant.

Princess Diana's ivory silk gown had a 25-foot train decorated with 10,000 pearls and sequins.

Modern-day style icon Sarah Jessica Parker layers oversize pearl necklaces in a contemporary, sophisticated way. Keira Knightley rocked pearls wearing a black baroque choker of different shades of Tahitian pearls at her movie premiere.

Coco Chanel would be so proud. Costume jewelry is back for summer in full force.

Faux pearls are incredibly stylish knotted, twisted, woven into hair, or worn with blue jeans. Paired with chains and twisted metal, the ladylike classic takes on an off-kilter glamour, rock-chick cool.

Wear them doubled, tripled, quadrupled, looped or knotted, in dramatically graduated lengths, or any other configuration that suits your mood. Pearls are effortless high fashion, always classy. Right up there with other classics like diamonds, Little Black Dresses and Chanel No. 5. Long live the classics!

Tommie Sue Roberts is the free-lance fashion writer for the Sunday Gazette-Mail. She may be e-mailed at tsr1...@yahoo.com.