Sapphire Engagement Rings Are Trending — 21 To Shop For A Happily Ever After

WINDSOR, ENGLAND – JUNE 13: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends the Order of the Garter service at St George’s Chapel on June 13, 2022 in Windsor, England. The Most Noble Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain, established by King Edward III in 1348. (Photo by UK Press Pool/UK Press via Getty Images)

Ever since Princess Diana’s engagement ring was revealed to the world, sapphire rings have found a firm place in the bridal industry. It helped that, in 2010, the gemstone’s legacy was cemented in wedding history once again when Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with his late mother’s ring. 

Yet, even after two famous engagements with non-diamond center stones, blue rings are still uncommon. But there is evidence brides are eyeing them more than ever before: According to Google Trends, searches for “sapphire engagement ring” have increased in 2022, in part thanks to TikTok star Emily Mariko’s engagement ring, a triple-band oval-shaped sapphire-and-diamond ring. Meanwhile, non-diamond engagement rings also trending in 2022, with sapphire being the second most popular gemstone after moissanite. 

If you’re eyeing a sapphire engagement ring for yourself (or a significant other!), take a look at some of the best options available below. Bonus: These styles can serve as a “something blue” on the big day.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Oval Sapphire Ring With A Halo

If you’re looking to reference Princess Diana, you should look for an oval-shaped sapphire engagement ring. Bonus: If it has a halo.

Sapphire Ring With Side Stones

For those who don’t want a halo overshadowing the center stone, side stones could frame the sapphire in a more minimalist way.

Sapphire Solitaire Ring With A Twisted Vine Band

If breaking the mold is your modus operandi, a twisted vine band is a perfect pair for an otherwise-classic solitaire sapphire ring.

Lab-Created Sapphire Ring

Lab-grown diamonds are super popular right now, and so are lab-created gemstones, which offer more affordability with the same bright blue look.

Three-Stone Sapphire Ring

Ever since Prince Harry proposed to Meghan Markle with a three-stone engagement ring, the shape has been trending. While this is common with all-diamond rings, opt for a sapphire center for an unexpected twist.

Sapphire Ring With An Infinity Knot Band

While a sapphire solitaire stone might look simple, going for a more abstract band is a good way to up the look of your ring.

The Swirl Ring

The two sapphires add a touch of interest to this style that can serve as both an engagement ring and a wedding band.

Oval Sapphire Ring

Thanks to celebrities like Hailey Bieber, oval-shaped rings have been trending over the past few years. For an extra detail, add a few side stones.

Oval Sapphire Ring With A Halo

Blue is known as a cool tone, so going for a white gold band makes for a good pairing to accentuate the center stone.

Hexagon Sapphire Ring

Not all sapphires are made equal. For proof, see this hexagon ring in a lighter shade of blue.

Oval Sapphire Ring

With a stone this bright and a rose gold band, who needs diamonds? A classic, minimalist bride would enjoy this modernist take on sapphire.

Vintage-Style Sapphire Ring

Elaborate settings are a go-to way to channel a vintage look, but, if you’re worried about the piece looking dated, reach for a blue gemstone, like sapphire.

Teal Sapphire Ring

Royal blue is not everyone’s cup of tea, so a teal sapphire ring can be a good substitute for those with a non-traditional approach.

Three-Stone Sapphire Ring

Hate the look of oversized engagement rings? Try one that could pass as stacking jewelry with a lighter blue shade.

Pink Sapphire Band

While sapphire is most associated with blue shades, the gemstone is also available in pink tones that make for an even more unique ring.

Round Sapphire Ring With Double Halo

For the more-is-more bride, a double-diamond halo with round sapphire stone fits perfectly.

Side Oval Sapphire Ring

While oval rings are popular right now, turning the classic shape horizontally can give your ring a non-traditional look.

Angled Sapphire Ring

Thinner bands make for more visible stones, so if blue is your color, go for a more slim band with an oversized — even better, angular — stone.

Princess-Cut Sapphire Ring

Yet another way to channel Markle’s engagement ring via three princess-cut sapphire stones.

Bezel Sapphire Ring

Opting for a bezel style is a good way to ensure that the engagement ring is wearable in your everyday life.

Toi Et Moi Sapphire Ring

Another popular trend this year, this toi et moi ring features a pear-shaped sapphire and a diamond solitaire for those who just can’t choose between the two.

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4 Metallic Swimsuits To Dazzle Away The Summer In

For your next dip in the pool, glide into the water in a shiny metallic swimsuit. It’s a playful alternative to matte one-tone sets. The subtle shine style is even a 2022 swimwear trend, with celebrities like Kim and Khloé Kardashian, J.Lo, and Lizzo sporting their jazziest metallic swimsuits for the summer. In fact, R29’s fashion director reviewed a sparkling hot-pink one-shoulder from Good American, making it clear that metallic swimwear is a summer favorite you don’t want to sleep on. 

It’s why we rounded up the eye-catching bikinis, monokinis, one-pieces, and tankinis below. Find a champagne bandeau set from Skims or a flirty teal green tankini from Cupshe. There’s a style for everyone in bronze, gold, and pastel hues. Also, if you want a bit more glitz, add a belly chain to top off the look. You’ll be decked out in the season’s trendiest attire. Just don’t forget a woven straw hat to protect you from the sun while you’re enjoying a cool breeze in your new glamorous swimsuit.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Bikini

Monokini

One-Piece

Tankini

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How Amanda Forastieri Is Helping Revive Puerto Rico’s Garment Industry

Even before launching her namesake brand earlier this year, Puerto Rico-born designer Amanda Forastieri has used fashion as a tool of political and cultural expression. The Drexel University alum’s student collections, titled “La lucha de la Borincana” (A Puerto Rican’s fight) and “Utopia,” delved into themes like Puerto Rico’s femicide crisis and the human-nature relationship. Following her winning the 2020 Supima Design Competition, Forastieri is now intent on building a brand rooted in sustainability, decolonization, and transparency. 

For the brand’s debut collection — titled “Fora,” a shortened version of the designer’s last name — Forastieri looked inward for inspiration. “This was the first time that I was able to create outside an academic or competition setting, so there was a lot of freedom,” she says. “Every part of the collection, visually and conceptually, is directly linked to a process of self-discovery.”

The eight-piece line — which includes a dress, a puff-sleeve top, a jumpsuit, a pair of high-waisted shorts, and three scarves — features Forastieri’s signature bold prints, including abstract geometrical shapes and psychedelic flowers, which are drawn by hand. Each garment is also named after an element of Forastieri’s brand mission: For example, the “Cuerpa” jumpsuit references a term queer communities in Puerto Rico have claimed to degenderize the masculine word for body. “[The collection] has a lot to do with emotional processes with other humans and nature, as well as transformation,” the designer explains. 

While Forastieri got her design degree in Philadelphia and worked as a designer for other brands in cities like New York and Copenhagen, she says she wanted to come home for this collection — in more ways than one. That’s why Forastieri tapped the Cooperativa Industrial Creación de la Montaña in the town of Utuado in Puerto Rico to create the pieces, an unusual move for many of the archipelago’s creatives. (Although Puerto Rico has a long legacy of fashion designers — including New York Fashion Week alums like Stella Nolasco and Luis Antonio — few use local manufacturers to create their pieces, leaving garment workers to depend on government and military uniforms to maintain their operations.) “It was a new thing for both of us,” says Forastieri.  

Amid a decade-long financial crisis and back-to-back natural disasters that have deepened Puerto Rico’s social and economic issues, many young creatives like Forastieri are using their craft to contribute to their homeland’s future and to “engage local communities for all aspects of the supply chain.” 

“There are a lot of projects like mine developing in Puerto Rico,” she says, referring to spaces like the multi-designer sustainable fashion platform Modo Consciente. “It’s all about connecting to communities.”

Forastieri also leaned into sustainable practices, using natural dyes to create the larger-than-life prints the brand is known for. “I learned a lot about how wasteful dyeing with Pantone colors is,” she says of the collection, which includes some synthetic dyes. “So I tried to find a way to reduce that waste without sacrificing the vibrancy of the colors.” She partnered with other creatives for this pursuit: For example, for the magenta color in the “El Amanecer” (the dawn) top and pants, Forastieri tapped Brooklyn-based artist Cara Marie Piazza, who has previously worked with designers like Jason Wu, Eckhaus Latta, and Mara Hoffman, to create the shade from flowers. Forastieri says she’s looking for other ways to tap creatives in Puerto Rico who are using organic elements, like algae, to create original shades for future collections. “Those are alternatives that are much more in balance with our natural habitat,” she says. 

While this is the first collection for the designer’s namesake brand, Forastieri is already looking for ways to expand, from handmade art to hand-drawn prints for other artists to use to new categories like swimwear. And though she entered the market through fashion, Forastieri emphasizes that the brand goes beyond clothes, aiming to be a project that connects communities with the clothes they wear. 

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The Unexpected Appeal Of Costco Fashion

When Yen Pang first visited a Costco in 1999, during a trip from Australia, she was “blown away” by the sight of the vast warehouse filled with giant boxes, house appliances, good-deal electronics, and super-sized groceries: “It was like the best collection of products in one place.” But while Pang, who now lives in the San Francisco area, learned of Costco’s clothing selection soon after that first trip, she wasn’t as fast to jump aboard: “I remember thinking, Why would anyone buy clothes here?” she says. “In my twenties, I just really preferred going to the mall.”

It wasn’t until she had her daughter that she changed her mind, finding the store not only convenient for its one-stop-shop capabilities, but affordable and, yes, even stylish thanks to its large selection of T-shirts, leggings, and skorts. “It’s very practical clothing,” she says. “So it was just convenient for me to start buying clothes there.” 

A person wearing a protective mask exits a Costco store in Richmond, California, U.S., on Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Costco Wholesale Corp. is schedule to release earnings figures on March 4. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Pang is one of many shoppers who have found themselves awakening to the unexpected appeal of Costco clothing since the warehouse-style store opened its doors in 1976. On social media, you will find plenty of customers trading recommendations and tips for buying clothes at Costco. On TikTok, the search term “Costco clothing finds” has grown nearly 2 billion views, while the hashtag #costcoclothes grew to over 4 million views, mostly through videos of clothing hauls that could rival those from Zara or Aritzia. Meanwhile, Facebook groups like “Today At Costco,” which was founded by Pang, have over 50,000 members. 

@jsapproved these may be our best week yet… 😏 what are you getting?? #costco #costcotiktok #costcocanada ♬ Say So (Instrumental Version) [Originally Performed by Doja Cat] – Elliot Van Coup

While Costco fans thrive online, most sources interviewed for this story say they go to the store in person, and that’s because shopping at the warehouse is unlike any other retail experience. Usually located in the middle of the store, the clothing section spans dozens of tables with pieces piled on top of each other, topped by white-and-black signs with brand names like Nike, Adidas, and Eddie Bauer, as well as the company’s own label, Kirkland. The deals speak for themselves — Calvin Klein leggings at $19.99, Banana Republic shorts at $14.99, etc. — encompassing a shopping experience devoid of the decor, overly curated merchandising, and crowds ubiquitous in malls and boutiques. Yet, it’s all full of today’s biggest fashion trends: On a recent visit, I spotted low-rise cargo pants, skorts, and tracksuits. (Costco declined to comment on how they source their merchandise.)

“Costco’s really doing a great job keeping up with trends and keeping up with big-brand names that are in style,” says the Canada-based creator behind the Instagram and TikTok channel @jsapproved, who declined to disclose her full name for privacy concerns. “It’s really starting to cater more to a younger audience.” As a kid, the creator dreaded going to the warehouse with her parents, who bought everything from groceries and electronics to clothes there. Now, with over 24,000 followers on Instagram and nearly 200,000 on TikTok, where she posts about deals she finds on fashion and beauty at the store, the creator is preaching the Costco gospel one video at a time. “That’s probably some of the most popular content I post,” she says. “People are always interested in the fashion deals.” 

Margaret Peel of Agoura shops for a shirt at Costco in Westlake Village. (Photo by Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Many of the sources interviewed for this article mentioned the pandemic as one of their main reasons for starting to shop at Costco. (The company declined to comment on whether the company has seen an uptick in sales for clothing since the pandemic started, yet, according to a report for investors, the company’s e-commerce saw 50%-plus increases in sales in 2020 as more people shopped online.)

Before 2020, California-based Tiffany Weis would have “never thought” to buy clothes at Costco, but, since she began working from home as a result of the pandemic, her style priorities have changed. “It’s all about comfort,” the 53-year-old says. “It’s kind of like a whole new mindset.” @jsapproved, too, shops for loungewear, a style that defined the lockdown period, at Costco, where multi-packs of tube socks and $10 sweatpants reign: “I love to dress up, but when I’m home and even when I’m running errands, I want to be comfortable.” She’s turned to Costco for matching sets, sweatpants, roomy bags, and leggings, many of which she finds are dupes of higher-end athleisure names.  

@theashleybell Costco coming in clutch #costcofinds #costcotiktok #fila #whatibought #outfitinspo ♬ original sound – Ashley Bell

But, while during the height of the pandemic, people’s lifestyles may have prompted Costco’s popularity, now, with inflation reaching 9% in June 2022, it’s the rising costs for food, gas, and other essential goods in the United States that may prompt shoppers to seek out Costco’s fashion. Even prior to 2020, people like Dee Bee, 40, co-administrator of the “Today At Costco” group, relied on Costco to keep household costs down. She first started shopping for clothes at Costco when her two kids were born because it offered her the ability to shop in bulk. In the past, she found deals like Eddie Bauer top-and-shorts sets for $15: “You can’t beat that.” (While Costco declined to comment on the company’s pricing strategy, according to Business Insider, membership, low-cost advertising, and its private brand figure in how the company is able to keep prices low.)

While social media and the current economic concerns have certainly prompted Costco shoppers to approach the store’s fashion finds in a new light, if people like Pang — who, nearly a decade after she first started shopping for her clothing at Costco, still finds herself drawn to the store’s apparel selection— are any indication, there will be a lasting effect to this phenomenon.

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