Once again, designer Miuccia Prada is the fashion influencer who can largely be credited with introducing a design motif that has captured the fancy of designers and fashionistas. Perhaps this design is so appealing  maybe because, even as winter lingers and the world is experiencing such turbulent times, everyone needs a bit of fun, if not outright comic relief. If you haven’t caught sight of her bold combinations of prints featuring monkeys and bananas, you probably haven’t picked up an American fashion magazine since the year-end 2010 holiday rush.

The April 2011 issue of Elle highlights not only Prada’s banana print group, but also designer Stella McCartney’s use of citrus fruits to adorn a denim-based spring collection along with British designer Charlotte Olympia’s fruit-themed footwear.  Elle calls the “ubiquitous produce” a “micro-trend” and adds: “If ever there’s a time to embrace bold, colorful fruit, it’s in the deep thaw of April.”

In a fashion spread entitled “La Femme Chiquita,” the March 2011 issue of Vogue notes the fresh approach to spring fashion “inspired by the fruits of nature’s labor.” Along with McCartney’s citrus print dress and Shala Monroque in Prada (noted for her cuff bracelet in my post of January 31), Anna Dello Russo is shown wearing an Alan Journo watermelon headpiece, and Leighton Meester is pictured in a Moschino fruit-themed dress. The large banana pictured is a close-up of an earring from the Prada line; Miuccia Prada is shown wearing the earrings in the photo bottom right.

Here are some additional picks from this season’s crop of fruit designs in jewelry:

The March 2011 issue of Marie Claire looks to island-bright hues and tutti-frutti extras to inspire winter-weather-weary readers, including this charming necklace from Les Nereides. The sunglasses shown are from Linda Farrow Vintage.

Indeed, Marie Claire likes the Les Nereides fruit necklace designs so much that another fashion spread includes a fruit necklace by that designer later in the same issue combined with a blue bib necklace from Megan Odabash, a Swarovski chain necklace from Maria Francesca Pepe, an opal choker from Pippa Small, and a gray stone necklace from Daniela Villegas. The vintage ladybug pin is from F.D in New York. The numerous bracelets are a combination of designs from Pippa Small, Pandora, Tom Binns Design, Tusheeta David, and Alexis Bittar. The opal ring (obscured) is from Beladora, the starburst ring is from Merle O’Grady, and the fringe ring is from Solange Azagury-Partridge.

Kate Spade New York’s pineapple-shaped locket necklace is featured in the April 2011 issue of Elle.

A sparkling stone-laden apple pendant from Poppy by Coach was featured in the November 2010 issue of Marie Claire.

Also pictured in the November 2010 issue of Marie Claire is this look from Miu Miu, Miuccia Prada’s diffusion line, with apple-print fabric pants and a huge, colorful apple pendant necklace.

Fruit-themed jewelry choices thus far have been few in the current crop of fashion magazines. Charming vintage brooches, necklaces and bracelets may provide an excellent way to add more fruits—and perhaps vegetables too–into your spring wardrobe.

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