Goutos considers the shell choker a “2000s staple,” noting the rise in shell jewelry coincides with Gen Z’s current fascination with all things Y2K. “Perhaps it’s like a future nostalgia for a simpler time they never knew, and maybe there was just the right amount of technology then,” she says. “It was a kind of surfer symbol, representing those who had found a way out of the normal hustle and grind of 9 to 5’s, for free and alternative thinkers.” With this in mind, the shell choker not only encapsulates the intersection of mermaidcore and Y2K nostalgia, but also a longing for a simpler life away from today’s technology, perhaps doing little more than swimming and collecting shells by the sea.

Mandy Lee, trend analyst and TikTok Fashion commentator, suggests that alongside the Y2K revival and mermaidcore, shell necklaces also appeal to those looking to create the “found object” aesthetic. “They remind me of beachcombers, or of the gift shop at Six Flags or any zoo,” she says. “But now we’re seeing more organic shapes that are not perfectly smooth or uniform, which is a huge differentiating factor between the trend now versus 20 years ago.” Lee doubts the trend will last long, comparing it to the Coconut Girl aesthetic from two years ago. But for many people, the obsession with shells isn’t a passing ‘core trend, but rather a personal exploration that’s intertwined with memories.

For Juliana Liden, the 37-year-old founder and designer behind Julietta, shells remind her of the beach town in Brazil where she grew up. “I have fond memories of my siblings and me collecting seashells,” she recalls. “We would spend hours scouring the sand, searching for unique ones to add to our collection. Since I launched my brand, I find myself revisiting those childhood memories and incorporating them into my collections.” Liden was “obsessed” with surfer style and surfer culture from a very young age, and was captivated by her grandmother’s shell jewelry during family trips to the beach.

Like shells themselves, it seems the seashell choker is destined to come in and out of the trend cycle in (you guessed it!) waves, waiting for someone to pick it up, admire it, and present it in a new way. Currently, it’s all about big shells paired with unexpected materials, but it’s truly more about escapism. For many people, the shell choker represents a simpler life — long, hazy days spent phoneless at the beach, or balmy nights on the boardwalk with friends. It’s that feeling of nostalgia and longing that will no doubt linger long after the internet declares the Y2K revival done or mermaidcore “over.” It’s also a feeling that will inevitably have people returning to shell jewelry — decade after decade, again and again.