What girl doesn’t love jewelry and playing dress up? Jewelry is like the icing on a cake. It can turn a ho hum outfit into a beautiful work of art.
In order to accessorize, glamorize and not clownorize (I made this word up), let’s look at a few basic rules that will help make jewelry the finishing touch!
1. Less is more
Jewelry is most often used to compliment and to finish off your look. If it’s too distracting, it’s not complimenting, it’s competing. An understated look is always in style! Note: Sometimes the jewelry is the main event when it’s paired with a simple outfit.
If there are lots of ruffles or lace around the neckline of your blouse or dress, a necklace will usually compete instead of compliment. It’s completely fine to not wear a necklace.
2. Lose the matchy, matchy sets.
The days of everything matching perfectly have, thankfully, been over for a while (decades?). I hate to see matching sets – necklace, earrings, bracelet, purse, shoes, etc. It’s overkill. Remember, less is more.
If you are wearing a big, bold necklace as a statement piece, don’t wear huge chandelier earrings. It’s overkill. It’s called a statement piece for a reason. It’s the only piece you need. If you do wear other jewelry with your statement piece, understated is best.
And it’s perfectly acceptable to mix metals. The old school rule of never mixing metals is so a thing of the past.
3. Say no to noisemakers.
Do your bracelets jingle and jangle every time you move your arm? That’s fine if you are not in a meeting or at work, but clanging bracelets can be a big distraction. I speak at church services and ladies meetings, etc. and I always make sure that my jewelry is not distracting and does not make a noise when I move.
Bonus Tip: I love the look of a wide watch with lots of layered bangles. This is not office attire, unless you work alone. But it’s a great look for going out.
One of my favorite fashion icons is the late Coco Chanel. I actually wrote a post about her here! One of her famous quotes is, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” Coco was not talking about clothing here, but about jewelry. Less is more. Coco said so!
What’s your favorite jewelry? I love bracelets! I’m not that into necklaces, but I’m all over a bracelet or two (or three)!
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About Alli
Great tips! I need all the fashion advice I can get!
I love fashion and reading, so I always have random tips floating around in my head. 🙂 Weird, I know.
Great advice–I once heard this Accessory Rule: Always take off one piece of jewelry.
We tend to overdo it, so I try to stick to this one–great tips, thanks for sharing!
Yep, that’s Coco Chanel’s advise – always take off one piece! Great rule to follow!
My favorite jewelry would have to be rings. I love my rings! Earrings are a close second. I love jewelry. I’m thinking about coming over and “borrowing” some of yours. Lol
Come on over! 🙂
Great tips, and I agree with the no matchy, matchy.
Matchy, matchy gives me the creeps! 🙂
Great advice. Love the one about noise. Although some of my earrings jingle. Lol. Coco Chanel is such a great fashion icon!
I just hate to sit beside someone in church or at a conference and they are taking notes and all I hear is the jingle, jangle of bracelets, so I’m extra careful that I’m not the one jingling. 🙂
These are some really great tips. I once attended a professional dress seminar and the speaker said that you should never wear more than 8 pieces of jewelry because more than that becomes distracting.
I totally agree!!
I’m so very much a bracelet person. 🙂 I’m a sucker for a statement necklace if I’m wearing a plain top, but when I’m picking accessories, I want the arm candy!! 🙂
A woman after my own heart! Bracelets are it for me, too and I have to say, you make great jewelry!
My favorite piece of jewelry is a bracelet. Although I prefer loose bracelets, like charm bracelet style, I agree that they shouldn’t make noise so much that they can be distracting. Even at my Grandmother season of life, I still enjoy playing in the jewelry box and particularly with my 5 year old grand daughter 🙂
That must be so much fun playing in the jewelry box with your grand daughter! I have all grand sons so far . . .
Great post, Alli! I agree. I have this cute necklace that looks great, but it sounds like the clanging my dog’s collar makes. I hardly every wear it. Annoying!
Thanks for the great tips. I am a sucker for jewelry. This definitely helps me 🙂
Pinned .
Thanks, Megan! I love jewelry, too!
Love these tips!! I need all the jewelry help I can get 🙂
Great tips! I am thankful you said that It’s completely fine to not wear a necklace, because I regularly forget to wear one. At least there is no danger of overdoing it, I suppose ;). I like bracelets too.
I’m more into bracelets than necklaces, so I tend to keep it simple in the necklace department. 🙂
You’re right, less is always more. I usually just do a cute pair of earrings. Sometimes I add a nice statement necklace.
Great Advice! I love bracelets! 😀 I’m also really getting into studs.
My favorite piece of jewelry is my simple Tiffany bracelet with the round charm.
I love Tiffany’s!
Fantastic post, Alli! I do love my jewelry! But one thing I don’t do is wear bracelets all the time. I do love my bracelets, too…but when I know I’m gonna be working with my hands, I can’t wear them. They bother me LOL Now, if it’s church or a date night or something like that, then I’m good. And I’ll have to try CoCo’s advice!
Thanks, Kristen! When I’m blogging, I wear no jewelry. 🙂
Thanks for the tips. I agree that the matchy matchy sets are a thing of the past! I love blending and coming from a different angle.
I also agree that less is more. No point in making your outfit hide because you are wearing too much jewelry!
Amen, Zan! 🙂
Love this post! I wear a bunch of bracelets on my left arm (not the noisy kind & often times w/ my watch)…that’s my go-to jewelry…been doing this for 10 yearsI was so happy you mentioned it! ox
Thanks so much for linking up to Twirl and Take a Bow! xo
Thanks so much for hosting!!
I completely agree with everything you said! I don’t even understand why necklaces and earrings are sold in sets anymore. I’ve never really loved that look, but I guess some people do! It’s definitely better to mix unique pieces. Excited to find you blog through That’s Fresh Friday!
Thanks, Liz! I guess some people do like to match everything up. 🙂
Great advice!!!! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
– Brooke –
I love jewelry! I actually used to make it handmade before I had my son. I think jewelry should always be worn to top off an outfit. Even a piece understated piece can add so much to a outfit!
Thanks so much for sharing at Gingham & Roses!
I totally agree! Jewelry puts an outfit over the top and adds that finished look. Thanks for hosting!