(Congratulations if you’re invested in gold, but that’s not what this post is about!)
If you’ve been reading any length of time, you know that I most certainly do not consider myself an accessory person. It’s complicated. I don’t enjoy thinking about accessories, I get overwhelmed looking at them, and don’t honestly think they are all that necessary. They kinda make me cranky. And they do little to cover my nakedness.
On the plus side, I have been able to clear away at least some of the mess in my mind, that mess relating to those extras that so many of you enjoy. This improvement should make accessorizing at least slightly less painful. I’m adding the following to the rules of my personal idiom:
- all metal hardware will be silver
- wear earrings or necklace, not both
- a necklace must be bold
Clearly I’m not there yet. But, since I adopted these guidelines I have had the energy to: clean out my jewelry drawer, biff through my belts, buy a new pair of gloves and a belt, and get dressed every day. Get dressed completely, as in, all the way to the right shoes, belt, and earrings; not just throw on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt (just to be clear, in my idiom this time of year that is a casual cashmere sweater), and comfortable shoes. While under the weather.
No doubt in time I will add to my “guidelines”, ever with the intent of simplifying my life. But what’s kept me from this simplicity before? Good question! For one, my favorite metal has always been yellow gold; my wedding and anniversary rings are gold, as is my watch (albeit with brown leather band). But now I’m not going to let that bother me. They are part of me and my earrings and belt buckles are accessories. For another, I find the hardware options on shoes and purses especially to be limited. Usually I’m just happy to find something that works that I can afford. But I expect silver to be easier to come by.
Do you wear a mix of metals or only one? Do you have any helpful suggestions?
Actually, I like those rules.
I’m a child of the 80s who read Color Me Beautiful. I don’t mix metals. Pains of death you know. I even have two colors of watches. If I’m wearing silver, it’s all silver. Or gold, gold. If I’m wearing a piece that has pearls or shell, for example, I’ll take my cue from the connecting or setting metal and run with that. The only time I would mix metals is when I had a watch that had both gold and silver tones on it. And I got it so I could wear it with either. (It’s since given up the ghost.)
For other rules… I wear only one big piece at a time. If I’m wearing a big necklace, I keep my earrings small, but in proportional weight to the necklace. If I have on a hat, I keep my jewelry simple, if any. I guess I usually only wearing earrings and one other piece at a time, plus a bracelet style watch. And if what I’m wearing has an interesting neckline, I will likely skip everything besides earrings and my watch.
So have you read Wife Dressing? I’m about 3/4 through it and have totally enjoyed it.
Not me, I mix and match!
I have small diamond earrings in platinum, and wouldn’t consider not wearing them because my other pieces are gold. That said, I do have some two tone jewellery too. But if it makes you uncomfortable to mix, you can consider shape or colour of stone as unifying, too. I wear round bezel set studs in yellow with a circle pendant in white metal. Contrast also works — circle earrings with square shapes on a necklace.
I prefer to wear my pearls with silver overtones along with white metal earrings, but that won’t stop me from wearing my yellow gold watch.
I always wear earrings, but prefer either my necklace or my earrings to be a focal point. I rarely wear bold necklaces, but do occasionally.
I know you wear a lot of pale coral, I’m calling it. There are a lot of colors of gold, including rose gold. That’s probably not the color of gold you’re thinking of when you say you like gold, but might be a possibility.
I wear mostly pewter and bronzy shades, for preference. I don’t happen to like jewelry on me that stands out as noticeable by itself. I like it better as “trim” to the outfit. I don’t wear earrings often enough because my ears aren’t pierced and clips can be uncomfortable. I do like the rule that some wardrobe author I can’t remember suggested that anything looks like a planned outfit if you wear the color of the bottom piece up around your neck. I do wear more colored jewelry than plain metal. I also have a problem with jewelry’s uselessness – non-functionality. Belts, I can justify that. 😉 I do wear necklaces, anyway – that trim thing to complete the composition. I like smallish scarves that when tied will flare out the two ends in diagonal lines. Guess this is supposed to be unsophisticated but I like the energy it suggests. i prefer no hardware at all on my bags but can’t always find that in the price range I want to pay – as little as possible. My favorite handbag is a cocktail olive color and it works with pretty much anything I have. I really like wide bracelets but rarely will wear them because of constant hand dishwashing, etc. I like a sculptural 3d element to jewelry vs plain flatness. The nooks and crannies of it – when filigreed or intertwined – also cut down the reflected light. Probably the opposite of what you’re going for. I like sheen over shine. I have a wedding ring, btw, that is a viney looking mix of silver and gold.
I don’t mind yellow gold worn with white gold or platinum pieces, but gold and silver worn together looks off to me. I’m way more interested in the quality of jewelry than metal colour. A thin 10K gold ring will look cheap but a solid, well made silver one will look terrific.
I understand preferences for gold or silver, but to say one ‘can’t wear ‘ a colour of metal is questionable. The stone in a piece can completely change whether it reads as warm, cool or neutral.
How much jewelery women wear is often a cultural thing. When I’m in Europe my eye has to adjust, and after a few days I am wearing more myself.
Janel – I have not read Wife Dressing. It looks like fun!
In theory, I am not opposed to mix and match with metals. I just really like Brenda Kinsel’s “infrastructure” concept and the way coordinating all my metals contributes to that. It may create a more dramatic effect on me – with my hair. lol Bright shiny gold, silver or chrome, and pearls all highlight the bright shinyness of my hair; but since two of my purses, two of my coats, and most of the belts in the stores have silver (or technically, I suppose, more of a chrome look), I’m focusing on that first.
I also don’t think I buy the “can’t wear” a color of metal. If CMB worked, nobody would be able to wear a black dress and yellow gold jewelry well, but I’m sure we all know someone who can.
If I have a choice, I always wear silver. (My wedding band is gold and I do have a pair of pearl studs with gold posts.) Silver is cheaper and goes better with the colors I wear most often (shades of blue, pink, sometimes black). I love dangly earrings and will gladly wear them with a necklace and sometimes a bracelet. I wear earrings daily because I think they look feminine, but I only add other stuff if I have extra time or for special occasions. It’s not that I’m opposed, just busy! LOL
Rebecca, just something to consider for the future: real gold jewelry is only “bright and shiny” when it is very new. it will wear to a soft glow, like your wedding ring. This patina is wonderful. That’s why fake gold looks so different from the real thing. None of the “noble metals” are shiny once you wear them awhile, and the patina is part of their beauty. The look of patinaed metal is different from the deliberately matte finished piece, too,
It’s definitely more affordable to do your statement jewelry in silver. I wear both, but gold just slightly more – though I also do pearls and colored beads for statement pieces (mostly necklaces). My watch is two-tone to go with both, as is my Cape Cod bracelet,which I wear half the year, on average. But if I’m wearing necklace and earrings, those will match tone, of course. Some people can pull off the alternative, but not me. I always wear earrings, 90% of the time gold or silver hoops.
I love the idea of “trim” … especially in this season. Jewelry can also add energy, warmth, and/or (as Mella) says – a statement. Think about whether you wear a cross or a crucifix … where? …. and when?
Just to clarify, I like a unified look – from fashion to home furnishings. So when I read CMB and it preached wearing only one metal color at a time, it made sense to me and I adopted it. I don’t think it’s the be all end all of wearing metals.
And I wear black and gold all. the. time. : )
Mom – What are you thinking about the statement of wearing a cross or a crucifix? Personally, I would wear neither. But maybe this is what you mean: I would wear my Mickey Mouse ears (rhinestone pin) to a show with a Disney connection, but probably not to one without. Is that what you mean? OTOH, I have another pin with a somewhat politically incorrect insignia which I would wear almost anywhere, because most people wouldn’t get it. And anyway, politically incorrect is who I am! lol
Re: cross vs. crucifix. In some places, the difference tells something about the wearer and that’s what “statement” dressing means, right? And I guess choosing to wear neither is a statement if you intend it to be (and on-lookers recognize it:-)) Specifically (and capitalization is not a statement in this instance):
crucifix = catholic
cross = reformed christian
and remember, I said “In some places”. As far as I know, in other places it may be the opposite.