If you know me in person, you know I love to layer necklaces! I really enjoy wearing multiples and it's fun to be creative and let your personality shine through by wearing a variety of pieces. It's also fun to just be able to wear more than one because you love them! Of course, the main point of layering is to bring an outfit together or to just make it pop!
The key to layering successfully is to have a point to your layering. However, your point can change. Then, you can mix up the texture and style while maintaining one thing they all have in common. For example, you can decide to wear all silver tone, all gold tone, all gunmetal or mixed metals.
You can decide to wear pieces that all have a specific color in common or a specific finish. I have a variety of pieces that are all matte sterling silver and even tho they are very different, they work together simply because they all have a matte finish. You can pull a layered look together using a shared color, style or shape.
Layering obviously means varying lengths so it's good to have a variety of plain chains in your jewelry wardrobe so you can switch simple charms around. It's also good to think about adding extenders to certain pieces or making sure you buy pieces of varying lengths.
Long necklaces, like 30 inches and longer can be worn long or short by doubling or tripling them around the neck a few times. In fact, one long necklace can actually become a layered look all on it's own!
Take into consideration your neckline and where you want the eye to fall when someone looks at you. If you are wearing a V-neck and want people to see your pretty face, then bring the layers closer to your face. If you want to accent your bust area, then make sure you have a charm piece that falls right above your bust. If you want to elongate the look then wear longer layers.
Bracelets
Layering bracelets is always a hot trend. I personally think you can get away with more in layering bracelets than you can with necklaces. Sometimes an attempt can go horribly wrong and instead of accessorizing and enhancing your outfit, the jewelry ends up wearing you instead of the other way around!
for a clean look - go for bracelets all in the same color.
for a pop of color - choose bracelets with colors that contrast or accent one another. Like red & black, turquoise & brown, grey & blue, pink & grey, black & green.
for a feminine look - pile on thin and delicate bracelets to give them maximum impact.
for a bohemian look - anything goes! choose unique and interesting pieces.
for a dressy look - choose all chain type bracelets.
for a professional work look- pair up a couple bracelets with your watch.
for an edgy look - pair up a color with a metal like silver tone and black.
for an industrial look - silvertone, black, and grey
Here at Lavoro Designs, I have traditional chain bracelets but I also have fun memory wire coil bracelets that create the look of multiple bracelets in one single piece! I have single 6 coils and I offer sets of two or three 3 wire bracelets to wear together or singly.
Some are all one color while some are different colors or a variety of colors and bead types.
If you've never had memory wire, it's comfortable and affordable. You should pick a few up. They are so perfect for summer!
In Closing
If you're going to load up on the bracelets and/or necklaces.. just remember to keep your earrings and rings understated. You don't want too much going on all over! If you want to wear a striking pair of earrings then layer light around your neck by choosing thin and delicate chains. Keep rings to one per hand if you are going for a bracelet stacked arm.
A Word on Matching
Do you or don't you? I think it depends. I think there are certain places you can get away with the matchy-matchy, perhaps court or a professional function, but I think it depends on your personality. In most cases I prefer to bring the look together using pieces that are similar but different. If you have a chain with a circle link, find an earring with a circle in it but not one that is exactly a match. If you want to wear turquoise, mix pieces that all contain turquoise but don't actually match one another. Match the finish on the pieces rather than the exact style themselves.
Do you or don't you? I think it depends. I think there are certain places you can get away with the matchy-matchy, perhaps court or a professional function, but I think it depends on your personality. In most cases I prefer to bring the look together using pieces that are similar but different. If you have a chain with a circle link, find an earring with a circle in it but not one that is exactly a match. If you want to wear turquoise, mix pieces that all contain turquoise but don't actually match one another. Match the finish on the pieces rather than the exact style themselves.
