How to Buy, Wear and Store your Jewellery

To me, wearing jewellery is about showcasing your personality. Just like your clothes, it’s an opportunity to finish your look with a piece that truly represents you.

Historically, jewellery was quite a personal and luxury addition to your look. It was often given as a gift in a traditional little gift box that housed a ring, gold bracelet or even a pair of diamond earrings.

In recent years, we’ve seen a move towards statement jewellery that can be sparkly, classic, understated or bold.

Regardless of your budget, you can look incredibly good whether you shop at Tiffany & Co. or Lovisa.

So today we’ve put together a little series on jewellery, offering style tips, storage advice and some jeweled inspiration you can purchase/try right now.

STYLES

Whether it’s sparkly, classic or understated, there is nothing like a piece of jewellery to complete an outfit.

For statement pieces, opt for something colourful or with a bright gem and when it comes to rings, diamonds aren’t the only things that demand attention. Even Mimco’s black and silver collections offer some beautiful options.

If you’re looking for longevity, classic colours such as black, silver, grey and camel won’t date.

 

SIZE MATTERS

Size certainly plays a part when it comes to jewellery but it can be something we can intuitively recognise if we feel something is too chunky or too ornate for us.

Additionally, a “busy” outfit be it a bold pattern or tousled fabric generally doesn’t need too much additional décor. Jewellery is best placed on a background where it can shine.

Body shape is also important. Personally, I have a tiny frame but I don’t like and prefer not to wear small accessories. So don’t naturally think because you’re a larger frame that you can’t wear a larger necklace or chunky bangle – try them.

LESS IS BEST

Before you leave the house, take a look in the mirror and take one thing off ~ Coco Chanel.

Here I believe Mademoiselle Chanel was talking about accessories.

I believe that accessories reflect how we feel. They are directed by our mood foremost and then complement our outfit so it’s important to check we haven’t over-done it.

Now if you don’t wear accessories, it’s certainly not the end of the world – your clothes can do just as much talking.

And when it comes to quantity – less is indeed best. I’m not into matching rings to earrings to outfits and shoes to bags. It’s a hard look to achieve, I don’t think it really offers too much excitement to the look and what a challenge to find them all!

THE LAYERING LIFE

Mid Winter it’s all about the layering and the same goes for jewellery.

Layering is a big trend from stacking your bracelets to wearing several necklaces but be sure to keep the accessories low key in contrasting areas or you may look a little costume-like.

Rings can also be stacked in the same colour tones or styles.

WEARING JEWELLERY

Finally some rules to incorporate:

1. If you have a large bust, avoid chunky or long necklaces that hang between the middle – they will only accentuate the area.
2. For my small chested ladies, go chunky, go long and layer to your heart’s content.

STORAGE

1. Hanging: The clever branch/tree jewellery holder will ensure your pieces don’t get tangled, we’ve also seen coat racks used for necklaces and for the home-inspired, a series of small decorative bowls housing your collection of rings or one off pieces look beautiful beside each other.

A friend of mine even uses a wooden paper towel holder to stack her colourful bracelets.

2. The jewellery drawer: you can buy compartment inserts for inside a top drawer that can itemise your jewellery pieces.

3. Fine jewellery should be kept in it’s original box or if you can’t spare the space or at minimum in a dust-free bag.

4. Jewellery Box: A timeless classic and a great way to store your pieces thanks to the velvet lining, the pockets and a lid to close and avoid dust. I’m coveting Samantha Wills’ jewellery chest available online.

I also found this great tip from Chicago based jewellery – Objects Denvy who reveal that it is oxygen that makes sterling silver tarnish so when you’re not wearing it be sure to pack it away in a box or even a small ziplock bag.

And to close as always, it’s over to you.  Have you recently brought any jewellery pieces that you would like to share or do you have a clever storage solution? (Let me know in the comments below)

I hope this post has inspired many of you to get your sparkle on!