It’s Not Heavy, It’s Just Metal
If you adore adorning yourself with the latest designer jewelry, you’re familiar with this dilemma: Can I mix it up by mixing metals, or is that a faux pas that would tarnish my style reputation? Well, it’s 2023, and those stodgy mandates are dated—we say, mix it up! Gorgeous golds can bounce off of cool platinum, soft sterling silver contrasting industrial black, and trendy pops of color accenting throughout. Check out these tips and tricks to score a great look, and don’t let the old guard meddle with your metals.
Center Yourself
When curating your jewelry, an easy way to guide an entire look is to rest everything on one statement piece—typically a necklace or earrings, as they frame the face. Choose the boldest metal for this, like black or yellow gold, and allow all the accompanying accents to glitter off it by choosing more neutral tones like silver or white gold.
Mix, Don’t Match
It can be a numbers game when trying to craft a bold, eclectic look—don’t be afraid to go there. It’s best to stack tons of bracelets all in different metals, or layer necklaces of gold, silver, rose gold, and more than to have, say, mostly gold bracelets with one or two silver strands sticking out. Even though it can seem like a lot for the eye to focus on, it’s more distracting to have slight variation than to have a ton.
Keep It Balanced
That being said, while mixing is the name of the game, it's crucial to maintain balance. A good rule is 3x4= = three metals adorning the four main sites of jewelry: necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets. Even if you aren’t festooning up each site, having three studs on your ears in gold, platinum, and silver on each earring can be balanced by tritone bracelets on each wrist.
Layer, Glint, Repeat
If you’re going to clash when it comes to finishing and materials, a good rule of thumb (and wrist, and neck….) if you don’t want to be too bold is to collect pieces that are identical in form and style but can tin different metals. That uniformity may not be the first thing people notice, but it will ground your look and provide stability instead of distraction while your different metals shine.
Remember, fashion rules are meant to be broken, and with these tips, you're ready to break them with panache. Now go forth and bedazzle the world!
