Mixing and matching jewelry can seem intimidating, but it just looks so cool when other people do it. Are they just that much more stylish than you? Well, maybe. The likelihood is, though, that they just know a few key pieces of information that allow them to pull it off. Luckily for you, we have everything you need to know!
Less Is More
This is just a good style tip in general, but especially for jewelry. The difference between well-mixed jewelry and just looking busy can be a really narrow one. You can certainly learn to walk this line and do it artfully, but it’s going to take a bit. If you’re unsure, err on the side of doing a little less, especially when starting out.
Obviously, you’re going to make mistakes as you learn. No big deal — that’s just a part of it all. There’s no need, however, to buy a bunch of pieces upfront and just try throwing them together. Start with what you have, add in a couple of pieces of everyday jewelry if you like and work from there. Once you start trying this all out, you’ll quickly learn what you do and don’t like in terms of looks.
Balance Is Overrated
This might sound odd, but you don’t want your mixed metals to be perfectly even. As counterintuitive as it may sound at first, you’re much better off picking one and accenting with another.
For example, if you already have several pieces of yellow gold jewelry, pair those with a rose gold wedding ring. That extra pop of rose gold is going to look much better than an even split between the two. Don’t believe us? Try both looks out for yourself and tell us which you end up preferring. There’s a method to our madness, we promise.
Pick a Focal Piece
Kind of like decorating a room. You want to have one piece that stands out among the rest and then build everything to complement that. If you have a bunch of large or loud pieces, there’s just a chaotic feeling that comes with that. You won’t look put together. You’ll mostly just look confused.
Consider starting with a bold necklace and adding some more muted pieces to complement it. It doesn’t have to be a necklace, of course. Pick earrings or a watch or whatever you like. Point being, you want to have one piece on lead vocals and the rest as backup singers.
Mixing Metals Is Perfectly Fine
The idea that you can’t mix metals is sort of an archaic style rule. If you work in a really conservative office environment like high-level finance, law or something like that, then maybe. Otherwise, mixing metals is completely fair game.
Now, we do want to refer you to the balance part of it all. That’s going to be really important, so don’t ignore it. You can totally mix gold and silver, for example, but one of them has to be the main color, with the odd adding a pop of contrast. Don’t split your metals 50/50.
Concentrate on One Area
So, you don’t want to throw jewelry everywhere and try to coordinate it all. If you’re going to wear several pieces, keep that in one area. For example, wearing several rings is great. Wearing several rings, a layered necklace and several sets of earrings is going to be just a bit much. Just like letting one metal be the star, you want to concentrate on one area. If you’re just starting out, going with a few rings is probably going to be best when mixing your metals.
How About a Pop of Color?
We’ve mostly been talking about gold and silver, but there are so many more options out there. You can go bright with a rose or white gold and go really dark like a men’s black wedding band. Whatever you do, bringing in pops of color (or a neutral that stands out) can add extra dimension to an outfit.
Take It Slow
You’re (probably) not going to get it perfect on the first try. If you manage to do that, well done. For most of us mere mortals, though, it’s going to take a bit. Try stuff out, see what works and don’t be afraid to just get it wrong. Obviously, look up some ideas to get inspiration — do your due diligence and all. However, at some point, you’ve just gotta take the leap and try.
While trying to mix metals may seem intimidating at first, there are really only a few things you need to know. If you take these tips into account and do a process of trial and error, you’ll be a pro in no time!
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I’m Iskra Banović, editor of Blufashion and the voice behind its fashion, beauty, and lifestyle stories. Fashion, beauty, and lifestyle are my playground, but I’m just as likely to share the messy side of it all, like the time I tested a “must-have” skincare gadget and ended up with glitter stuck in my hair. I love turning trends and everyday finds into something useful (and fun) for real people.
