Jewellery can transform a basic outfit into a stylish one, just like clothes. Jewellery is another form of self-expression and has a rich history as to why we choose to add these accessories to our bodies, among other reasons. If you are anything like me and you love layering your pieces but don’t know how to do it without it looking like a hot mess, you’ve come to the right place.
Layering Necklaces
Whether you like a fine and dainty look with your jewellery or you prefer more in-your-face and dramatic pieces, they hold the same room for layering and stacking. Creating a focal point for your chosen necklaces to stop them prevents them from tangling and makes them look elegant.
Creating a clear focal point is necessary when layering, so you begin with the main piece you want to be the star of the show, and that’s usually the middle of where you’d place the other necklaces. You want to ensure the surrounding chains and charms don’t hide or take away any of the shine from the focal point. You can choose an Arabic name necklace or one with a large charm on the end—anything that calls attention.
It’s also important that, in order to layer your necklaces, they need to vary in length, which allows you to layer effectively. Try picking smaller chains for the top layer, your focal point piece and then a much longer chain with a pendant on your last and final layer.
Stacking Rings
Stacking rings, I find it to be a relatively easy task, especially if you have a theme going on and a strong rotation. If you love to stack rings and want to know if there is some sort of cheat code to it, I have some of the answers for you.
You don’t want to stack rings on top of large statement rings, as they deserve their own time to shine. You can pick rings based on thickness, plainness, texture and size. It wasn’t until long ago that I realised you could buy upper-finger rings that sit nicely above the joint on your finger.
It’s best to use a mid-finger ring if you already have thicker rings on; when you are stacking below the knuckle, it’s best to go with what fits nicely together. You can buy pre-stacked rings that you can use across a range of fingers.
Mixing Bracelets
This one is a really easy task for some, as they will generally put on a load of bangles, or they will mix the bracelets from each wrist, stacking whatever they can fit that fits with the theme.
I am someone who prefers chunky bracelets rather than bangles, and I’ve found that the thicker the bracelet, the harder it is to stack without it looking like you are trying too hard. I would always recommend that if you are going to stack, you stick with a theme, mix sizes from thin to medium thickness and get bangles that fit up the arm to mix it up.
Mixing Metals
It’s been a relatively popular trend over the past couple of years to mix metals, and this can be a great way to create some unique combinations that not everyone could copy. You are lucky if you have a skin complexion or other features that pull it off. What helps is keeping the tone similar, so if you have bright polished silver, ensure that your gold is the same, so they match the vibe of each other.
Themes
Consider themes, whether it’s silver, gold, beads, summer, colourful, pearls and so forth. You also have the choice to not create a theme and just put together what feels right for your mood or the outfit. It’s nice to create a theme if you could, for example, have a very garden fairy outfit, you could include flower earrings and then a matching or floral necklace and so forth.
General Tips
Avoid overcrowding and overdoing it; while you might like the crowded look, and that is completely fine, if you want to experiment, try adding and removing a few items and replacing them with others here and there. It’s always good to try combinations that your mind doesn’t feel likemakinge sense. If you have ever planned an outfit in your head and the execution just wasn’t it, this is the same thing for jewellery stacks and layering. Like the old saying goes, don’t knock it till you try it.
In addition, think about proportions; when laying necklaces, ensure that the earrings, rings and bracelets complement the overall look. So if you are going for maximalist earrings, consider fine and more subtle necklaces to balance out and not draw too much attention away from the earrings. It’s all about picking a focal point for your accessories or creating a balance between them.
