A Little More Is Never Enough
A Little More Is Never Enough
My Love Affair with Layered Jewelry
Some pieces have a history. Others just have attitude. I happen to love both.
I've never been particularly interested in wearing jewelry exactly the way someone intended. Where's the fun in that?
Over the years, I've collected pieces from all sorts of places. Some were gifts, some belonged to family, and others simply caught my eye. They're not necessarily from the same period, designer, or even the same part of the world.
But put them together, and suddenly they have something to say.
Pearls That Don't Behave
I love pearls, but I've never understood why they have such a reputation for being proper.
One of my favorite ways to wear them is with jeans and a white shirt. Nothing complicated. The necklaces do all the talking.
I have a smaller two-strand pearl necklace that belonged to my great-aunt. Over time, I've added charms that mean something to me. It's become a little collection of memories I can wear around my neck.
I also enjoy my Godfrey Allure pieces. Beautifully made, surprisingly accessible, and easy to mix with jewelry I've had for years.
That's what I love about layering. You don't have to choose between something old and something new. Wear them together. They might get along splendidly.
A Little Surprise from Behind
Who says all the interesting jewelry has to be in front? I love attaching a brooch to the clasp at the back of a necklace. With my hair swept up, the back becomes a beautiful little statement of its own. After all, why should the front have all the fun?
An Unexpected Conversation
Sometimes I put two necklaces together simply because I’m curious. I don’t always know whether a combination will work until I put it on.
Take this vintage curved necklace I found in a shop. It’s almost snake-like, and I love its unusual shape. Against the navy silk, it has a completely different personality when worn with other pieces.
Then there are my two Godfrey Allure diamond necklaces with the leopard necklace. I love seeing what happens when I bring them together. Sometimes I take something off. Sometimes I add another necklace.
Don’t be afraid to experiment. Occasionally you’ll look in the mirror and think, Well, that’s rather fabulous.
When More Is More
I love looking at fashion editorials, particularly when someone has combined things in a way I wouldn't have thought of myself.
Juan's magazine cutout is a perfect example of that kind of inspiration.
But inspiration isn't imitation. I might love the spirit of a look and then go rummaging through my own jewelry to see what I can do with it.
Here, I've mixed bold green earrings, gold chains, colorful stones, and statement pieces with a simple white blouse.
Is it a lot? Absolutely.
Do I love it? Every last bit.
Jewelry with a Past
Some of my jewelry is precious to me for reasons that have very little to do with its monetary value.
There's my father's tie clip, for example. And a gold sovereign with its own family story. Then there are the earrings, the emerald, and other little treasures I've collected along the way.
And don’t be afraid to look at your earrings in a different way. Hanging from this omega necklace is a pair of earrings. Who says they have to stay on your ears?
I love bringing these pieces out and looking at them together. Each has its own history, but I don't believe they should spend their lives tucked away in separate boxes.
Sometimes the most interesting combinations begin with something sentimental and something completely unexpected.
And that's the beauty of jewelry, isn't it? We can carry our memories with us without looking as though we've stepped out of another decade.
A Little Drama Never Hurt
Then there are days when I want the jewelry to make the entrance before I do.
A black blazer is the perfect backdrop for that. I love the contrast of long cascading strands with something shorter and sparkling near the neckline.
There are different textures, different lengths, and plenty going on. But that's precisely what makes it interesting.
I wouldn't wear this every day. Then again, I might. Depends on my mood.
Wear What Makes You Smile
I think we sometimes become far too concerned about whether something is appropriate, whether it matches, or whether we've worn too much.
I've never found those questions particularly useful.
I'd rather ask myself whether I love what I'm wearing.
So don't be afraid to experiment. Mix your pearls with gold chains. Wear something inherited with a flea-market discovery. Try earrings that don't match. Put on one more necklace just to see what happens.
You can always take it off.
Although knowing me, I'll probably leave it on.
After all, confidence never expires. And neither should our curiosity.
For those asking: the two diamond-style necklaces and the pearl necklace I’ve paired with my large topaz brooch are from Godfrey Allure.
Care for a little more? Subscribe to my newsletter for fresh finds, personal notes, and a few things I don’t share here. Same Sonia, a little something different. Naturally.