Scale: How Big or How Small?

You may have noticed that over the years, the scale or size of jewelry goes up and down. I remember the huge plastic jewelry of the 1980’s and the petite chain and crystal necklaces from the 1990’s. (Think Monica and Rachel a la Friends) Currently, jewelry seems to be fairly large scale, though there are many choices when you go shopping. So how do you choose what to buy?

First of all, you need to get a basic understanding of what large, medium and small scale jewelry looks like. Here’s an example shown in necklaces.

large, medium, and small scale necklaces

This same guideline applies to all types of jewelry, from the thinnest of gold bands to the chunky cocktail ring…from simple diamond studs to shoulder-grazing chandelier earrings. Once you can identify the scale of a piece, you next need to decide what would work best on you.

Think about your physical being and how much “space” you occupy in the world. Are you tall? Short? Somewhere in between? And think about your skeletal frame. Just because I’m quite tall, I actually have very small bones, as shown in my tiny wrists and ankles.

Finally, think about the scale of your facial features. Do you have large eyes? A small button nose? A smile to rival Julia Roberts?

Knowing how you visually come across will help you in determining the most inherent jewelry scale for you. By inherent, I mean the scale that is most naturally pleasing and complimentary to you. For me, I can carry pretty large scale jewelry due to my height and the size of my facial features, but I need to mix it with some medium or small scale to balance out my small bones. Often, I can achieve this by layering necklaces and bracelets of different scales. (I will elaborate on how to do this in a future post.)

Now keep in mind that this is how to get an inherent look. You can also create drama by selecting a scale that you wouldn’t normally choose. For example, picture some five foot tall gal who constantly wears large, oversized necklaces–and she looks fabulous! This is because she’s making a dramatic statement with her necklaces. Plus, it may very well be part of her jewelry signature. Here’s a perfect example of creating drama with a large scale necklace:

creating drama with a large scale necklace

So take all this information and look at your jewelry with new eyes. You may get an “ah ha!” or two…

Should I buy it?

I can’t tell you how often I’ve found myself standing at the jewelry counter with a client while she tries something on, and she asks me, “Should I buy it?”  Beyond the issues of affordability and if it’s flattering, the answer is easy.

First of all, do you absolutely love it?  If not, take it off and step away from the case.  I don’t care if your best friend has one just like it, or you saw Jennifer Aniston looking amazing in the same thing.  I care about you and your true feelings.

Next, it’s all about cost-per-wear.  Basically, the more you spend on something, the more you should wear it to make it cost-effective.  For example, if you wear your watch every day, then it’s wise to invest more money in it.  The cost of the item will go down each time you wear it.  But if you are thinking about spending a lot of money on a pair of special occasion earrings that you may only wear once or twice a year, then think very long and hard before making that purchase.  It may not be a wise investment.

Here’s an added tip: many stores have a deal that if you buy something over a certain dollar amount on their credit card, then they will spread out your payments, interest-free, over a six month period.  This has worked out great for me at both Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.  Just an idea. 😉

Happy shopping!

Jewelry Fashion Tips

Welcome to the Jewelry Fashion Tips blog! As a wardrobe stylist and personal shopper, I am surrounded by jewelry on a daily basis. Of course, this is heaven for me, as I’ve been a jewelry-a-holic since about kindergarten. (No lie–ask my family!) Rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings…they all make my heart sing. Regardless of one’s personal style or age, the crowning glory on any ensemble is your jewelry.

I am fortunate to be on the front lines of discovering new jewelry designers, fabulous shops to find new treasures, and witness current jewelry trends on the street. Everything from costume jewelry to fine jewelry catches my eye. In my opinion, it’s all in the mix when building your own jewelry collection.

The aim of this blog is multi-tiered. Some posts will be more informative, such as how to wear layered necklaces or what sort of jewelry box/storage options you may have. At other times, I’ll be filling you in on the latest jewelry designer I’ve met or some new jewelry store that I just have to tell you about. Or, it may even be discussing a tried-and-true line that holds the test of time. Though based in the San Francisco Bay Area, I do travel a fair amount, so look forward to tips from around the globe.