As summer winds down and you head back into the office, or if you’re heading back after working remotely for the past few years, you may be wondering what jewelry to wear in the workplace. The answer is pretty open ended and depends a lot on the industry you work in and the company culture. If you work in fashion, advertising or other creative professions, you’ll have a lot of leeway in what you wear. If you work in a bank, accounting firm, or other corporate setting, your choices may be more constrained, but there is still jewelry that can be worn in the office.
Earrings for Work
Earrings are one of the easiest jewels to wear to work and if you’re still working from home, they up your game during a Zoom call. Earrings bring attention to your face, framing it with light. There are many styles to choose from, but you can never go wrong with a simple pair of diamond solitaire earrings, you’ll have enough sparkle to be fun, but still look sophisticated. Simple pearl stud earrings are a great way to look polished without having your jewelry get in the way of doing your job, they’re a great choice for teachers, doctors, or others who want to add a finishing touch to their outfit without being over the top. Small earrings, with a floral or other motif, that sit on the lobe are another good choice.
Another earring that works as hard as you do, is the huggie, which is a small hoop that hugs the earlobe. These earrings were made for work wardrobes, huggies are small, but pack a big pop of style. They can be plain gold, or embellished with gems, either way you’ll always be work ready with huggies, even if you work in a more corporate environment.
If you love to wear long, dangly earrings, you may be able to wear them to work by keeping the length on the shorter side, such as a drop, or by wearing a streamlined silhouette, rather than a wide chandelier style. If you’re on the phone a lot at work, you’ll want to make sure that your earring choice doesn’t interfere with holding a phone to your ear.
Necklaces for the Office
An easy piece to wear to the office is a necklace. Again you will have many options. A textured vintage gold chain link necklace in a length that sits on the collarbone is perfect peeking out of the front of a blouse. Worn with a simple t-shirt, it will immediately elevate your look even on your most casual office wear day. A chain link necklace will also look good layered on top of a crew neck sweater. You may also consider wearing two chain necklaces in different lengths for a little more impact, or pair the chain link with a longer pendant. You’ll be chic and put together with these simple pieces.
You may decide to wear a classic pearl strand, the perfect piece for those who have a more buttoned down office culture. A diamond solitaire necklace is also always appropriate, it’s simple and transitions easily from day to night, or dressy to casual. If you wear color, consider going monochromatic and matching the gemstones to the color of your clothes, whether it’s a bead necklace or a vintage pendant, it will help to pull the whole look together. When wearing a necklace to the office, make sure that the length is short enough that it won’t get in your way while you’re working.
Bracelets in the Boardroom
Bangles, bracelets and cuffs are beautiful pieces to wear when you head back into the office. You may opt for one large statement making cuff, or a simple gold bangle or two. A chain link bracelet is another good option. If you wear a chain link necklace you have the option of matching the links in your bracelet to the ones in the necklace, which will create a more structured look, or try mixing up the chain styles to further personalize your jewelry.
A classic pairing for the office is to wear a watch with a bracelet, perhaps a diamond line bracelet, or slim gold chain. It’s professional and chic. The one caveat with bracelets is that you don’t want to wear anything that jingles and makes noise.
Rings in the Workplace
If you have a wedding band and engagement ring, it’s always right to wear those anywhere you go. You may want to wear a vintage cocktail ring on the right hand index finger, a style popularized by flappers in the 1920s. Pretty pinky rings are an easy item to wear to work, they tend to be subtle, while still allowing you room to express your personal style. If you want to be a little bit edgy, but still understated, try wearing a thin diamond band on your thumb.
Keep in mind that rings may be worn on any finger on either hand, it's a matter of what’s comfortable for you that fits in with your workplace culture.
The Power Brooch
Over the past few years brooches have been making a huge comeback and they are the perfect work jewel, whether your workplace is anything goes or more conservative, a brooch will always look right. Chic and modern, brooches never get in the way while you’re working and they add a lovely bit of individuality to your outfit. There are plenty of vintage brooches with all kinds of shapes, styles and sizes that you can easily adapt to your wardrobe. Some brooches come with a hidden bale so that they can also be worn on a chain as a necklace. Whether you choose to wear a brooch on a jacket or coat lapel, on the collar of a sweater, or wherever your imagination takes you, it will always be a unique expression of you.
If you’re still unsure about what jewelry to wear to work, look at your colleagues for clues. Look at the type of jewelry they’re wearing. Notice if your associates wear multiple items, or do they stick to basic earrings and a ring, is the look subdued and classic, or are your colleagues fashionistas who set the tone with statement jewels? You may need to experiment a bit to come up with your own style, but it can be fun and certainly worth the effort once you’ve found the right amount of sparkle, luster and shine for your work day wardrobe.
Top of Page: Photo by Christin Hume, courtesy Unsplash.
Diamond and 18-karat gold floral motif earrings, circa 1980s; French 18-karat gold woven wirework link necklace, circa 1940s; Ruby, emerald and 18-karat gold double lion motif cuff bracelet; Diamond, lapis lazuli and 18-karat gold ring, signed Van Cleef & Arpels, circa 1970s; Art Deco diamond, onyx and platinum circle brooch.
Authored by Amber Michelle