The fashion world seems to always fall into two camps: Maximalist and minimalist. In today’s world, both have a place as style stars, but also as part of sustainable fashion, one encourages thrift store shopping and the other shopping less, which makes vintage jewelry particularly appealing to wear with either of these looks. What are the best ways to wear jewelry for either style? It always comes back to the same thing, it’s about creating your own personal style.
The Maximalist
Maximalism in fashion has been around for centuries, think towering powdered wigs of the Georgian era, or the corseted and cinched waist of the Victorian era. Today, maximalism in fashion is defined as “artistic and aesthetic excess” as a form of self-expression and creativity.
Maximalist fashion is a joyous mash-up of colors, prints and textures with no rules holding you back from creating a style that is truly you, even if it doesn’t fit the fashion “norm”. Jewelry plays a big part in creating this “look at me” style.
Mixing and matching the unexpected, clashing colors and patterns, is an important element of maximalist style. Think checks worn with polka dots, or plaid worn with florals, or stripes worn with animal prints. Colors mix in unexpected combinations, electric blue with yellow, or bright pink with orange. To create a cohesive look, it’s helpful to have one unifying color that goes through the different pieces you’re wearing to pull it all together. You may also want to wear clothing pieces in certain hues and then add in shoes or a handbag in a totally different color that adds a surprise twist to the rest of the outfit. Textures are also important, mix silk with suede, denim with velvet or leather and lace, as well as feathers and faux fur. Maximalist fashionistas will often shop at second-hand and thrift stores for sustainable fashion finds that can be incorporated into their outfits. It’s important to mention that maximalist fashion is not about opening the closet and throwing a bunch of random pieces together. It is a well-planned and thoughtful approach to dressing that draws upon your personal creativity and self-expression to design your own look.
When it comes to jewelry, it’s not about just piling on everything in your jewelry box. It’s about wearing jewelry to help create your maximalist style. Large, vintage pieces are always appropriate for the maximalist, layered necklaces, stacked bracelets, rings on each finger, dangling earrings and statement brooches all work. But there are times, when you may need to pull back and wear just one piece of jewelry to keep the look focused. For example if you have an outfit with exaggerated sleeves that fall to the wrist, skip the bracelets and opt for rings on several fingers instead. If your neckline is open, fill it in with multiple necklaces, you can even choose jewelry with gemstones that will add another layer of color to your outfit.
The Minimalist
Some fashion watchers suggest that minimalism originated in the 1990s as an antidote to the excesses of the 1980s. The opposite of the maximalist, the minimalist has fewer clothes in their wardrobes and what they do have tends to be simple pieces with clean lines, neutral colors and timeless shapes that are made with high quality materials and fabrication. These pieces can then be mixed and matched to create numerous outfits. Minimalists may also add in a piece with a pop of color, or pattern, here and there, but the premise is to keep the amount of clothing that is purchased to a minimum creating more sustainability in fashion by buying fewer, better items. Vintage jewelry fits right in with this sustainability mindset.
Minimalist fashion, is also about signature style and what better way to do that than with a piece of jewelry? For minimalist fashion, jewelry can be worn a number of ways. The obvious is to wear small, discrete pieces, such as Victorian dormeuse earrings, a locket, or a single gold bangle. You can also maintain a minimalist vibe by wearing one statement jewel, such as an Art Deco brooch, a classic gold chain necklace, a 1940s gold tank bracelet or a glamorous cocktail ring. Jewelry with colored gemstones is also a good way to add a dash of color to your outfit. Each of these jewels, is strong enough to be worn on its own and be noticed without overpowering your minimalist style. By wearing one fabulous piece of jewelry on repeat it becomes something that people associate with you, creating signature style.
Whether your style profile is maximalist or minimalist, your jewelry will help to define your style and when you have personal style, you’ll always be in style.
Top of Page: Left: Coppertist Wu, right: Donna Elliot, both courtesy UnSplash.
Diamond, emerald, ruby, sapphire and 18-karat gold brooch, circa 1980s; Knot ring, 18-karat gold, signed Cartier, circa 1970s; Retro 18-karat rose gold tank bracelet, circa 1940s; Victorian diamond, rose gold and platinum dormeuse earrings, circa 1880.
Authored by Amber Michelle