We all have it, our own personal style, how we express ourselves to the world through what we wear. Whether your style is glamorous or athletic, bohemian or minimalist, jewelry brings the personal touch to your wardrobe that sets your style apart from others. The clothes that we wear and the way that we style them are individual to each of us. And you can really personalize that style through your jewelry, especially with vintage jewelry that tends to be one-of-a-kind.
So how exactly do you use jewelry to create your own style code? Start with what you love. Do you have a favorite piece of jewelry that you adore (other than an engagement ring or wedding band)? Wear it every day and let that piece become your signature, something that people will associate with you. Looking back in history we associate snakes with the Victorian era, because Queen Victoria was given an engagement ring in the form of a snake by her beloved Prince Albert. She loved that snake ring and snake motifs in jewelry became very popular during her reign, connecting her to snake jewelry.
Brooches Speak of Personal Style
Maybe you are partial to a type of jewelry such as a brooch. This statement making piece of jewelry will definitely set you apart from the pack. Wear it on your coat, or hat in the winter to spice up your look. Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright, was known for wearing brooches. She had a large brooch collection and she wore pins to send messages to other diplomats she was meeting. She later authored a book titled “Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat’s Jewel Box” — published by HarperCollins — that chronicles her life and career through the brooches that she wore. You too, can wear a brooch that signals what you love, or how you are feeling. A beautiful flower, a Victorian star, or something abstract and artsy are all good choices for brooches.
Lucky Jewels
You may have a piece of jewelry that you consider lucky, maybe it was gifted to you by a favored relative, or perhaps you bought it for yourself. This talismanic piece is something to pull out for those occasions when you need extra support, such as a job interview, first date or other events that could jangle your nerves and cause anxiety. Just wearing the jewel and feeling it close to your body will be like having a friend with you, giving you a boost of confidence while also enhancing your style quotient.
Rings and Things
It’s how you wear your piece that creates personal style. Sure we can all wear a ring on our ring finger, but why not shake it up and wear a pinky ring or thumb ring? Try wearing a ring on a middle or index finger, it will totally change the vibe. An oversized ring that you wear daily may also be the piece that creates your signature style. You could also wear rings on more than one finger, with ten fingers why limit yourself to one ring?
Maybe you have multiple ear piercings and always wear a particular earring in one of the holes. If you like asymmetry, try wearing a small, simple earring in one ear and a long, dangling earring on the other ear. Since earrings frame your face, wearing earrings asymmetrically is a very noticeable and fun way to wear them.
On The Wrist
Cufflinks are another way to showcase your personal style. Keep in mind that cufflinks don’t have to be worn only with a business suit. You can wear cufflinks with jeans or shorts with, or without, a jacket depending upon how casual or dressed up want to be. Create a cufflink collection that showcases your interests. Cufflinks come in many designs and because they aren’t worn much anymore (they should be) they always show that you’re the best dressed person in the room.
Bracelets can also be a part of personal style. There are a couple of ways to go in this case. You may favor bold cuff bracelets that you wear regularly, a retro gold tank bracelet, or an elegant diamond line bracelet, all easily wearable every day. You may have a thin chain bracelet that you never take off, either way it’s associated with you and it’s a reflection of your style.
Taking your personal style to the next level is easily done by adding jewelry to your fashion choices that will showcase your signature style, either by what you wear or how you wear it.
Top of Page: Photo Camilla Carvalho, courtesy Unsplash
Diamond, enamel, 18-karat gold and platinum flower brooch, signed Boucheron, circa 1970s; Diamond, pink porcelain and 18-karat rose gold clover motif Alhambra pendant, signed Van Cleef & Arpels, circa 2015; White, yellow and cognac diamonds and 18-karat gold ring, signed Chaumet; Diamond, ruby, 18-karat gold and silver cufflinks, signed Cantamessa.
Authored by Amber Michelle