Jewelry is an area of the fashion world that’s particularly prone to evolving over time – sometimes gradually, often suddenly. If you want to evoke the style of a particular era, then the right selection of vintage items might allow you to do it. Sometimes, a particular design or stylistic choice might appeal to you, even if you aren’t particularly attached to the era that produced it.
In many cases, vintage jewelry is at its best when it’s paired with modern items. This goes for everything from engagement rings to fashion jewelry. This might allow you to discover amazing new combinations and styles – but getting it right often means abiding by a few simple principles.
Use a unifying element to tie pieces together
If your new ensemble is to look cohesive and deliberate, then you’ll want to ensure that everything revolves around a particular common feature or property. This will allow you to keep everything feeling as though if belongs together. You might choose a particular stone or setting, or you might decide that you’ve always loved white gold, and that everything you wear should incorporate it – perhaps to the exclusion of all other metals.
Balance statement pieces with subtle ones
Artists and designers often speak in terms of visual hierarchy. If many different elements of a composition are of the same size, then if can be difficult for the eye to know what to focus on. The result can often be confusion.
The same principle often applies in fashion. When everything is eye-catching, nothing is. As such, it’s often a good idea to allow one element to take a central role, while everything else takes a step back. For example, you might pair a showy, chunky Art Deco cuff bracelet with a delicate pair of modern stud earrings.
By taking this approach, you can give your favorite vintage items the attention they deserve, and prevent your modern ones from distracting from them.
Embrace layering necklaces and rings
In many cases, you’ll be able to create extremely novel effects by juxtaposing certain items, like pendants, rings, and bracelets. For example, delicate Victorian chains might contrast nicely with chunkier contemporary pendants. When you stack certain items together, you can create a lovely, curated look, while avoiding the sense of chaos that comes from combining the wrong items, according to no discernible order.
Make your everyday jewelry the bridge
The jewelry you wear the most often should act as a bridge between the styles you’re trying to bring together. This often means keeping your everyday jewelry as stripped-back and simple as possible. That way, you can be reasonably sure that everything you wear will match nicely with it.
Use the pieces to complement your outfit’s neckline
The clothes you wear should inform your choice of jewelry. If you favor a high neckline, then a longer, vintage pendant might make sense. Shorter chains tend to complement lower necklines nicely. Be willing to experiment with different combinations. It might be that you’ll stumble on one that really works.
