Mixing metals
Whether a statement piece or delicate chain, mixing metals when it comes to jewelry has been on the rise. Gold, silver, rose…each can be worn stacked or intertwined. Here’s how you can do it.
Start with a mixed metal piece to center the other pieces
If you’re experimenting with mixing metals, start with a piece that already incorporates two colors. It will automatically bind them together and is a good jumping off point for adding others. David Yurman’s Crossover combines a simple gold bangle with a twisted piece of silver. When adding another bracelet, opt for something similar to the original piece. Heavy fringe or additional twisted jewelry could over do it. Stick with combining no more than two colors: yellow gold with white gold/silver or white gold/silver with rose gold.
2. Placement
We often place jewelry in four main areas: ears, wrists, neck and fingers. Focus on one area when placing mixed jewelry. If you’re wearing a gold hoop and silver stud on your ears and the place two mixed metal chains over your neck, the look can end up looking too haphazard and result in looking sloppy. The mixed metal arrangement is bound to catch some eyes, so allow that one area to the focal point instead of all over. Jewelry should tie together a look, not overwhelm it.
3. Necklaces
Layering necklaces is a beautiful trend that draws attention to the neckline and collar bone. You can choose to layer in one metal tone or mix it up. When layering, choose one statement piece. For example, Mason and Madison’s Chunky Chain Necklace is a medium length with similar gold chains of varying withs accompanying it. There’s a simplicity to this look that provides chains of similar lengths focusing on the neck. In contrast, in regards to Panacea’s Layered Circle Pendant Necklace, the focal point is the longer chain with delicate gold pearls trailing down. It’s accompanied with a shorter, also pendant chain, and another simple gold chain. Mixed metals, would also work here if the necklaces are similar in design and complement one another.
4. Bracelets and Rings
When styling bracelets, it can be fun to introduce a pop of color to the metal tones used. Layer bracelets allows for this. Alex and Ani type bangles allow for cohesive looks, mixing colors, metals and charms to adorn the wrists. In the same way, rings are like bangles for the fingers. Hannah and Naomi takes all three metal tones and combines them into a single ring, and it looks stunning. With simple, classic, overlapping bands, each metal is intwined together. When stying rings, you can also opt for layering different ring shapes on top of each other, such as Uncommon James does.
5. styling your jewelry
Lastly, jewelry and your clothes work together to complete an overall look. Be conscious of your skins’ undertone when choosing jewelry, so similarly, your clothing choice also indicative of the metal tone that would work best. When wearing silver or white gold, opt for wearing cool tones: blue, green or purple. When wearing yellow gold, wear warmer tones: olive, orange, yellow. Neutral tones, such as: black, white, beige, or blush, can be used with either palette.
