I’ve been buying statement jewelry, especially necklaces, for a long time. I find it the simplest way to dress up an outfit and look pulled together. It’s easy and the piece you choose is not only unique but it reflects your personality.
Statement jewelry is just that: it makes a statement. That necklace, bracelet, or ring attracts attention because it is either big, colorful, noisy, glittery, or just plain unusual. Its very role as part of an outfit is to be the center of attention.
This fall I am seeing statement pieces everywhere. Shoes, clothing, and handbags are wearing jewelry, too!
Clothing items like shirts, dresses, and skirts are embellished with stones that look like necklaces and brooches. Shoes have thick chains at the vamp or ankle. Handbags and backpacks are studded and sparkly.
The history of statement jewelry is well documented from the Egyptians to the Romans to English royalty and from Coco Chanel to today’s modern designers. There is an excellent June 2015 post from Etcetera Collection Blog here that takes you through a detailed history of statement jewelry in words and photos.
I think statement jewelry is important today for several reasons:
- Statement jewelry saves a lot of time in our busy world. You can take a plain dress or top from work to going out with the simple addition of a bold necklace, bracelet, or bag. It is also a smart option for dressing up vacation outfits when you have limited packing space.
- Wearing some bling allows us to stand out as individuals! With all the communicating we do electronically, it is sometimes hard to fully express who we are and what we want to say. When we meet others in person or online, statement pieces allow our tastes and style to shine through.
- Most statement jewelry is well priced and is therefore an affordable indulgence. It provides quick updates to old or new outfits.
My favorite places to shop are at independent boutiques or nationwide retailers like J. Crew, and H&M. Online retailers like BaubleBar are good sources as are museum gift shops, street vendors, and craft shows.
Here are a few of my tips for maintaining and storing statement jewelry:
- Use clear nail polish to go over the jewels, especially where the jewels meet the material they are placed on. This helps keep the jewels intact.
- Check a dollar or craft store to replace a lost jewel. You can use super glue or nail polish to glue on a substitute stone. I recently used a stone ‘sticker’ to save the necklace that is the feature image of this post!
- Store the jewelry in gauzy draw-string bags that are see-through. This way, you can grab your favorite pieces at a glance and they take up less space than individual boxes.
Let me know what other tips you have and where you have purchased your most unique piece!
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