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Matching jewelry sets?

marianna

Veteran

There are a pair of earrings that I am eyeing, and there is a matching necklace available. I generally do not wear matching sets, but something in this particular instance interests me. Still, I am not sure how I feel about sets -- are they classic, or too staid?

What are your thoughts on jewelry sets? Do you like to wear matching pieces, or mix things up?

Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from Beth Ann

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Hey Marianna! I am anti-jewelry set and never wear both earrings and a necklace - it's either one or the other. Will be curious to hear everyone's take on this!

Deborah

Veteran

Personally I have become much less matchy matchy when it comes to Jewellery, however I do think it depends on the Jewellery, the outfit and the occasion. Can you show us pictures of the Jewellery your considering Marianna?

Anonymous

I have to say I'm not keen on the idea of matching up either. I also don't always wear earrings and necklace at the same time, as sometimes it can look too much depending on what I'm wearing. That's just my thoughts on it as we're all different.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I never wear sets as sets anymore. They feel much too staid and matchy to me. I do put thought into my jewelry mixes though -- I prefer to let the pieces complement rather than match one another.

Echo

Veteran

I am not opposed to wearing both earrings and a necklace, but I don't match them and I keep one very understated if the other is not. For example, diamond studs, IMO, go with almost anything, including a statement necklace. Or small diamond studs with a diamond necklace are okay in my book, too. But sets where the gemstones and the way they are set matches with a pendant and earrings does strike me as outdated, although I am sure some people can pull it off beautifully.

All that said, there is no reason you cannot buy the set and wear the pieces spearately. Or maybe you can rock the set better than most of us could.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Buy the set, wear them separately with other pieces that work together is what I'd do. Matching sets look very outdated and uncreative to me. Unless they were designed to be *not* matched but still go together, but I'm not sure I've seen this yet...

Keix

Veteran

I don't own any matching sets, but I do often wear several pieces of jewelry at the same time (e.g. today it's watch + bracelet + necklace + earrings, all silver) and I try to coordinate them. If I saw an understated jewelry set that I also liked as separates, I wouldn't hesitate just because they're sold as a set.

Anonymous

I have 80+ costume necklaces and probably 30+ bracelets but I almost always wear small gold or silver hoop earrings, depending on the colour of the necklace.

I don't like mathched earring and necklace sets on me, but they work on some outfits.

Abie

Veteran

I have several sets but don't wear the necklace and earrings at the same time. I'm more of a necklace person because my hair usually covers the earrings. So the necklace get the most wear. I keep the earrings around for when I go for a short cut or when my hair is long enough to pull up. When I buy I set I'm typically buying for the necklace because they aren't sold separately. That happens to me pretty often.

rachylou

Veteran

The only set no-no in my mind is match-sized pearl sets - unless, possibly, they are gargantuan. That's very tired.

Irene

Veteran

I don't wear jewellery, but I don't think matching sets are too matchy matchy. Honestly, I believe matching sets are meant to, well, match. I do own a couple of matching sets, and don't wear all the pieces together, but then again, if I ever wear jewellery, it's normally only earrings.

Matching sets are classic, in a good way. Maybe it's just a feeling, but I see that these days we regard matching sets -any kind- as something bad. Matching trousers/skirts and jackets, wrong. Matching jewellery, wrong. Matching cardi and cami, wrong. Matching belt and shoes and/or bag, wrong. Matching color shades, wrong.

Well, we could start wearing different shoes and sock for each of our lovely feet and start thinking that matching shoe sets is dated.

In the end, it's up to you whether you match or not. Personally I don't because that's just not me, but that doesn't mean I think it looks bad, wrong or dated. At all.

PS: Besides, you can go wrong matching a red shirt with green trousers, or a golden necklace and a silver ring. But you just can't go wrong with something that was meant to go together in the first place!

Anonymous

Ditto what Lemonade posted. I only own maybe 2 matching sets of jewelry (earrings and necklace) and don't mind wearing them that way. I have plenty of other pieces of jewelry that don't "match" but always "go" with each other and with the particular outfit I'm wearing.

I'm glad I bought a set of matching china and coordinating silverware, etc. for my dining room before this mismatched look took hold, lol! Just saying.

As far as I'm concerned, there's a place for matching and for blending, but not for mismatching that looks uncoordinated and haphazard.

Sylvie

Veteran

I'm going to run against the tide here and say that I LOVE matching jewelry sets. I have a ton of them and while I may sometimes choose to wear individual parts separately, for dress up, I am happy to wear the whole set.

Anonymous

When I first started my jewelry design business (8 years ago?) people would only buy my pieces if they came with matching items. Then things evolved and people refused to buy matching items and I started designing coordinating pieces that all sort of went together without literal matching. I think the whole match vs go theory ebbs and flows and right now we are in a non-matchy phase.

I also find that matching pieces looks dressier and more polished so for more formal occasions, I doubt that matching will ever totally go out of style.

I would buy a matching set right now and wear them seperately until matchy comes back in style and then wear the pieces together. Also, if you wear the pieces together NOW, you can layer in another necklace and break up the matchy-ness. My thought is that if you love a piece of jewelry, you should have it in your collection to enjoy, regardless of the trends.

Jyoti

(website)

Veteran

I think there is still a place for matching jewelry. I don't have much real jewelry, but the most expensive stuff I have is a sort-of matching set, and I've also got a matching costume jewelry set. My mum's Indian jewelry contains lots of sets. I think wearing something really plain, like a black strapless dress, with a matching set would make for a great, striking look. If you really like the pieces themselves too, you can always wear them separately.

I would actually say that matchy jewelry is kind of on trend right now, its just very graphic/bold stuff-- I would absolutely wear a metal band collar necklace with two plain metal cuffs right now and it would be super on-trend.

In summary, I think that matching sets aren't too staid at all. I think it's more the pieces themselves you have to look at, and I like the versatility of being able to wear the set together or the pieces separately.

Lisa

Veteran

I don't mind a matching set. I get ready even faster in the morning when my jewelry is already through out as far as what to wear. When I match I will usually wear only two matching items at a time for jewelry: earrings and a necklace or earrings and a bracelet.

Anonymous

To me, matching sets look best with dressy jewelry. I like Jyoti's idea of a simple strapless dress with eye catching pieces.

However, I do wonder if this is something that has been "out" long enough that it could be coming back "in" again soon? With a modern twist maybe it could look edgy

Aida

Veteran

If you love the pieces, then buy the set; you can wear them separately if you want. I quite like matching sets for fine jewelry, especially in dressy settings, and have many matching sets but only in very fine jewelry.

Kari

Veteran

Marianna, I think that it depends on the piece.

My personal preference is to keep the scale different. I have a necklace that has chunky pieces of salmon-colored coral and rose-colored beads; there are matching coral earrings but they are very small and not very "dangly." Or I might pair small pearl studs with a chunky long pearl necklace.

I only wear sets together rarely, though. While I still have a very modern classic style, I've gravitated more towards the "modern" end of the equation in the last couple years, trying to toss in something unexpected, like wearing hoop earrings with a pearl necklace at all.

More frequently I leave off earrings altogether since I wear glasses a lot more often these days.

Imogen's suggestions in this post are very much in line of what I prefer RE: matched jewelry sets: http://www.insideoutstyleblog......-sets.html

Isabel

Veteran

You know, I personally do not like matching sets. However, some people do..it depends, I think, also on the size. If you are talking big dangling earrings and a big necklace, then I wouldn't do it.

I did read once that, just like a Chanel jacket, younger women can get away without it looking a bit "precious" if the rest of the outfit is hip.

Kristine

Veteran

I like the retro feel of matching sets, but they have to be kind of special and intentionally retro.

Joy

Veteran

If you like the set, wear it together and maybe be ahead of fashion. Just as matchy matchy outfits are coming back, I suspect that matching jewelry sets may not be far behind. You may be sorry next year that you don't have the set.

marianna

Veteran

Thanks everyone. I like Isabel's comment about getting away with looking a bit "precious" if the rest of the outfit is hip. I've been eyeing a Lagos pearl earrings and necklace set. I've wanted the earrings for a while and then I saw the matching necklace and thought it was nice too. Both pieces are small so I think they might work together. Not sure if I will buy it but it got me thinking about jewelry sets! In general I also don't like matchy matchy sets, but I guess there is always an exception! Thanks for all the interesting thoughts.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I agree that matching jewelry sets look best with dressy and more formal pieces. It's a GREAT retro and lady-like look that will never go out of style. In fact, I think it might become a trend.

Beth Ann

Veteran

OK, you're gonna think I'm copying Angie, but I think matching might be coming back, in formal and retro looks, for sure, but also in younger looks. I'm seeing some of my college students "matching."

That said, I generally don't match, because it looks like Grandma to me, but I have bought sets before to wear one at a time.

I'd love to see it on you!