Mixing metals

Tanya

I was wondering what everyone's opinion is on mixing metals. I do not mean jewelry and I also do not have a mixed-metal piece that would tie it all together.

What I mean is things like hardware on bags, buckles on belts and shoes, buttons, metal of your watch, sunglasses and so on. I personally can not get myself to do it, or do it and then do not feel good about it the whole day. This sometimes creates trouble when putting an outfit together,e.g. my brown shirtdress has gold buttons and my AK yellow flats have silver buckle, but I'd like to wear them together.

So is it a do or a don't? Or is there some kind of middle ground, say if items ate not next to each other, it's fine? What I mean is that maybe the above example is fine because I'll have jeans visually separating the two, but the hardware on the bag should be gold because it's next to the dress? Or am I just simply overanalyzing :)?

17 years ago

Dressing

10 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

shell

Active Member

im interested to hear the consensus on this topic. i too try to avoid mixing metals, but it gets hard when mixing items with subtle bits of metals, like the hardware on a purse or shoe. generally, i just avoid wearing major pieces of jewelry of different metals - aka a gold necklace with a silver bracelet. when it gets down to the hardware on a purse, i tend to ignore it. i figure if it's small enough, im the only one who'd notice.

17 years ago

Becky

Veteran

Hmmm. Good question. I'd say it's probably not that big a deal to mix small bits of metal. I almost always mix metals, since my wedding ring is yellow gold and most of my other jewelry is silver (which looks better with my skin tone). I purposely choose mixed metal watches for this reason. I feel it ties in my wedding ring with my other jewelry.

17 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

I think it's one of those things that only the wearer is aware of. The amount of metal on purses, shoes and clothing is usually quite minimal. So, mixing them in small doses isn't a big deal. But if you had an item that was ALL metal...then you probably don't want to wear anything else metal anyway. (like this purse, which I love, btw)

https://www.artfulhome.com/artitem/35822.html

I dont think I'd wear anything else metallic, whether it matched or not, because there's enough metal in the purse.

17 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I understand what you mean, Tanya. It's hard for me to mix metals personally, but honestly, if someone else is wearing gold jewelry and the hardware on their purse is silver (unless there is some major hardware going on), I can't say I even really notice if everything else looks great. Know what I mean?

17 years ago

Anonymous

I used to be SO afraid of mixing metals. I used to be strictly silver, no gold whatsoever, which limited me from so many great shoes, bags, belts, and jewelry. Recently, I have not been as rigid about it and have ventured into the world of gold. I always wear the same two silver rings (one is a silver and diamond ring my mother gave me and the other is a tiffanys piece my boyfriend gave me) so I always thought everything else had to be silver. However, I began to take notice that when I saw people who I thought dressed well or looked good, they often mixed metals without hesitation. Also, the ladies on SATC mix metals all the time, if you notice. And on one WNTW episode I saw, one of the contributers asked this question and S&C assured her that mixing metals is fine. I think that it's perfectly fine, as metallics are technically neutrals. I am wary about not having a metallic overload (ie. metallic bag, metallic shoes and a chunky piece of metallic jewelry or something), but as hardware or as a little accent, it's alright.

17 years ago

Monica

Active Member

I do it in small doses all the time. If I'm wearing a piece with big hardware, or metallic leather, I worry about mixing, but I don't worry that the little gold buckle on my purse doesn't match the small silver buckle on my shoe.

My everyday watch is silver with some gold accents, which may be why it works for me. Also, most of the metal accents on my bags and shoes are not bright. They're often either that shiny dark grey that resembles titanium jewelry, or they're 'antiqued' finish gold or silver. Maybe that's why it doesn't bother me.

17 years ago

Antje

Veteran

Interesting question, thanks for posting this Tanya. Curious to hear what Angie says. I personally don't mix metals, either, but maybe that's too conversative of a stance. I do generally much prefer silver over gold, though, so it's very rare gold metal accents even enter my wardrobe.

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Thank you for all the replies ladies. I guess we are pretty divided here. I too am curios about Angie's opinion Antje.

17 years ago

Sihaya

Veteran

I mix metals in small doses. If the metals are too obvious (big silver earrings) then I stay away from the mix or over doing it since it would be matchy matchy. My wedding band is twisted strands of white and yellow gold so I'm a mix it up kind of gal to begin with

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

yooohoooo I’m here.

Personally, I don’t mix metals either. It’s a quirk. My watch needs to match my wedding ring. That’s how much I don’t mix metals. I stick to silver, platinum and white gold. I do not wear gold. BUT, that being said, you can mix metals. I don’t think it’s a style faux pas at all.

17 years ago

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