OK to mix hardware type on bags and jewelry? (ie gold and silver)

Debbie

Is it ok to mix gold hardware on a bag/tote with silver jewelry or should you keep it all the same?

For example I am interested in buying the bag Angie blogged about yesterday and it has gold hardware. I do not wear gold very often at all.

Does mixing it up keep things interesting or is it confusing to the eye making it seem like you have too much going on?

Thanks!

15 years ago

Dressing

10 replies

Latest reply was from Tanya

shiny

Veteran

Happy, I do all the time. Here is a recent example:

http://s386.photobucket.com/al.....orm245.jpg

That is one of my favorite bags and it has gold hardware. You're only seeing the side, but it also has a big gold buckle on the front.

While I do wear gold, I wear silver jewelry far more often. I don't think twice about mixing the two.

15 years ago

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

I have often wondered the same thing, I usually do not mix them if it is a certain proportion of hardware. Small amounts, I will just go with if there is a mixture. If I was wearing lots of gold chains as a necklace I would opt for a bag that probably didn't have much of any hardware. I would say that the bag you like makes a statement with gold. I do not think statement pieces in silver jewelry would work. I often cannot find gold hardware which is what I wear. I like to look for belts and bags sometimes with no hardware or same color buckles so that issue does not come up.
I wonder what others think?

15 years ago

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I mix metals all the time, although I am aware that some people do have a bias against it. I tend to wear more silver, and my rings are white gold and platinum, but lately I've been drawn to gold earrings - today I'm wearing a gold watch and gold hoop earrings with my rings and I don't mind at all. But I'm the type who gets easily bored so I like to change things up.

I did buy a white jacket for spring that has gold hardware and it caused me to pause for a moment - but then I decided it didn't bother me!

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Shiny and Laura are spot on. I wouldn’t think twice about mixing metals in the way you’ve described if you like the look. Personally, I’m a purest when it comes to this. I do not mix metals in an outfit which means that I never wear gold.

15 years ago

Anonymous

I say mix it up and have fun if that's what you want to do. It doesn't look bad to me and I wouldn't want to be so stringent on myself to never have gold hardware since my wedding ring is platinum.

15 years ago

Debbie

Active Member

So Angie, are you saying you would wear a bag that has gold hardware but would not wear gold jewelry itself? I guess I am a little confused by your answer.

Maybe you are saying it is ok to do--- but you personally don't do it?

Thanks Shiny for the visual--you look great as usual!

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The latter is right, Debbie. I won’t purchase anything for my wardrobe with gold on it. It’s a personal preference, NOT a general one. It’s absolutely stylishly acceptable to mix metals.

15 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

So I am somewhere in between. I am actually a purist like Angie and ideally would not mix metals at all. But sometimes I find absolutely perfect pieces that have gold tone hardware - like my new chestnut boots and white denim jacket - so I do get some of them. I do try not to wear them with my jewelry, which is silver based, but I do end up wearing them with my watch, which is white/silver. I think I might be putting a simple watch with gold hardware on my shopping list, just to avoid that situation ( I can always skip jewelry, but feel naked without my watch).

15 years ago

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Tanya, I bet you would wear a white/gold watch a lot this summer. It seems to me I saw something by Michael Kors on sale at Nordies that fit that description?

I am so the opposite about mixing metals - I love to change things up. In fact, I warned my husband when we were married that I would probably re-set my wedding ring multiple times during our marriage and he shouldn't take it personally! Still, I'd likely keep my rings all white gold/platinum. While wearing earrings, watches or bracelets in gold feels fine to me, wearing rings in different metals would be where I personally drew the line.

Tanya, did you feel that a white denim jacket with gold hardware had a very distinct look to it? As opposed to having silver hardware? That was how I felt, but I decided I could make the jacket more casual with a graphic T.

15 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

He he Laura, we might have the same jacket. I snapped the BCBG one that Ana has. And I am also planning to wear mine over graphic tees

Yes, I do feel that the gold hardware makes it stand out, and I wish it were silver, but it fit so well and it was 70% off that I decided to ignore it. My white/silver MK watch was actually from Nordie's sale. I'll keep my eyes open for one with gold hardware, and it would be so nice if it were actually cream. I know, I am dreaming awake

15 years ago

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