Outfit ideas for jewlery - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfit ideas for jewlery

Elly

Veteran

Hey ladies!

I am in a bit of a rut when it comes to what to buy for the season, and I have to purchase at least a week's worth of outfits for fall/winter this year. I have been doing a lot of looking, and I seems every time I find a piece I like it isn't available in my size or size range. I need some inspiration to get excited again!

The pieces in my existing closet this season are all tropical weight and most of them are turquoise, coral, and black (I lived in the desert, but mild weather surrounded by palm trees always will say summer to me).

However, I do have some jewelry I love and would like to work into my look this coming fall and winter. The pieces pictured below are some of my collection, the rest need cleaning.

I was hoping that maybe you ladies could help point me towards some ways to incorporate the jewelry into a casual/smart casual wardrobe without going too boho (not into the hippie look). I am 5'8", an hourglass, often need tall sizes (although this doesn't affect the vibe, lol) and have deep autumn coloring.

I really need some inspiration so I can stop tearing my hair out!

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14 replies

Latest reply was from Elly

bj1111

Veteran

i would get a simple silver chain with links in scale with your height and build, and possibly chest size, to suspend those beautiful charms. you could also try pinning them individually or in a cluster at your waist or lapels as brooches. use a safety pin on the wrong side of the garment and pass the pin through the pendant loop.

Barbara

Veteran

Wow, elly, I love your collection, especially the Labradorite cabochon. I can see the flash of fire in your photo. Wear that one with ANYTHING! With your deep autumn coloring, that Carnelian pendant would be beautiful with deep teal. The fossilized coral pendant is beautiful and since it's neutral will go with all of your clothes. Wear a deep purple with the rutilized quartz pendant - it's really cool. And the turquoise will stand out with dark chocolate, or any neutral flattering to your coloring. I'd wear those cool earrings in photo one with that turquoise pendant. I agree with bj1111 about getting a sterling chain. In fact, I would get two - one medium weight and a heavier one for the larger pendants (can't tell exactly how big they are) that would be more substantial. Perhaps a figaro link or simple rolo style. You don't want the chains to be too elaborate and detract from those lovely pendants!

Elly

Veteran

Oh! Yeah-- I'm sorry I definitely have a proper chain that that is the right weight and they hang flat on my chest above the cleavage zone (I have Ds or DDs so it has to be long or shorter). Good idea making them into brooches though-- I have several of those as well, but they don't get much wear.

I was mainly asking why type of clothing to wear with them because I don't mind looking creative or even a bit "southwestern" but don't want to look boho. I tend to wear them only with super plain looks (all black, a black l/s tee or button down). I was hoping maybe they would inspire a vibe or a few ideas from somebody because right now I am lost.

Anonymous

You could also get a leather cord or a rubber cord to change the look of the pendants. I have lots of pendants and I switch them up...a rubber or leather cord gives them a more "edgie" look from a silver chain. Putting them on a silk ribbon will make them more "girlie".

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Gorgeous pieces!
A simple silver chain would work for all of your pendants. Maybe one with an extender so you can change the length? The orange screams out for denim to me- a denim shirt, tunic or dress over leggings or with ponte knit pants. The tree with turquoise would look great with a white tunic, and the other three would look great with a dark purple. Ponte knit pants or skinny jeans with boots and a tunic are my favorite fall/winter combination because it's so comfy.

Vix

Veteran

Hi Elly --

I think Barbara and Chewy gave you some great color combinations, and the other members have good ideas about switching up how you wear the pendants (on ribbon, leather, cording etc).

I am actually having a hard time "working backwards" to come up with the more specific outfit suggestions you want. Aside from a default "find a V neck top or dress in your best brown or green if you want to showcase a pendant" type of thing. I find it easier to see an item of clothing and then pick from the jewelry pool.

My failure of imagination, I know!

But I *will* say that none of the jewelry strikes me as particularly SW or boho. Most seem to have a lovely "boldly feminine" vibe, so if that works with the style direction you gravitate to, then why not play that up? Get something like the ruffled cardigans that are in now and pair it with a fairly simple top + denim or sleek cotton/knit pants.

[I think Kate just got an earth one at Ann Taylor Loft...I'm sure I'm forgetting all the other members who have something similar.]

If you're more of a minimalist, then work against the jewelry a bit and wear the nicest tailored clothing you can afford (and I don't mean suits, just clothing that's fairly unadorned and fits you as well as possible...it could be a sleek belted tunic over jeans). Then the femininity of the jewelry will stand out.

Don't know if that helps, but I did want to say that I don't think you have to feel limited by the jewelry.

Elly

Veteran

Thanks barbara and chewy! Great tips for color pairings, many that I hadn't thought about before.

Vix-- you totally shocked me until I looked at the pieces more closely! I guess I could see how they wouldn't read SW or boho-- they don't have some of the trademark detailing and use of materials like leather and hemp. I guess I have always thought of them that way because of the places they were purchased. The three large pendants were made locally by an artist and sold by a SW trading company in town (and the green earrings). The tree and quartz pendants are also locally made, but sold in a crystal/new age/gallery shop. The two other pair of earrings are native american made and I have some other more obviously native jewelry, but they need to be polished badly because of tarnish after being packed up for months when I moved.

I honestly wouldn't say I am very feminine or really have a true minimalist aesthetic, which may be where my problem is.

bj1111

Veteran

there's no reason to wear them in any other way than you've been wearing them, with darker colors, if you enjoy wearing them that way.

plus, i think "boho" vs "tailored" vs "southwestern" would be driven more by your clothing choices than the jewelry because those items take up so much more of your body's real estate. the jewelry will provide either reinforcement of the overall look or a small contrary edge (for example a twin set with the rutilized quartz pendant on a silver chain = refined, same twin set, same pendant on a leather string with cowboy boots = ironic boho wrangler)

Elly

Veteran

Ah-- I get what some of you ladies are saying.

Each of these pieces were gifts or bought to wear specifically with an item (or series of items) that has since passed on. I love them all and right now they are my only more unique wardrobe items I love (I'm happy with my jeans, and have a pair of nondescript cowboy boots I wear a lot but most of my pieces are past their prime or for a different season).

I am a really visual person and sometimes have a hard time articulating what I like, and haven't been able to find good pics lately. However, being visual, I will often have moments where I will just get an inspiration from a piece and picture it together with an outfit or feel it gives off a certain vibe.

I was hoping that some of you ladies might have a similar idea of what pieces my jewlery would look right with, and vibes I could try out. I just am not having an ah-hah moment!

Thank you all

JewelryGirl

Gorgeous pieces!! I would have said what many others have already so won't duplicate. I would try them on multi-strand leathers as well. A piece with different shades of natural leather would be really fun.

Regarding cleaning, I have collected a few silver pieces over the years & the thing I've found that works hands down, quickest, cheapest, on almost anything is Maas. You can order a tube of it on-line & you'll only need just a dab & things will be like new. Trust me, I have a professional jewelry tumbler I've purchased that is collecting dust since I discovered it. It is WONDERFUL!

Elly

Veteran

Thank you for the tips for cleaning jewelry girl! I will have to try that out, since I own a lot of sterling. I am liking the idea of the leather cord as well.

Barbara

Veteran

Elly, I forgot something so VERY obvious, now that I think about it: Chain length! Depending on the neckline of your top, the pendants can be worn on a short chain (15-16") with a scoop or v-neck, or a longer chain, (24") with a tee or tunic. Play around with different lengths to see what works. I have a collection of pendants, similar to yours - lots of agates, jaspers, fossils, shell. I store them in their own separate jewelry box along with numerous lengths and weights of sterling silver chains to wear with them.

JewelryGirl

Good point Barbara! Also, if the chain lengths don't work get an extender or 2. I could not live without these in my jewelry box!!

Elly

Veteran

I will have to play around with the lengths. Barbara, your collection sounds lovely. It is one of my guilty pleasures (esp. around my birthday or the holidays) to go pick out another piece with some gorgeous stone.

I usually wear them fairly high on the chest because I think I have enough neck to pull it off, and I am quite busty. I can't remember what the chain I bought to wear with them is, will have to look. Something to experiment with though!