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Style evolution - jewelry ETA pics added

Liesbeth

Veteran

Hi everyone!

I've been taking the upcoming holidays and people asking what they should give me for a present (yeah, my family is like that) as an occasion tot update my earring collection. And it got me wondering: is everyone like me in that jewelry preferences change slower than clothes styles?

I see 4 major periods delineated in my jewelry style:

childhood: wearing real but subtle gold jewelry gifted by parents and godparents (all of which is sadly gone after a burglary three years ago)
teens and early twenties: cheap statement earrings (costume jewelry)
late twenties and early thirties: minimalism! silver stud earrings & not much else
now: still rather minimalist, but with more experimentation and interest -> have added a silver watch to my daily outfits and am now adding a couple of pairs of larger and more interesting earrings (cause I'm bored to death with my studs)

I know that there are women who wear the same type of jewelry their entire life, often heirlooms or investment jewelry, and that there are also lifelong devotees of costume jewelry. Angie has had her fixed complement for a while now. What's your vibe? Do you consciously renew jewelry? Do you hold onto, and if so, do you keep wearing older pieces?

Pic 1 are some of my oldest pieces (period 2).
Pic 2 obviously the 'stud period'.
Pics 3 through 5 is stuff I'm currently drawn too.

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Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Liesbeth

Bijou

Veteran

I am infinitely slower in changing my jewellery preferences to my wardrobe preferences, I wear a mix of costume and precious jewellery. Most days, I wear the same watch, wedding rings and bracelet and will change out my dress ring, necklace (if wearing one) and earrings. I have a small jewellery collection and that works well for me as I keep returning to a few favourite pieces. I have a few pieces that belonged to my late Mother and I like wearing them as it reminds me of her. I don’t see my jewellery preferences changing significantly in the future.

Minaminu

Veteran

Unfortunately I had my fair share of lost and stolen pieces too... it is still very upsetting as they were sentimental pieces which can never be replaced.

I have very few pieces, my jewellery is a mix of everything... bits of heirloom, some gifted jewellery, some silver pieces that I bought whilst travelling and mother of pearl studs, which I love but can be boring. I don't renew it but I often leave it aside for a couple of months or years and then fall again in love with it.

Some jewellery had to be tweaked, I cannot wear yellow gold and asked the jeweller to "bath" some yellow gold earrings into white gold. I was a bit hesitant as I inherited them from my grandmother but I think it would please her that I am wearing them. I am also planning to reset a stone so that I can wear it as a pendant, again this is something that I have inherited and it is very uncomfortable to wear in its current settings.

I only have 3 costume jewellery pieces, a dragonfly brooch that I bought in Portobello market, a fox brooch by Léa Stein and an Hermes enamel bracelet. If I could afford, I would look into adding another one as I think they are fab! I have been thinking of adding a pair of hoops but I really don't know where to start!

I'd love to see what earrings you are planning to get I could certainly use some inspiration!!!

Liesbeth

Veteran

Bijou, that sounds like a great approach. I too have had a couple of favorite pieces at each moment in my life.
Minaminu: I'm not very sentimental but it does hurt a bit that those pieces are forever gone. How lovely that you managed to adapt heirloom pieces so that you can actually wear them: I'm sure your grandmother would approve.

RobinF

Veteran

Yes I seem to change my jewelry tastes over time but so gradually that it would be hard to identify "periods" like you did. Right now I am in a very minimal period and wear the same jewelry every day - small ring on each hand, gold watch that is also a step counter, silver and gold very simple necklace and silver twist earrings. These work fine and the only thing I take off at night is my watch. Anything more feels like too much right now. The earrings you are drawn to are really nice, love the artsy yet simple look of them.

nemosmom

Veteran

My jewelry preferences definitely change more slowly than my clothes!

I find I am far less experimental with jewelry - I have specific styles that I like, and that has not changed much since my early 20s. I got a few pieces in a subscription box about 6 years ago that went unworn. I finally purged those last year...

As for favorite pieces, they are usually sentimental (gifts or trinkets I've picked up over the years) and they can go years without being worn, and usually are not at all in style. But, I am happy to stash them away and revisit now and then.

Anonymous

I do both. I update and wear old stuff.in the 80’s I loved hoop earrings. Before that it was studs. Now I like a more statement earring that will bring light to my face. My favorites are colored crystals or glass. Pearls are my favorite. Right now I wear cheap costume most in case it gets lost with masks and all.
I have noticed that jewelry fashions cycle, especially dainty and chunky, but these trends are best ignored to wear the jewelry that best suites your bone structure and body.

LaPed

Veteran

That is such a shame losing your childhood jewelry to a burglar. I love the look of the newer pieces you're eying, especially the earrings in #4.

I go through phases when I wear some jewelry, and then there are periods (like now) when I wear almost none. Most of my pieces are heirlooms and having them is more important to me than wearing them -- completely the inverse of how I feel about clothes. My most-worn pieces are pendant necklaces: one that belonged to my great-grandmother, one a gift from my aunt, and one a hand-me-down from a former boss. Each one is quite distinct from the others so they work with different outfits. I'm not reaching for them much now that my hair is longer. Rings and bracelets are the hardest things for me to wear; they get in the way and I always end up taking them off.

The last jewelry pieces I bought myself were a minimalist silver pendant, sort of art deco inspired, and a very simple Skagen watch. I stopped wearing the watch when the pandemic hit. It's useful in a classroom setting, not so much at home, and now I need to change the battery and am too lazy to do so. In general, I'd say I'm more drawn to jewelry with history and meaning than to pieces that look a particular way, although I have plenty of heirlooms that don't really suit me, so those go unworn. Everything fits in one box, so I don't feel bad hanging onto it.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Simple studs are fabulous! And I like the newer pieces you're drawn to as well. It will be fun to see them with your specs

Liesbeth

Veteran

Robin, interesting. In my case it's gradually but then with a sudden realization that I'm all over a certain look.
Nemosmom, I also like to hold on to my favorite pieces even if I'm temporarily not drawn to them and/or they're out of style. They can be just perfect at certain times right?
Joy, good point. I'm at a point right now when I look for things that suit me within the trendy styles. Like one can have big hoops, chunky hoops, delicate and tiny hoops... it makes it fun to switch things up while keeping it flattering. By the way I admire your expert use of jewelry as accessories.
LaPed, interesting. I'm not usually drawn to heirloom pieces - they never seem to quite fit me. Still as you say just having them can be meaningful. Also a big yes to not wearing much at all during these times. I had to get back into wearing earrings because my holes were closing up :p.
Angie, I'm curious and hopeful they'll work! You make a good point: in fact my love of studs started when I stopped wearing contacts in favor of specs...

MsMaven

Veteran

I love all your earrings.

I was a minimalist when I was younger, at least until the gold chain 1970s came along. Today I looked at old photos and even though I did wear multiple chains, I was still minimal overall. I did prefer gold. Gold chains and gold hoop earrings.

Then in the extravagant '80s I had some expensive but still fashion jewelry--I still have a few pieces from that era. It wasn't until we started traveling a lot that I collected some pieces I really liked that were more statements: Greece, Italy, Brazil.

Unfortunately I too am a victim of burglars. 2012 and I still mourn some of the pieces from semi-precious stones bought on a trip to Brazil that I had mounted here.

Later I discovered old/white gold or silver jewelry, which I like, and David Yurman. Most of that is gone now. With my hair going gray--or grayer, I've bought more silver pieces. Today mulling over Angie's blog post I decided I still preferred gold. I had sold some no longer worn pieces when the price of gold went way up--the proceeds went into my grandkids' education funds. Not a lot of money but the person who sold it for me earned a nice commission and it was needed.

Earlier this year I bought some nice fashion earrings that I wear every day. Once in a while I wear one of the 80s gold earrings I still have. As far as necklaces and bracelets, the fashion jewelry doesn't do it for me.

I wish I were better at mixing gold and silver jewelry. Unless a designer has worked it out for me, I can't make it work.

slim cat

Veteran

My earring/necklace preferences keep changing with times. I don't own a lot of heirlooms ( couple - at most ) plus a few gifted pieces from relatives were non-wearable for me ( small ears, small holes, sensitive skin ).
The recent favorites earrings - ear crawlers - still going strong ( they don't interfere with the mask ).
I like unusual pieces from Lucky Brand - the ones that look almost like safety pins, or paper clips
https://www.luckybrand.com/pav.....75496.html
Since my budget is limited I like to shop the sale/clearance first - buying new earrings or necklace is my favorite "pick me up" thing to do.

Liesbeth

Veteran

Interesting, MsMaven. Fwiw, I think you can wear gold really well too with your complexion. And you wear precious stones with panache. It's all about finding what works, again and again I guess.
Slimcat, I like fashion jewelry sales for a pick me up too, but it clouds my judgment too much and I rarely end up with something I actually wear. My best worn pieces were bought quite deliberately so I should stick to that strategy :). Those safety pin earrings are amazing! I also like the occasional piece that's novelty or quirky.

Anonymous

Jewellery is my thing, and I have a pretty large collection . I have a few heirloom-type pieces but never wear them - it's not really my thing but I keep them anyways . I prefer quite a modern, statement-y look in jewellery, and enjoy a mix of costume, higher-quality brands, and "real" pieces. I never wear the same pieces daily, as I pick the jewellery to work with whatever I'm wearing that day - and I don't usually wear any around the house. In terms of how much it evolves or fluctuates? Well - often, I guess. I'm very influenced by what I see worn on bloggers or style writers that I admire and will often look for specific things to make my look seem current. I go through my jewellery collection pretty ruthlessly every 4-5 years and do a big sort and cull. Otherwise it would take over my entire house

DonnaF

Veteran

My hairstyle and necklines combined with my small face and short neck control my earring choices. I've mostly had short hair, however. My short neck and small face means most dangly earrings don't work/get caught.

In the last few years, I've worn studs much, much more; I think this is because I'm running colder and colder and need to wear a collar or scarf. But I'm not delicate so my studs aren't either.

Also, I wear a watch daily, and in the last few years I have purchased a number of them. It's hard because I have small wrists and most watch faces outsize them.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ooh...I love the jewellery you are currently eyeing!!

So sorry your childhood pieces are now gone..that is sad.

My tastes in jewellery don't change a lot...I used to wear more dainty necklaces years ago. Otherwise, though -- it's earrings (both statement and simple) and cuff bracelet or statement watch and chunky ring (if wearing a ring).

Liesbeth

Veteran

Lisa, good to see there's also some of us keeping the jewelers in business ;). I'm not surprised you change jewelry styles quite often as you are definitely someone who makes 'complete outfits' down to the shade of lipstick - which I admire even if it's something I don't often bother with.
Donna, our bodies dfinitely inspire our choices... I have small wrists too so bracelets are a definite chzllenge.
Suz, maybe for your next wiw you can provide a detail pic of your statement cuff/watch? It's a look I'm drawn too but often find impractical. I own one big cuff bracelet that I do like to wear for parties - but not with long sleeves.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Maybe not as fast as clothing, but my jewelry preferences have definitely evolved. Like you, I have gifted childhood jewelry, all gold pieces. As a young adult, I segued into dramatic, cheap costume jewelry. After marriage and children, I stopped wearing most pieces except my wedding rings and an initial necklace gifted to me by my grandmother. Now as a middle-aged adult with more discretionary income than in the past, I have found new joy in buying myself (or hinting to my husband) bolder, expensive pieces (well, what I consider expensive). Trending towards silver the last few years, which has felt fresh to me after a lifetime of gold pieces.

Anonymous

Ha - I sure DO keep the jewellery industry in business !

cat2

Veteran

I wear all real jewelry as I think costume really brings an outfit down. I had a robbery as well that took out most of the pieces I had from my mom and my teens and twenties. Aside from that I keep everything because trends change in jewelry as well and old pieces are suddenly relevant again, like with the recent pearls trend and the recent yellow gold revival. If you are looking for suggestions on what to request you might also consider whether to add some color via stones set in modern silver settings.

anchie

Veteran

I have similar collection of stud earrings, and I really like all of thr earrings that you are considering- i would wear all of it myself.
I am ans always have been very minimal with jewelry. Partly because of my extreme nickel allergy- I have to be careful with costume jewelry- I often had reaction to even those described as nickel free.
I have a big collection of gold and platinum pieces that were given to me over the years for almost every milestone. But most of it I never wore. I don’t wear rings, not even my wedding rings. Bracelets annoy me when working on keyboard or in kitchen. Because of glasses amd masks I have stopped wearing earrings too. So only thing that I rarely put on are necklaces, but usually I don’t bother.

Jane

Veteran

I like the simplicity of knowing what I am wearing most days - so I have some gold drop earrings that I wear every work day, and at the weekends I wear some silver decorative earrings.

We were burgled a few years ago and a lot of my long term jewellery was taken. It was a gift in disguise, albeit that it took a long time for me to come to terms with it. I was holding too tightly on to the emotional value of having things a long time, and I had a lot of items that were family or were given to me. Including my engagement ring. Eek.

So we renewed my engagement ring, with a really beautiful ring, a couple of years ago. And I now keep my jewellery paired down and enjoy it, and recognise that it may not be with me for a long time.

cat2

Veteran

Oh, just a note to save any scraps of real metal from broken pieces or orphaned earrings. Twice jewelers have been able to fix heirloom pieces for me by melting down some other bits and pieces I already had.

Liesbeth

Veteran

Aquamrine, how lovely that you are making bold choices now. Jewelry is after all purely decorational :).
Lisa, someone has to ;).
Cat2, interesting tips. I don't own much real gold now as it has become prohibatively expensive (and silver's better on me anyway).
Anchie, I have had itchy ears too from cheap earrings even though they were supposed to be nickle free! Giving jewelry is really hard I've found, even when you think you know someobe's style. I've also hardly ever worn gifted pieces (that I didn't select myself).
Jane, that is such a great insight. I also tried to 'look on the bright side'. I got back a pretty penny from insurance whereas I probably would have hesitated to sell or have the pieces remelted and let them languish in my closet.