Styling metallics

Jessikams

Need advice on styling metallic elements in an outfit! Do they need to match in color? What if one accessory is way more glittery than the other? How much “shine” does one outfit need, and should it be bookended or focused in one spot or.....?

5 years ago

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from Michelle

Bijou

Veteran

Jessikams I don't think there are any hard and fast rules - it depends upon how maximal (or not) you want to go. For me, if I have one glittery piece, I like to let that do the talking - for more subtle pieces, then I am happy to bookend. Most of my bags had gold hardware, and so that is an easy match with my gold shoes. I like to keep my metals consistent in a mainly gold colour - but I do own a silver top. My boots (in finds) are a dark pewter colour, that can work with either gold or silver and they are almost an in-between metallic.

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5 years ago

Mainelady

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I think we each get to decide how much shine, or how many pieces to add. For me it has been trial and error. I like my bling, so I tend to wear more than one piece at a time. Most of it is jewelry, but I also have a few pair of metallic shoes and some clothing with hardware. I like mixing metals, so while I do like matching metals, my eye is comfortable seeing mixed metals, too. Have fun trying different options!

5 years ago

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Bijou that gold coat is so awesome!

Mainelady I totally forgot that jewelry is metallic too— that helps a lot to draw the eye up and down, I bet.

I’ve been wrapping my head around the concept of complements— what would a metallic complement look like for me? I have silver shoes and I’m trying to decide if they can work within my complement of gray leather bag, gray scarf etc.

5 years ago

krishnidoux

Veteran

Silly question: do you consider metallic to act as a grey in an outfit?

5 years ago

kkards

Veteran

i'm new to metallics...i've been thinking of them like i would any other color, which is to say, if i'm wearing more than 1, i try to be tonal....

5 years ago

Colette

Veteran

I just treat metallics like I do any other neutral. I have a t-shirt that has silver thread that I match with grey so I think yes, silver and grey work nicely.

5 years ago

jussie

Veteran

I like Maineladys answers. It comes down to personal taste. I like my metal to match- however many people look great in a more eclectic mix.
Krishnidoux: I personally don’t think metallic acts like a grey- unless it is actually a gray fabric with metallic woven through it.

5 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

To Krish’s point, I do think of metallics as having some rough equivalence to neutral non-metallic colors in my wardrobe. For instance, I don’t care for white shoes for myself, but shinier silver makes a great stand in for white to brighten up an outfit. Rose gold is *my* blush, because i don’t wear blush well, but rose gold accents help brighten and warm up my outfits, especially in summer.

I tend to make sure my metallics in a outfit “go” if not match, but there are no rules. I feel a little too matchy if I wear silver shoes AND carry my big shiny silver tote, but I will wear statement silver jewelry.

If I’m wearing an item of shiny clothing like a metallic top, I usually keep everything else subtle — neutral colors, matte textures — so I’m not feeling overwhelmed with shine.

So I see it as a balancing act — I don’t like to be maximal, but I’m not minimal either, so I rely on my eye to tell me when I’ve reached my personal balance point. I think it’s just a personal preference and you’ll need to try different combinations to see what appeals to you.

5 years ago

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Krishnidoux, good question! I’ve been thinking of all metallics as brightening elements, playing the role of white. But they do have color, obviously.....clearly I need to do some playing in my closet.

5 years ago

Liz

Veteran

I think playing in the closet is a good idea. Depending on the colors and level of shine, your metallic shoes could look great with your gray purse and scarf, or the metallic could make the gray leather and fabric look sad and flat by contrast. The only way to know is to try them on together and see what happens.

5 years ago

RobinF

Veteran

I have been experimenting a little bit with metallics to so this is great reading for me! To me they do have color, I think of silver as a form of gray and gold as a warm neutral like tan. And I have some bronze booties that to me are more brown.

5 years ago

Christina F.

Veteran

I kind of mix metallics indiscriminately. It’s only since I’ve been posting on here and have seen that it bothers people, that it started to bother me. I did it yesterday anyway.... but once I realized I didn’t have time to do anything about it. Maybe I should be less sussceptible to peer pressure and just do my thing. My luck has never been super matchy and polished anyway, as much as I might admire those qualities in others.

5 years ago

Anonymous

I am big at mixing metals re jewelry and limit it to that.
Tried shoes, scarves, tops, purses and belts in various combinations in past but never felt I did it well and had zero confidence in wearing them. Gave them to nieces who loved them.
I even gave up the belly dancing coin belt and bra to daughter- lol.
So I am the last one that needs to give opinion on metallics.

5 years ago

Anonymous

I have strong opinions on metallics and how they are used. But , it is totally personal and subjective. I'm not a big fan of mixing metals unless it is done within one piece of jewellery . Texture matters too, and too much patent-shiny or too many textures is off, to my eye. But - hey, we all are here to do what we want

5 years ago

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Hi Jessikams.
I've had deja-vu reading this thread, because I recall posting almost the identical one in my first weeks on the forum (eons ago now). I have a fairly classic, very polished style, so *I* was advised to try and keep things within the same general family. So for instance golds and bronzes and coppers were generally viewed as ok to have in the same outfit, whereas silvers and pewters were typically better off together than mixed in with those others. Though I was also told that pewter tended to walk the fine line between the two general metallic families and offered maximum flexibility. This advice was tailored to my known style, preferences and desire for simple fashion hacks. It's worked well for me and has been a solid guiding principle for someone with my aesthetic bent. But maximalism and individuality are the name of the game nowadays. Mixing metals is very much done, as you can see above. So if that's what floats your boat, I say go nuts! It's all about what makes you happy/confident and helps you have fun with this process.

5 years ago

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