Knowing what to do with your wardrobe is not something that comes to everyone. We’d love for it to be innate knowledge, just for how easy it would be to throw something iconic together even on our off days – but, though it comes easier to some than others, it doesn’t come to anyone without a whole lot of research. Which is, in small part, exactly why you’re here.
You’re here because you’ve rediscovered your jewellery box, and want to flaunt some of your favourites out and about. Or because you’re very keen on becoming a Necklace Girly™, but have no idea where to start. Whether you’re re-evaluating your relationship with jewellery or hoping to start a fresh one, you’ve come to precisely the right place. Pairing one necklace with an outfit is easy, but what about more than one? Let’s learn, together, how to layer necklaces like a fashion pro.
*This is a collaborative post. Image Source
*This is a collaborative post. Start With a Strong Base
As with any good outfit, a good selection of neckwear starts with a strong base ‘layer’. This is the grounding element, the foundation on which you build a three-dimensional collection that really shines. This anchor piece is a functional item as well as an aesthetic one, and as such comes with some pre-requisites. For one, it’s not yet time for anything loose or loud; you want this foundation to hug your neck, and to be a blank-ish canvas for something more.
This means going for something like a choker or beaded necklace, a short chain, or a simple pendant that sits close to what is medically referred to as the suprasternal notch – the hollow dip at the base of the neck, between the collarbones. It is this base that allows you the space to build around it with different lengths of additional necklace.
Mix Lengths and Textures
The name of the game with layering women’s jewellery of any kind is contrast. Good contrast means good fashion, and good fashion means victory. Viewed from this angle, creating a balanced stack of necklaces is easier; by combining delicate chains with chunkier styles you contrast depth, and by spacing different sizes of necklace you contrast length. Varying chain weights helps stop the look from feeling flat or tangled, while varying length allows you to ensure each necklace can be discerned from the other.
Match the Stack to the Outfit
All of this, of course, is somewhat impacted by your style choices elsewhere. Your necklace stack needs to suit the outfit you’re wearing, both in terms of vibe and practicality. The shape of your clothes’ neckline affects how well necklaces sit; you might want to pick shorter layers for higher necklines and longer chains for lower necklines, to accentuate your style choices. Speaking of which, and as a general rule, the louder your clothes go, the quieter your necklaces should go. Maximalism is fun, but overcrowding very much isn’t!
*Disclaimer – This is a collaborative post. This post has been pre-written.
