The Fine Art of Layering Jewelry

Admit it, you've walked past a well-dressed woman on the street and wondered if your own accessories could ever be so perfect. Perhaps she had one of those marvelous pendant watches, set off by other equally attractive jewelry pieces, but weren't quite sure how she did it. One of the things we hear all the time from clients is that they love the "layered look" fashionable women use to make their accessories really pop, but they just aren't sure how to pull it off. Here are three quick rules for perfecting the fine art of layering jewelry.

Before we start, let's better define what "layering jewelry" means. Instead of relying on a single pendant to dress up an outfit, you can create layers of texture and color by adding additional pieces. It may sound chaotic, but a woman who's mastered the fine art of layering jewelry will capture your attention with her flair and creativity.

Now, let's get started on Rule Number One. Start with a central statement: To really make the layered look work in jewelry, it's important to have a single, bold piece that immediately captures the eye. Some women like to start with vintage lockets or some nature leaf jewelry such as a gold-plated oak or aspen leaf.

This works, because the vintage and natural looks in jewelry are timeless, so you can't go wrong by using them as your central statement. Other classic styles that capture second looks are cameo lockets and pendant watches. Virtually any attractive pendant can be subtly layered with other pieces to create an attractive look.

Add complementary pieces: Once you're sure you've captured attention with a bold central statement, it's time to deepen the look. Start adding complementary textures and colors to hold the eye a little longer. Here's an example: If you love nature leaf jewelry pieces, they're one of the easiest styles to layer. Start with a larger central leaf pendant, choose smaller leaf pendants with different chain lengths and create a fabulous organic look that's subtle yet sassy. Voila! You've got a multi-layered, interesting look that saves you from the "one pendant on a sweater" style that's so very dated.

Keeping your layered look affordable: It would be marvelous if all of us could walk into a fine jeweler's and point to the pieces of jewelry we need. Most of us, however, are on a little stricter budget, so we have to get creative to achieve an affordable layered look.

Here's one thought: let other people finance your new fashion adventure! It's easy to drop hints for birthday gifts, Christmas gifts or special Valentines gifts that include the words "lockets" and "pendants." Smart girls will also leave hints lying about, perhaps a vintage jewelry website left pulled up on your computer? Everyone struggles to find the perfect gifts. Why not give your generous friends and loved ones a little help finding yours?

If all else fails, buy your pendant watches, cameo lockets or nature leaf jewelry from an online jewelry store that offers you big discounts. Buying jewelry at retail is never an option for today's savvy woman.

We promise you're going to become addicted to the layered jewelry look! Who knows; you just might be that woman we all admire sometime in the very near future.