Layering Jewellery - Part 2 - Colour and Composition

In the last post I described the different genres to boho jewellery which I think make it easier to layer jewellery. With this in mind thinking about colour, size and shape can also help you layer jewellery. The look to achieve should be effortless so you don't want to spend ages deliberating but generally speaking certain colours look better together than others.

Colour

My general approach is to have an almost 'capsule' jewellery wardrobe of neutral colours which I often wear and go with everything. Then certain accent colours can be interchanged with these to make the look specific with the outfit you are wearing on that particular day. My general approach is to have base jewellery in colours such as gold, silver, black and white and then have accent colours of blue or red (my most worn colours in my wardrobe). Although blue and red can be worn together, I rarely in fact combine them, so I buy in these colours and then pair these with my main bulk items for every eventuality.

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Size

The same size pieces will generally look odd together but by mixing thinner or thicker pieces the combined look will appear more effortless. Try adding a thick bangle with lots of thin ones.

Metal Finish

I like mixing metal finishes in my jewellery as I really like the contrast. As noted in my previous post mixing metals gives a more tribal chic aesthetic which is my favourite look. However for more Indian looks, mixing gold and silver finishes doesn't look great. One general rule that I try to stick to no matter what look I am trying to achieve, is to never mix matte and shiny metal finishes together. This can tend to look really unnatural and jars on the eyes. A massive pet peeve of mine, especially if I really like an item, is tarnishing - which is why for a gold effect I really rate brass rather than something which is gold plated and can very quickly wear off depending on the quality. This is something to bear in mind when shopping.

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Composition

The composition is the most important factor when layering jewellery and creating a complete look. It will also vary obviously depending on the asthetic you are trying to convey. Despite this and my previous post the final element in the look - the composition - is mainly about trial and error! So many times I have bought an item and been really excited to pair it with another in my collection - but when worn together the pieces just do not mesh together properly. My approach has been to keep in mind the different genres, metal finishes, colour and size pointers mentioned above and in my last post, as this will hopefully help save time - but at the end of the day keep an open mind and play around! Jewellery should be fun and exciting!

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A final comment is that boho style is a carefree and relaxed.  Therefore don't be afraid to use items in a different manner from how they were intended.  So many items I have in my collection look better as an anklet rather than the necklace it was originally made as, or as an armlet rather than a bracelet.