Last spring I talked to my good friend and Stella & Dot jewelry stylist Janire Hopkins about how to choose and buy jewelry.
One of my questions was “What key pieces of jewelry should every woman have in her wardrobe?”
Janire is a big fan of Tim Gunn’s suggestion to own one trendy piece for every 10 classic pieces, and I think that’s a good rule of thumb, too. As she points out, classic means jewelry you can wear every day and that is always stylish.
You don’t even need 10 items to have a Core Wardrobe of jewelry that will serve you well, no matter what your personal style; my list just has 5.
The pieces of jewelry every woman should own
- fancy earrings for evening
- small studs for day (diamond, pearl, sterling silver or gold)
- pearl necklace, choker length or slightly longer
- statement necklace in colors predominant in your wardrobe
- good watch
For more about selecting jewelry and caring for it, read the rest of my interview with Janire. You can also find tips, videos and more at the Jewelry Information Center, a website from the Jewelers of America, the professional organization.
Your turn
- What’s on your list of classic pieces every woman should own?
- Do you own all of these pieces?
- What’s your favorite piece of jewelry and why?
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Wow. I totally couldn’t live with a small jewelry wardrobe of 5-10 items. Since my wardrobe consists of a lot of solid, classic pieces, my jewelry, and other accessories, is what adds interest and personality to my outfits. I’m in the school that doesn’t believe all good jewelry has to be fine jewelry. Great vintage jewelry, interesting hand-crafted jewelry, and a few trendy pieces can be equally as compelling as fine jewelry at a fraction of the cost. And the construction of vintage jewelry is often far superior to today’s craftmanship.
I totally agree that more jewelry is more fun. These 5 pieces are really a starter kit for those of us who are more challenged in the accessorizing department.
As a jewelry connoisseur, what would your list of must-haves be? What’s your most treasured piece and why?