Don’t wear black and navy together, match your handbag to your shoes, and stick to one type of metal in your jewelry.
These rules were ingrained into us in decades past, but modern style lovers are taking pleasure in breaking them. One of these rules, in particular, has transformed from a fashion faux pas into one of the coolest looks of the year: mixed metal jewelry.
The look can be tricky to pull off, especially for those of us who aren’t used to mixing jewelry metals. But don’t worry — we’re here to save the day. Read on to learn our top tips on how to wear mixed metal jewelry like a pro.
Can You Mix Jewelry Metals?
First and foremost, you’ll need to break through any mental barriers you may have about mixing metals. The answer is a big, resounding yes — you can wear anything your heart desires!
With that said, there are certain techniques involved if you want your mixed metal jewelry look to feel harmonious. Here’s what we like to do:
Wear A Bridge Piece
This kind of jewelry bridges the gap between gold and silver by combining the two metals. It instantly creates balance between all the other pieces you’re wearing, whether they’re gold or silver.
Pro tip: You don’t necessarily have to choose a piece that has gold and silver in metal form. We love using gold and Tahitian pearls as our bridge pieces, since they share the same undertones as gold and silver. Pair one of our gold/Tahitian pearl pieces with some silver jewelry to see what we mean.
Double Up
Make your look as intentional as possible by doubling up on the same piece, but in both metals. Chances are if it comes in gold, it also comes in silver. Wearing two identical pieces in different metals creates a cool contrast, like a striped or colour-blocked item of clothing.
Pro tip: This look works especially well for rings and bracelets. We love it with our Riambel and Trou d’Eau Douce designs.
Mix Textures Accordingly
Texture play is an important part of any jewelry stack, but it’s even more important when mixing metals. Try to stick to one type of texture per metal, so your finer pieces are one colour, and your bolder pieces are another.
Pro tip: Layer the metals together to really make an impact. You could mix a chunky necklace in one metal, like the Agalega, with a finer piece in the opposing metal, such as the Ile d’Ambre.
Balance It Out
You’ll always want to make sure your ratios make sense when mixing metals, so don’t go too heavy on one type. For example, one gold piece might look strange when everything else you’re wearing is silver (or vice versa). Try to keep your quantities of each metal as close to even as possible, and balance out their placement so they’re evenly dispersed.
