Luxury Fashion
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Earrings frame the face, which makes them the jewelry people notice first. You do not need many pairs. Gold hoops and pearls cover almost everything between them, from jeans to a black-tie wedding.
Gold hoops
A chunky gold hoop is the most-worn earring of the past few years, and with good reason: it looks deliberate with a T-shirt and still holds its own with an evening dress. Thick, tubular hoops are the current shape. A small, slim hoop is the everyday pair you never take out.
Choosing a size
- Small, 10 to 15 mm: sits close to the lobe, works every day and stacks with studs.
- Medium, 20 to 30 mm: the most versatile, and visible without being loud.
- Large or chunky: a statement; keep the rest of your jewelry quiet.
Solid, vermeil or plated
Solid 14k gold lasts for life and is the safest choice for sensitive ears. Gold vermeil, a thick layer of gold over sterling silver, is a good middle ground. Plated pieces look the same on the first day but wear through within months of daily use.
Pearl earrings
Pearls are no longer just for formal occasions. Freshwater pearl drops on a gold stud look modern with a white shirt or a sweater, and baroque pearls, with their irregular shapes, look relaxed rather than prim.
Which pearl
Freshwater pearls are the most affordable and come in many shapes. Akoya pearls are rounder and brighter, the classic choice for a strand. South Sea and Tahitian pearls are larger and rarer, and priced accordingly. Look for a deep, even luster: you should see a soft reflection in a good pearl.
The silk scarf
A printed silk square is the accessory that turns a plain outfit into a considered one. Knot it at the neck with a blazer, tie it to the handle of a bag, or wear it over the hair and knotted at the nape for a sunny day out. Look for hand-rolled edges, a sign of a well-made scarf.
Looking after them
Put jewelry on last and take it off first: perfume, hairspray and lotion dull both gold and pearls. Wipe pearls with a soft cloth after wearing and store them apart from harder stones, which scratch them. Store gold in a lined box so pieces do not rub against each other.
See more on our board
Our board collects the gold jewelry and accessories people are saving.
Gold Jewelry Stacks & Accessories
Stacked gold bangles and fine chains, a small vintage watch worn among the bracelets, pear-cut diamond rings and delicate pendants at the collarbone. Proof that three thin pieces beat one loud one.
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