Dear Jill: I need to update my look and would like to do it with jewelry. Lately I’ve been hearing about “statement maker” pieces. What are they and how do I find them?
Statement maker accessories are a wonderful way to look trendy and remain true to yourself without being a slave to fashion fads. The piece can be a brooch, necklace, bracelet or earrings. They can be something old, something new, something artistic or uniquely you. “Distinctive” would best describe this acquired look. Here are some ideas to help you select the right piece:
- Choose a design that is in tune with who you are. The most wearable statement pieces are the ones that resonate with the wearer. Are you gentle and heart-driven? Rediscover romance with pearls or ribbons. Are you nostalgic and treasure the past? Hit the antique shops for something vintage. Earthy and outdoorsy? How about wood and suede or a pebble stone necklace? For some drama, try a large single gem on a wide silver collar. Or, invent your statement look by designing a piece of your own. There are lapidaries, jewelry workshops and craft stores to assist you in doing it yourself.
- Make sure the piece is comfortable to wear. Don’t let ornate bracelets batter your bony wrists or a fabulous bejeweled choker feel like a ball and chain around your neck. A soft scarf tied at the wrist and the airy rings of gold in a light new necklace will afford personal style and allow freedom to move gracefully.
- Reflect your God given beauty. Find the nearest mirror and rediscover what you’ve been blessed with. Study the unique features that form the image of you: coloring, contrast, curves, facial shape, lips, nose, eyes, hair, bone structure—any of these can be copied in shape, shade or surface and repeated in an accessory to compliment your inherent artistry.Replicate your facial features. Eyes are one of the easiest to work with. A tiered jewel necklace with a round stone that repeats the color, size or shape of ones eyes is a wonderful way to do this. Try copying the lines of your hair design. If you have wavy hair, a necklace or earrings that repeat this wave is a wonderful way to complement your natural beauty. Another option is to showcase a radiant smile with a single strand of pearls to enhance your pearly whites.
- Embrace your line and design! Note the bone structure and shapes in your face, you may find sculpted features of someone like Courtney Cox or Cher. Angles, geometrics and thin flat metals in pin, necklace or earrings are a great way to copy your design.If you have full lips, round eyes, fleshy cheeks, and a soft nose you may resemble the “curve line design” of such famous stars as Oprah Winfrey or Renee Zellweger. Often they accessorize themselves with round baubles, swirled rings of metal or ovalized shapes that meld beautifully with their soft look.
Finding just the right pieces will be a treasure hunt that pays off in years of compliments. Seek the unique—check out boutiques and designer looks in better jewelry stores, take some time to peruse the creative collections at local art shows or design a piece of your own. It’s all about making a personal statement—distinctively you.
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