I love the look of layered jewelry – layered cuffs, rings, and especially necklaces. But when it comes to the latter, combining pieces can get a bit tricky. You want the overall look to be chic, but also not super cluttered (and also tangle-free at the end of the day!). If you’re still a beginner at stacking up your chains and chokers, here are a few tips to get you started…
Learn About Different Chain Lengths
First, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the different chain lengths available. (This can be especially helpful if you’re shopping for pieces online so you can pre-plan your look!). Here’s the rundown of the lengths you’ll typically come across:
- 12-13″: Sits tightly around the neck.
- 14-16″: Sits tightly around the base of the throat.
- 17-19″: Aka, the ‘Princess’ length, this sits right at the collarbone.
- 20-24″: Sits between the collarbone and the bust.
- 28-34″: Sits around mid-bust, to a few inches below the bust.
- 35″: Sits under the bust.
Opt for Adjustable Pieces
If you’re looking to make the most out of your jewelry wardrobe, using a minimal amount of pieces, try to pick up a few adjustable necklaces. Kendra Scott makes some of my favorites, like this one (shown below), which goes from choker to chest-length in seconds. Alternatively, you could purchase an extender to add a few extra inches to any pieces you may already own.
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Create a Cascade Effect
Whether you’re into collar and choker necklaces, or longer strand necklaces and lariats, try finding pieces that vary in length – even just slightly – so you can create a cascade-like effect. That way, you can see every detail of the pendants or chains, while creating a visually-interesting look that accentuates the neck, collarbone, or decolletage.
Combine Different Styles
If you want to have some real fun, layer up contrasting styles like classic pearls and gems or vintage lockets with modern, geometric shapes and minimalist styles. Play with different metals, stones, colors, weights, and textures too (bonus – the latter two can also help reduce tangling!). When in doubt, stack up 3-4 of your favorite pieces to create a unique look that’s totally personalized!
Tie Everything Together
If you’re looking to combine necklaces with earrings, rings, or bracelets, I’d recommend carrying over the necklaces’ key elements into your other pieces. For example, if you’re layering up a leather collar, a crystal choker, and a pearl chain necklace, you could tie the look together with a leather wrap bracelet, stacked rings featuring delicate crystal accents, pearl drop earrings, or maybe all three!
For an even more polished look, keep the materials consistent across all the pieces, but be sure to play with different geometric shapes and different weights (like delicate chains vs chunkier statement pieces) to mix things up!
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