Festive Finesse: How To Choose The Perfect Jewelry For Your Holiday Looks
The most wonderful time of the year is upon us!
We love the holiday season for a lot of reasons: the gatherings, the treats, and the excuse to get dressed to the nines in our most glamorous pieces. From bold sequins to slinky satins, December and all the celebrations that come with it allow us to shine sartorially.
Jewelry is the cherry on top of all of our festive outfits, but it can be difficult to strike the perfect balance between sophisticated and over-the-top. That’s why we’ve created a comprehensive guide on how to choose the perfect jewelry for your holiday looks below.
We’ve got you covered for all of your holiday plans, whether it’s an intimate family meal or an extravagant New Year’s bash.
The Best Jewelry To Wear With Holiday Outfits
The easiest way to select your holiday jewelry is to go by the dress code or, if one isn’t specifically provided, the general vibe of the party. You can always ask the host for advice if you’re not sure.
Jewelry Ideas For Casual Gatherings
While we may immediately think of extravagant parties for the holidays, it’s the smaller gatherings that truly make the season special.
These intimate occasions, like Christmas day with the fam or end-of-year dinners with your friends, might just take place in family homes so you can keep your jewelry on the simple side.
With that said, these types of events are still celebrations. You can still choose pieces that have a touch of luxury to them to elevate your outfit; in fact, jewelry is one of the best ways to make your casual looks feel more dressy.
For example, if you’re planning on wearing jeans and a sweater to a casual holiday hang out, you can easily upgrade your look with an interesting pendant, studs or mini drop earrings, and a dainty ring or two.
Think elevated basics; you can incorporate a touch of sparkle with gemstone jewelry rather than solid metal pieces, or opt for unique textures if you’re going for a full gold or silver look.
Our top picks:
- For a Subtle Shimmer: The Leighton Necklace, The Monroe Stud Earrings, Amber Signet Ring
- For a Rich Texture: The Amelia Toggle Necklace, Mini Bow Stud Earrings, Demi Stacking Rings
Jewelry Ideas For Professional Gatherings
Nothing marks the end of the year like the office Christmas party!
The great thing about professional gatherings is that they tend to offer a lot of guidance. You’ll be given the venue and you might also be provided with a specific dress code. Either way, you and your work besties will probably spend some time discussing party outfits ahead of time so you can plan accordingly.
Of course, professional gatherings can greatly vary from company to company. It might be a ritzy event at a high end restaurant or hotel, or a more laid back affair at a cool bar. Either way, you’ll get to dress up a little bit more than usual and your jewelry should reflect that.
If it’s a formal affair …
You can break out the show stoppers! We’re talking dazzling drop earrings, eye-catching cocktail rings, glittering gemstones, and luminous pearls.
If you really want your jewelry to stand out, you can plan your outfit around a specific piece. Otherwise, pay attention to the details and silhouettes of your clothes and how the jewelry works with them:
- You’ll have quite a bit of liberty with your earrings; just make sure they complement your face shape and hairstyle.
- With necklaces, you’ll want styles that don’t compete with the neckline of your dress or top. The necklace should either sit a few inches above the neckline (if it’s a halter, scoop, or v-neck) or fall well below it (if it’s a higher neckline) - stay tuned for a more detailed overview below.
- Bracelets can absolutely be brought out if you’re wearing shorter sleeves.
- Rings are always an excellent finishing touch!
If it’s a laid back event …
Think of a bar or restaurant party as another night on the town with friends. Even if you’re not wearing a full-on evening gown or party dress, you’ll still want to put on something special and cute - including your jewelry.
While you may not opt for the ultra luxurious styles like chandelier earrings or statement necklaces, you can still add some sparkle to your step with vibrant gemstone jewelry.
Our top picks:
Jewelry Ideas For Formal Gatherings
Here’s where you can really get fancy! From galas to New Year’s events, formal holiday gatherings are the perfect excuse to wear your most beautiful pieces.
You can work around your jewelry or vice versa depending what type of outfit you have in mind.
If you want an extra special piece of jewelry to be the star of your look, like earrings or a bold necklace, you may want to keep the rest of your outfit on the sleeker side. For example, a solid colored dress in a sumptuous fabric like silk or velvet.
Alternatively, you can opt for intentional layers rather than single statement pieces. This will create a chic, contemporary feel that still rises to the occasion.
If it’s the dress or outfit first, make sure your pieces aren’t overpowering your clothing (and vice versa). Items with a lot of details, such as prints or textural elements like ruffles or ruching, will command a lot of attention so you will want to avoid pieces that are too big or extravagant. Stick to timeless and luxurious pieces like solitaire and tennis styles.
You’ll have freedom when it comes to rings and earrings, but be mindful when choosing bracelets and necklaces. You might want to forgo bracelets if you’re wearing long sleeves, otherwise they may get lost.
As for necklaces, you’ll need to ensure they work with your neckline of choice.
- V-neck: Either follow the shape with an elongated pendant, or emphasize the dramatic neckline with a choker.
- Scoop neck: Choose a chain with a similarly round silhouette that sits an inch or so above the garment.
- Sweetheart: A simple pendant will look beautiful against the curves of this neckline.
- Square: Add softness with delicately layered chains.
- One-shoulder: This eye-catching neckline looks best with a choker or short mini pendant.
Our top picks:
- Sloan Baguette Necklace
- Casey Freshwater Pearl Bracelet
- Hunter Emerald Huggie Earrings
- Quinn Triple Baguette Ring
Final Style Tips
The holidays allow you to really be bold and experiment with your jewelry looks. As a time of abundance and celebration, no piece is off limits.
Have fun with your styling, but remember to always keep harmony in mind. We hope our guide has given you plenty of inspiration for your upcoming parties and events; we’re sure you’ll be the best dressed in the room with our stunning jewels!
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