Have you ever seen a piece of statement jewellery that you absolutely loved but didn’t know where to wear? Ever looked at a gorgeous pair of earrings and thought to yourself, “But will it suit me?” If the first thing that occurs to you when you want to buy a heavy necklace is: ‘Will I be able to carry it off?’ then this article is just for you.
The wedding season is the best time to flaunt all your heavy and ornate jewellery pieces, but if you’re constantly plagued by doubts about looking too gaudy, then they often go back into the locker. On the flip side, not knowing how to wear statement jewellery correctly actually will make you look flashy, and bring you attention for all the wrong. Fret not though, those timeless heirloom bangles or ornate haath-phools need not stay in the jewellery box forever – with a few pointers and rules in place, it’s very easy to ensure your statement jewellery is always making you look graceful, not garish.
What is statement jewellery?
First of all, it’s important to distinguish ‘statement jewellery’ from every other piece of jewellery. Simply put, any piece of jewellery that ‘makes a statement’ is referred to as statement jewellery. But in order to make a statement, so to speak, an ornament must have certain distinguishing qualities. Namely, statement jewellery is:
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- Large enough to immediately catch the eye
Statement jewellery primarily stands out because of its size; of course, it has to. It cannot be easily overshadowed or ignored. - Expensive, or at least appearing expensive
While every statement piece need not be expensive, some are; especially if they’re made from precious metals or stones, or are luxury couture - Uniquely designed
After the size, design is what sets statement jewellery apart. Statement jewellery is creative and ‘different’ to look at. This doesn’t mean it has to be the only one of its type. Essentially, any piece that creates a striking contrast with the rest of your outfit – makes a statement. - Attractive
And of course, statement jewellery has to be attractive to get you compliments. Wearing something simply because it satisfies the three points above will simply not work unless it’s beautiful!
- Large enough to immediately catch the eye
Take a look at some of these statement pieces from Thangamayil Jewellers.
Each of these is large and exquisitely designed in precious stones and metals, featuring colours, unique patterns and suitable for various outfits – making each of them a stand-out ornament that certainly calls for many second looks and compliments!
When to wear it
Now that your concept of statement jewellery is clear, you’ve no doubt identified a few such pieces in your jewellery box. The next part is understanding when to wear them. This is one of the most basic rules of flaunting statement jewellery. Wearing them at the right occasions makes all the difference between looking fabulous and looking flashy.
Wear statement jewellery when-
1. You need to be dressed-down. When you’re layering yourself with ornaments, like at a close relative’s wedding, is not the best occasion to flaunt statement jewellery. At best, it won’t be seen; at worst, it will look gaudy.
2. You’re meeting people up-close. That is when your jewellery will be noticed most. At small get-togethers, private parties, family dinners, where you will meet and interact with people face-to-face is the best time to bring out your statement pieces, and let the compliments flow!
3. You’re meeting people for the first time (and you want to make a good impression). An exquisite piece of jewellery speaks of fine taste and a discerning eye. Its boosts your confidence and of course, also becomes a talking point!
How to wear it
With the ‘what’ and ‘when’ sorted, we now come to the most anticipated part – HOW to wear statement jewellery.
There are many things to take into account while wearing statement jewellery: the occasion, the outfit, the look you want to create, your body type, your face shape and of course, the place and time. Keeping everything in mind, here are a few pointers for different statement ornaments.
Necklaces
While wearing statement necklaces, the most important aspect to consider is your neckline. While almost any style and shape of neckline works well with statement necklaces, it’s important to ensure your neckline or yoke is plain for maximum effect. For instance, wearing a heavy kundan necklace on an extensively embroidered blouse will hardly have the same effect as wearing it on a plain blouse. If you must pair the two together, it’s important to ensure the area around the necklace is plain. For instance, if your embroidered blouse is deep necked, you can wear a statement choker necklace and still carry it off.
Another aspect to consider is the body type. Statement necklaces look best on small-busted women who want to create some weight around their décolleté. If you’re top-heavy, a statement necklace will only draw more attention to your upper-body.
On the left, actress Sonam Kapoor’s statement necklace stands out with her off-shoulder blouse and light-cololured saree. She chooses not to wear any other jewellery keeping the necklace the centre of attention. Bipasha Basu’s heavy necklace and earring set with her multi-coloured saree and dark blouse makes her look overdressed.
Earrings
As a rule of thumb, statement necklaces and statement earrings don’t go well together (unless of course you’re the bride). Wearing two large and catchy pieces of jewellery so close to each other is bound to look over-dressed, which is the opposite of the effect you really want. Ideally, if you wear statement earrings, keep your neck bare, or deck it with a simple chain or necklace.
With statement earrings, the shape of your face largely determines how much of a ‘statement’ your earrings will make. Jhimkis and Wide Danglers look best on heart-shaped faces, whereas round faces should opt for more angular designs in squares or rectangular shapes. Oblong earrings look best on square jaws while oval faces can carry off any type. As a general rule, the shape of your earrings should contrast that of your face. It’s best to try different earrings with your outfit before you pick one.
Another thing of importance while wearing statement earrings is hairdo. Depending on how much you want to flaunt your earrings, you can either go for an upswept and tied back hairstyle, or leave your tresses loose, if you want to mute the effect. Ideally, keeping your hair away from your face is your best bet while wearing statement earrings.
On the left, actress Deepika Padukone keeps her jhimkis front-and-centre by tying her hair in a neat bun. Priyanka Chopra’s danglers on the other hand are barely seen behind her tresses.
Bracelets, Cuff, Rings, Wrist watches
A statement kada or cuff is best worn by itself – pairing it with other bangles dulls the effect. When it comes to hand jewellery you want to pick no more than two pieces, one for each hand. So, if you’re wearing a diamond cuff on the left hand, a cocktail ring on the right should suffice. Try not to layer hand jewellery too much, even if worn on separate hands. For instance, wearing a bracelet in one hand and a wristwatch in the other is not a great idea, unless both are simple, minimalistic pieces. The general rule of thumb is to wear a wrist ornament on one hand, and a ring in the other. And of course, ensure your nails are always well groomed!
Hopefully you are lot more confident now about choosing and wearing your statement pieces. A few more general rules to follow:
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- Keep your outfit elegant and simple for maximum effect. Avoid wearing too many different colours, prints or patterns while wearing statement jewellery
- Stick to wearing no more than two pieces of statement jewellery at a time and ensure they are worn away from each other.
We hope this guide has been helpful and you’ll be a lot surer of yourself while buying and wearing heavy ornaments now! Always remember – less is more while making a statement!
