You’re probably aware that there are about a thousand sacred fashion rules that you can’t break, and for some reason mixing metals in jewellery has been instilled into us as a major fashion faux pas. We’re here to tell you though that it’s an acceptable style choice - as long as you put some thought into it.
As with most things in life where you’re mixing and matching, whether it’s clothes or even food, it takes a little bit of experimenting to get it right. The same applies to mixing gold rings with say, a platinum ring or even if you’re daring enough, throwing in some gemstone jewellery.
It’s also going to take a lot of getting used to. A lot of people - us included - are set in their ways when it comes to not mixing metals, and often find it hard to see how they complement each other. But what are rules if not made to be broken, right? So we thought we’d put together a little guide to help you mix and match your jewellery metals.
Focus on one area
Just because it’s acceptable to mix your metals, it doesn’t mean you should just throw on a whole lot of jewellery across your arm, neck and ears. There is such thing as overloading on jewellery. It can be really overwhelming to look at and takes away from the whole purpose. As with most cases of wearing statement jewellery or in this case, making a statement by mixing them, it’s always best to choose one area. For example, if you’re going to wear a gold pendant necklace with some silver necklaces, you probably shouldn’t then also be throwing on a stack of rose and yellow gold bracelets.
Tip: Keep it simple and minimal. If you’re wearing a lower neckline, mix your metals with your necklaces as a statement detail for your outfit.
Ignore hardware
Like we said earlier, your brain will try to fight mixing metals on a visual level. Most of this visual disagreement will come from your actual jewellery clashing with hardware details on your clothing or accessories. So we’d recommend just ignoring it. Zippers and belt buckles will always vary so just forget about trying to match it to your jewellery. None of it will ever quite match - even if you’re wearing a yellow gold ring with a gold belt buckle. If it really bothers you, avoid wearing visible hardware on days that you’re experimenting with mixing and matching metals.
Don’t count your wedding ring
Building on the point above, it’s also best if you disregard your bridal sets when you’re trying to mix metals. You probably wear your wedding and engagement rings every so don't count them accessories. So if you have a gold engagement ring, don’t worry too much about putting on silver earrings. Or if they’re platinum, it’s okay to wear rose gold bracelets. It’s not the end of the world.
Give it purpose
The worst thing you can do if you’re going to mix metals is choosing bad styles and having it result in a haphazard appearance. So picking the right pieces is always important. Forget about the colour of the metal for a bit and think about the actual style of the rose gold ring you’re about to put next to that silver ring. Keep it minimal and opt for pieces that actually look like they belong together. Make sure it suits your personal style - this will ensure it looks intentional and well thought-out.
Try layering & stacking your jewellery
If you read our Stacking and Layering 101 guide from a few weeks ago, you’ll know that this is the best way to mix & match your jewellery. If you’ve been practicing our layering tips, why not throw a couple of different metals in as well? If you’re layering AND mixing metals, we’d definitely recommend practising the ‘focus on one area’ tip we talked about above. The two together work great on the arms if you have a beautiful rose gold watch, which you can then pair with some minimal yellow gold bracelets.
Experiment!
There’s no other way to master mixing metals with your jewellery unless you try different combinations. A lot of us own different metals for different occasions but take some time out of your day to try your favourite gold chain with that beautiful silver pendant that you usually wear on its own. You’ll find that your eyes will start get used to the mixed jewellery metals and you might even be brave enough to start incorporating it into your everyday life.
Shop from our new arrivals to start you on your mixed metal journey here, and don't forget to check out our latest blog about the classic wardrobe essentials every woman needs!
