Intern Aria gave me a mild coronary the other day when she informed me that many of her friends shy away from wearing gold based on the premise that “gold makes you look tacky/cheap”.  Oh my DMD darlings, is this a thing amongst the younger flock?  For shame!

Let me dispel any misconceptions right now.  Gold does not make you look gauche! However, not knowing how to wear gold properly does put you at risk of receiving a few wayward glances.  So for look number #17, I’m going for gold, not even real gold mind you, gold costume jewelry. . .to prove a point.

Dress, Vivienne Westwood

Linen jacket, random find from a boutique in Shanghai

Belt, Hermes

Necklace, Oscar de la Renta

Earrings, vintage Joseph Mazer

Shoes, Stuart Weitzman Diplille

 

Lessons in Gilding:

1)  If you’re going to wear gold wear a highly pigmented gold (for costume jewelry) or 18k and up (for fine jewelry).  Gold prices have gone through the roof this year and most commercial jewelry stores are selling more silver jewelry to keep costs low.  That does not mean that gold is no longer in style.  Quite the contrary, it means that gold is even MORE covetable.  SO don’t be afraid to go against the grain and wear a gorgeous shade of super-yellow gold while the rest of the flock are all sticking safely to silver.  I recently made a myself an @Jeanzpoh twitter handle necklace out of 22k gold because it’s so gold it’s practically orange.  Decadent swooniness!

2)  Don’t embrace or shun gold just because someone tells you its fashionable or horrid.  Decide for yourself.  Does gold look good on you?  If it does, well then by all means rock out!  Gold looks divine on olive and yellow skin tones as well as on blondes regardless of their skin tone.  Brunettes with a cool or blue undertone should be careful but then again, if you have blue undertones you might want to rethink that hair color sweetie and go for blonde instead.  Speak to your colorist. . .

3) Know what colors to wear it with.  Gold POPS against the neutrals: white, black, brown, navy, camel.  However, if you’re going for color, go for contemporary color combos.  For example:

Gold + orangey red = swoon

Gold + burgundy = grannypants

Gold + emerald/jade green = swoon

Gold + hunter/forest green = grannypants

4) Know how much jewelry you are comfortable wearing.  ”More is more” for some people and then for others, it’s just a bit odd.  Experiment, see how much jewelry and in what sizes you are comfortable wearing.  Par example, I can go BIG with earrings and necklaces but I need to watch it with the rings and bangles because I have small hands and wrists.  I am also of the belief that anything I pile on my head to make it bigger makes my bum smaller.  Seriously, the bigger the hair/hat/head the smaller the bum.  Whereas bracelets are working the proportions waaayy too south of the border. . .for me.  What about you?

5)  Break some rules.  Following the flock makes you one of the sheep, but in order to break the rules and get away with it, you have to be well-informed.  Here is a life lesson: know your shit (educate yourself), think it through (do it intentionally) and do it with conviction (confidence is the ultimate sell).

Want to show me your gilded gorgeousness?  Comment or @Jeanzpoh me on social media.

Big Kiss and Bigger Diamonds,

JZP