Designer Costume Jewelry - How To Wear It

Designer Costume Jewelry - How To Wear It



Designer costume jewelry creates an impression that it is too ornamental to be worn by just anyone or in any occasion. This is the reason why girls tend to shy away from it. What they don't realize is that costume jewelry can be a very versatile piece of fashion accessory that can add instant drama to an outfit.



In previous blogs, I briefly touched on the history of costume jewelry and how any girl can learn to discover her own personal style. Today I will try to discuss how designer costume jewelry can be matched with most outfits to achieve different looks.

We will take a bib necklace called "CLEO" designed by Cree (http://cerashop.multiply.com//) for today's illustration. It is an ethnic/Egyptian-inspired neckpiece made out of dyed wooden beads. At first glance, CLEO may seem too, well, "costumey." It's like Cleopatra went to the Masai tribe in Africa, fell in love with the culture, drooled over the neckpiece and decided to name it after her. However, when properly matched with the right top, this piece of designer costume jewelry can take you from day to night and on to the beach for the weekend.




Wear it to Work

As a fashion rule, it is a must for any girl to have a white long-sleeved shirt in her closet. It is a staple piece of clothing that is best to wear to work or a luncheon meeting. Simple enough to match with anything from pencil skirt (for job functions) to jeans or even shorts (for daywear), it is the perfect foil for a colorful necklace. Hiding it under the collar gives a subdued effect. You dont want it to steal the show from your well-prepared presentation but you want your client to notice your vibrant personality.











Wear it for a Lunch-out with Friends

Dress CLEO down with a white singlet and make your friends green with envy. You want to look relaxed but not under-dressed and the easy solution is flaunting your designer costume jewelry. Everything looks fresh with white so even this in-your-face accessory does not come on too strong. It is a guaranteed statement piece.

Wear it on a Night-out

Although solid colors - neutrals such as black and white - bring out CLEO's bright colors all the more, it can also be worn with a printed top for a Boho vibe. Experiment with print but keep it tonal: pick one color from the necklace and play around it. For maximum effect, wear a strapless blouse or dress to highlight the statement neckpiece.

Wear it to the Beach


Perhaps the last place you'd think of wearing any jewelry is the beach. But resorts have long ceased to mean only swimming and sunbathing. It is party place for many girls. Although it does not call for a LBD moment, it sure does summon you to look as much fun as your newly-gotten tan can muster. There are two ways to wear CLEO: one is with a tank top for a stroll along the shore in the morning and with a bandau for dancing and partying the night away. Again, pick one color from the neckpiece and use that as your theme. If you are more adventurous though, pick a bandau or a tube blouse with the same exact colors as your neckpiece and channel your inner hippie chick.


There you have it. These are just some of the ways you can wear what otherwise you wouldn't want to touch with a ten-foot pole. A costume jewelry should not come off threatening. It's very nature is fun and should always be worn in that light. All you need is a few basic garment pieces and a little imagination and it will take you a long way. With these illustrations that I have showed you today, you are well on your way to grab your designer costume jewelry.