Your Perfect Match: Choosing a Signature Piece
There are some times when you spend hours putting together your perfect look: dress, shoes, hair, makeup, and (of course!) jewelry. And then there are some days when your alarm doesn’t go off (or you hit snooze one too many times) and you have mere minutes to get ready before heading out the door. Those are the kinds of days when it really pays to have a signature piece.
You know what I’m talking about. Maybe you even have one -- that piece of jewelry that just seems to work with every outfit. You keep it on your nightstand and throw on every morning without a second thought.
But what makes a great signature piece? Is it simple pearl studs? A chunky amber ring? A birthstone pendant? Statement pieces are first and foremost a distillation of your personal style. You might love outfits that are colorful, modern, feminine, or classic. Your signature piece should follow suit. It should coordinate with other pieces in your jewelry wardrobe, but have enough presence to stand on its own. Ideally, it works with a variety of looks, from jeans and a t-shirt to a cocktail dress. After that, there are no rules!
Of course, there’s more than one way to create a style “signature.” Maybe you don’t have a signature piece. Instead, you have a signature stone. Or perhaps you wouldn’t be caught dead without a pair of big statement earrings. When I think of signature jewelry looks, a very unlikely name comes to mind first: Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State, who used her collection of pins and brooches not only to accent her outfits, but to express her opinions and comment on politics. Her collection even went on display at the Smithsonian! How’s that for a signature look?
As for me, you might say I have commitment issues. Why wear the same piece of jewelry every day when there is so much choice out there. Maybe I just haven’t met the right jewelry yet, and I’ll eventually settle down ;-)
What about you? Do you have a signature piece of jewelry? Leave a photo in the comments!
-- Helene
