It’s an old debate. It falls in the same categories of wearing white after labor day and women over 40 can’t wear short skirts. Mixing silver and gold jewelry (or mixing metals of any kind) has been seen as tacky and a faux pas. Well, that’s no longer the case! In fact, the once frowned upon practice has now become one of the hottest fashion trends. Here’s some tips to help you adjust from the one-metal mindset, into a more modern outlook.

Tip #1:

Wedding Rings Don’t Count

You most likely wear it every day and hardly ever take it off. It’s effectively become a part of you. So, it doesn’t count in your accessory additions. You don’t need to stress that your wedding ring is gold and your favorite necklace is silver. Who needs that stress? From now on, subtract your wedding ring from all further fashion decisions.

Tip #2:

Stack To Make A Statement

Layer rings, bracelets or necklaces in mixed metals next to each other. It might seem strange to you at first, but it will easily create a fashion-forward look. To pull it off, keep the styles and overall appearance the same. Are the styles bohemian or delicate and whimsical? The visual weight and styles of your jewelry need to make sense as a combo; if that’s working, you’re golden. To glam up your wrist, try adding mixed metal bracelets on the same wrist as your watch. Go ahead and stack them on for a trend-setting look.

Tip #3:

Combine With Strategy

There are three different strategies that you can utilize to make use of this new trend.

1. Obtain A Combination Piece: Have at least one piece of jewelry that has the combination of metals you’re mixing already. A necklace that has both silver and gold worked in or a ring with rose gold and silver. Having a piece that already combines them for you will cut your work in half. You just have to add accessories that match what’s already there in color and style.
2. Watch the Weight: Layer pieces that have different colored metals in one place. Do you normally wear a set of bangles that are all matching and one color? I’m guilty of this. One way to easily adjust is by finding one or two bangles that are of a different metal with the same style and swap them in for ones in your set. Or, wear a watch of one color and a bracelet of another, all on the same wrist. If rings are your thing, try different rings on the same hand. Stacking mixed metals in one place makes it look intentional and very stylish.
3. Bring In A Third Color: Much like matching a blouse to a skirt, introducing a third color will bring the whole ensemble together by connecting the two different metals. For instance, combining a necklace that is silver and black (oxidized finish) with a piece that’s gold and black, the black acts as an anchor, making the jewelry pieces look more cohesive. This lets you flawlessly mix metals and look well put together.

The days where you had to stick to one metal color are gone. That means our choices are limitless (yeah!) and we can wear whatever our wonderful hearts desire.

Adding layers and mixing metals can add warmth and texture to your wardrobe. No more worrying about whether it’s burnished gunmetal, bright yellow gold, pale rose gold, oxidized silver, rhodium or copper, you can make it work. The mixed variations of mixed metal jewelry look great at the beach, under the stars, in the workplace or at music festivals. Go on, give it a try!