Instagram/@roxanneassoulin
Okay, let me tell you something about jewelry collections that took me way too long to figure out. The perfect piece? It's never the one with the fancy price tag that catches your eye first. I've spent years buying, losing, breaking pieces in car doors, gifting things I probably should have kept, and hoarding others I never wear. And you know what I finally realized? The stuff you grab every single morning has almost nothing to do with what it cost. It's all about that little jolt you get catching your reflection in the elevator doors. How it swings when you gesture. The way it just becomes part of you.
I like to think of jewelry as punctuation for your style (yes, I know, you see this metaphor a lot in this blog). That chunky necklace you love? Total exclamation point. Those tiny stackable rings are basically ellipses... like there's always something more to say. And that perfect pair of everyday earrings? They're the periods that finish every outfit sentence just right.
The Foundation Formula: Building Your Core Collection
Instagram/@brinkerandeliza
Alright, before we get all treasure-hunty, we need to talk about what a jewelry collection actually needs to function. I've been calling this a "5-3-1 thing" (super creative, I know):
5 Everyday Heroes Your ride-or-die pieces. The ones your hand finds without thinking. They need to be so comfortable you literally forget they exist, but nice enough that they make your ratty jeans and yesterday's tee look intentional.
3 Statement Makers These are your conversation starters, your outfit-transformers. And honestly? They really don't need to be expensive. One of my most complimented pieces cost me twelve dollars. Twelve!
1 Heirloom Piece This is your investment baby, your future vintage find, your go-to for every big moment. Could be your grandma's, could be from that weird little antique shop, could be something you saved up for months to buy. The price tag honestly matters way less than how it makes you feel.
Part I: The Everyday Heroes (Your Style Punctuation)
Instagram/@kendrascott
1. The Perfect Hoops or Studs
Baublebar studs and hoops at baublebar.com
Start here. If you're building from absolute zero, earrings are your gateway drug. They frame your face, require minimal styling skills, and work across every dress code from "gym run" to "garden party."
Budget Option ($10-45): Mejuri-inspired dupes from Target or Baublebar offer that chunky gold hoop energy without the commitment. Pro tip: Look for "water-resistant" or "tarnish-free" labels—these budget finds now use better coatings than ever.
Mid-Range ($50-150): Mejuri's chunky hoops and Jenny Bird's architectural studs... these brands have basically figured out the secret sauce. They somehow look way more expensive than they are, and I don't know how they do it but I'm not complaining.
Investment ($200+): Okay yes, real gold from Catbird or Vrai is expensive. But! When you break down the cost-per-wear? These babies end up being cheaper than your daily latte situation. Math doesn't lie.
2. The Layering Necklace System
Instagram/@petit.moments
Here's where most people go wrong: they buy one necklace and wonder why it never looks right. Necklaces work in conversation with each other. You need at least two that can play together.
Start with:
- A 16-18" chain (sits at collarbone)
- A 20-24" pendant or locket (hits mid-chest)
Budget Mix ($40-80 each): Ana Luisa has cracked the code on fashion jewelry that photographs like fine jewelry. Their layering sets come pre-coordinated for the styling-challenged. If you're looking for more variety in styles and price points, Kendra Scott is another great go-to option.
Splurge Strategy: You can buy one real gold chain and layer it with fashion pieces. The real gold somehow makes everything else look better—like jewelry's weird version of that friend who makes everyone more attractive just by standing next to them.
3. The Hand Party Foundation
Instagram/@mejuri
Rings are storytellers, I swear. A stack of delicate bands whispers sophistication. A chunky signet ring shouts confidence. Pick one that feels like YOU, then go from there.
The Fashion Route ($20-45): I'm obsessed with how Zara and & Other Stories make rings that look way, WAY more expensive than they are. Like, how is this $29 ring fooling everyone?
The Forever Route ($100-400): Pandora stackable bands or Catbird's threadbare rings. These basically become part of your actual hand—you'll forget they're there until someone compliments them.
4. The Wrist Situation
Instagram/@missomalondon
Bracelets are tricky—they catch on sleeves, clank on keyboards, generally announce themselves. But the right one becomes your signature.
The Minimalist Play: A simple chain bracelet or sleek bangle. Swarovski's barely-there chains with a birthstone ($99) or Gorjana's delicate options ($50-80) disappear until they catch the light.
The Maximalist Move: Stack multiple delicate pieces or go for one substantial cuff. Ben-Amun's monumental bangles and cuffs ($170+) are basically wearable sculptures, while Ettika ($70+) is playing with organic, natural forms.
5. The Wild Card
Brooches by Anthropologie at anthropologie.com
Your flex spot! Maybe you're an anklet person (summer vibes), maybe you discovered brooches work on literally everything you own, or maybe body jewelry is totally your thing. Or maybe you've ventured beyond jewelry altogether—personally, I can't get enough of hair bows, especially the velvet ones, and veils. Whatever fills that weird gap in your wardrobe that you didn't know existed until you found it.
Part II: The Statement Makers (Your Exclamation Points)
Alexis Bittar corset necklace at modaoperandi.com
The Necklace That Changes Everything
Chan Luu necklaces at chanluu.com
We all have that one outfit—you know the one. The "I have absolutely nothing to wear so I guess this works" outfit? A statement necklace turns that resignation into a whole look.
Fashion Forward ($35-80): Zara's costume jewelry department is basically a museum of what's happening in high fashion, six months early. Their chunky chains and baroque pearls could pass for Bottega Veneta from across a room.
Vintage Victory ($50-300): Estate sales and Etsy vintage shops offer statement pieces with actual stories. Try searching "modernist jewelry" or "brutalist necklace"—these pieces look shockingly current even though they're older than your parents.
The Earrings That Start Conversations
Zara textured earrings at zara.com
Statement earrings are basically a great haircut in jewelry form—they do all the work so your tired face doesn't have to.
The Accessible Artists ($75-200): Rachel Comey and Sophie Monet make pieces that honestly belong in a design museum. Actual art that you can wear to your random Tuesday video call.
The DIY Route: Real talk—some of the best statement earrings come from random craft fairs and Instagram makers you stumble across at 2am. Supporting small businesses AND getting something literally no one else has? Win-win.
The Ring or Bracelet That Commands Attention
Instagram/@julievos
Your third statement should surprise people. Already went big with necklaces and earrings? Time for a cocktail ring or one of those architectural cuffs that makes people stop mid-conversation.
Budget Brilliance ($45-90): COS's jewelry straight-up feels like it belongs in some fancy Copenhagen gallery. Their sculptural rings will make your hands look expensive even if you're a chronic nail-biter.
Part III: The Heirloom (Your Anchor Piece)
Instagram/@lanajewelry
Okay, real talk time. Your heirloom piece doesn't need to cost thousands, but it should feel significant for you.
The Inheritance Route: The best jewelry sometimes just shows up in your life. Go dig through your grandmother's jewelry box (with permission). That brooch you think is dated? It might be EXACTLY what your denim jacket has been waiting for.
The Vintage Investment: Spend real time hunting. You can find an incredible gold signet ring that you'll wear every day. Or that Art Deco brooch that makes every single blazer you own look intentional. Pro tip: estate sales beat vintage shops for prices AND stories.
The Considered Purchase: Buying new? Make it count. A really good gold chain or classic diamond studs will outlast every single trend.
The Alternative Heirloom: Who says heirlooms have to be traditional? Maybe it's an incredible piece of art jewelry, something custom from that metalsmith at your local market, or even just a really, really well-made fashion piece that reminds you of a specific time in your life.
The Shopping Strategy: Where to Hunt
Loren Hope earrings at lorenhope.com
For Fashion Jewelry:
Lizzie Fortunato at lizziefortunato.com
- Zara/COS/& Other Stories: Always on-trend, photographs beautifully
- Target's Wild Fable/Universal Thread: Basics that don't look basic
- Etsy: Okay but searching "stainless steel jewelry" is a game-changer for pieces that won't turn your skin green
- Local boutiques: They usually carry emerging designers and the prices are often better than you'd think
For Investment Pieces:
Instagram/@shopjulietta
- Direct-to-consumer brands: Mejuri, Vrai, AUrate basically said "screw retail markup" and we love them for it
- Sample sales: Get on those email lists for your favorite fine jewelry brands
- Pre-owned luxury: The RealReal and Vestiaire actually authenticate everything, so you're good
- Local jewelers: Way more willing to negotiate than the big fancy brands
For Vintage Treasures:
Instagram/@ben_amun
- EstateSales.net: Might change your life
- Specialty vintage shops: So much better curated than regular thrift stores
- Online auctions: People say Everything But The House has the most incredible jewelry lots
- Antique malls: Hidden gems in the locked cases
The Mixing Metals Manifesto
Instagram/@mejuri
Can we please kill this myth forever? Mixing metals isn't just okay—it's actually better. The trick is owning it. Gold hoops, silver watch, rose gold ring? Yes, do it. Spread them around or bunch all your metals in one spot.
The Care and Feeding of Your Collection
Instagram/@catbirdnyc
Fashion Jewelry Survival Guide:
- Clear nail polish on ring backs equals no more green fingers
- Individual pouches for storage—scratches are not cute
- Take them off before swimming, showering, or getting sweaty at spin class
- Get an ultrasonic cleaner from Amazon ($30)—game changer
Fine Jewelry Reality Check:
- Gold is basically indestructible except when it meets chlorine
- Silver's gonna tarnish—lean into the patina or polish it
- Pearls literally need your skin oils to stay happy (weird but true)
- Consider getting valuable pieces insured—it's cheaper than you think
The Evolution Strategy
Instagram/@heavenmayhem_
Look, your jewelry collection is going to change with you. Those chunky silver rings from college might shift to delicate gold chains in your thirties, then swing back to bold pieces when you hit forty and stop caring what people think. Don't be weird about letting stuff go—sell it, gift it, whatever.
The Ultimate Test
Instagram/@roxanneassoulin
Want to know if you've nailed your collection? You should be able to get dressed with your eyes closed and still grab pieces that work. Your jewelry needs to feel like part of you, not like you're playing dress-up.
The Final Polish
Lele Sadoughi tassel earrings at lelesadoughi.com
Here's the thing about building a jewelry collection—it's not about having the most pieces or the priciest ones. It's about putting together a selection that makes getting dressed feel fun again, maybe even creative. Start with one thing—maybe those hoops that make you feel like you can handle anything—and build from there.
Because honestly? Those diamonds sitting in your drawer doing absolutely nothing are worth way less than that $20 silver ring you literally never take off.
