How to Style Vintage Jewelry

There's something special about vintage jewelry. Whether it's a delicate art deco bracelet or a colorful mid-century necklace, vintage jewelry has a unique charm that modern pieces simply can't match. But if you're not careful, vintage jewelry can also look dated and dowdy. So how can you style vintage jewelry to look modern and chic?

From our corner of the vintage world to you, here are our favorite tips on how to style vintage jewelry in a way that’ll do each piece justice:

Focus on quality over quantity

Rather than loading up your wrists with multiple vintage bracelets or layering on a bunch of necklaces, choose one or two pieces and let them shine. This will attract attention to the jewelry and ensure that it doesn’t get lost in the rest of your outfit.

Additionally, with older metals, they can easily lose their shine and luster, so when you’re purchasing a new piece of vintage jewelry, you’ll want to make sure that it’s high quality and will last.

Pair vintage jewelry with contemporary pieces

Another piece of advice we have on how to style vintage jewelry is to mix it with more modern clothing. This results in a look that’s simple and elegant, yet still has personality from the vintage jewelry.

Some examples of this are pairing a classic pearl necklace with a crisp white shirt and skinny jeans. Or try pairing vintage earrings with a casual t-shirt and jeans for a chic and effortless look. Another idea is to add a pair of statement vintage earrings to a sleek little black dress, drawing attention to the earrings and adding a touch of flair to your outfit.

Get creative with jewelry colors

At This Blue Bird, we love the personality and vibrance that each piece of vintage jewelry brings. Contemporary jewelry and fashion often shies away from bright colors, and opting for vintage clothing or jewelry can help bring some life and variety back into your wardrobe.

Don’t be afraid to mix metals, and incorporate pieces with a variety of gemstones. The color of the gemstones you choose can add some needed personality to an outfit that’s otherwise mostly neutral. Use colors in the same family – blues and greens together or reds and oranges – for a more cohesive look.

Incorporate different textures

Just like experimenting with color adds personality to your look, so can combining jewelry with different textures and shapes. One way to do this is using different sizes and types of chains when combining bracelets or necklaces. Or stack simple rings with larger statement pieces to highlight the different qualities of your jewelry.

The more variety your accessories have, the more striking the combinations will appear. Don’t be afraid to mix things up and get creative.

There you have it, our top tips for styling vintage jewelry! Whether you’re just curious or already have vintage pieces you want to style, hopefully this article was helpful to you. For more vintage resources and easy online vintage shopping, stay connected to ThisBlueBird!