How to Wear Gaudy Jewelry

Gaudy owl

Bright green baubles, earrings that look like rocket ships and a bracelet bigger and louder than Texas all qualify as gaudy jewelry. Gaudy jewelry is flamboyant, obnoxious and a heck of a lot of fun. Just because the jewelry is gaudy doesn’t mean you can’t wear it with flair. Some stylish tips will help you wear gaudy jewelry better than those chicks on the fashion pages.

Things You'll Need

• Gaudy jewelry piece

Instructions

1. Be selective. Some of the gaudy jewelry is so gaudy the only place it should hang is near a garbage bin. Pick something that is not disgusting, falling apart, missing key rhinestones or is tarnished green when it’s not supposed to be.

2. Stay minimal. A bracelet the size of Texas should not be worn in conjunction with the bright green baubles and rocket ship earrings. Pick one piece of jewelry as the main focus and stay subtle with all the rest or even forgo any other jewelry.

3. Keep the rest of the outfit simple. Gaudy jewelry should not be mixed with clothing in loud patterns or outrageous styles. The bright green baubles will look great with a simple, all black ensemble--a long shirt and stretch pants. The baubles will look hideous with a green and pink plaid. Wearing black is the easiest and most stylish way to blend in blaring jewelry.

4. Keep the rest of the outfit matching. If you are not into black, you can wear the bright green baubles with another monochromatic outfit so the baubles stand out and become the focal point. You can either pick another shade of green or a contrasting shade, like cinnamon, which will also make a statement. Black and white outfits also work well with loud jewelry of any sort or color.

5. Stay in the same era and style. You don’t want to wear your giant 1970s-inspired owl pendant with Victorian lace. Nor do you want to pair your massive antique chandelier earrings with a sweatsuit. Try to think in the same era and level of style of the piece and match clothing that resembles the trends of that time.

Tips & Warnings

• You can wear gaudy jewelry in places for which it was not initially intended. Clip the chandelier earrings over a shirt pocket. Use a rhinestone hair clip on your handbag. Wear a long, garish necklace as a belt.

• A printed or simple white T-shirt coupled with a simple skirt and clogs is another look that will support an array of gaudy jewelry.

• Shop for gaudy jewelry at yard sales, thrift stores and other places that will have a fine array of outlandish and unique pieces. Grandma’s jewelry box is prime territory. Just ask her first.

• Just as you should not bog down one piece of jewelry with other gaudy jewelry, keep the rest of your accessories simple. You don’t want the outrageous gaudy piece to have to compete with anything else.