Capsule Wardrobe: Creating a Jewelry Collection
In true lazy-girl fashion, I wanted my jewelry to be effortless. I dreamed of a set of necklaces that could be layered, mixed and matched with little effort. I dreamed of a set of earrings that had multiple different styles for any occasion. All of this needed to be easily portable for when we travel and low maintenance for upkeep. All of this also had to be nickel-free so my skin didn’t revolt. I didn’t think it would be difficult to put a jewelry collection together, but I did think it would be expensive. Imagine my surprise when I found some great budget-friendly options that met each of my goals.
Before You Shop
Before you start shopping, you have to figure out your needs and wants. First, what are your goals for your jewelry collection? Do you want to be able to mix and match for any outfit or do you want standalone pieces to go with specific outfits? Having pieces you can mix and match with any outfit allows you to put together complete outfits on the fly with a little thought and effort with maximum flexibility for your wardrobe. Having standalone pieces for specific outfits or occasions allows you to put on a complete pre-selected outfit with essentially no effort, but does make your jewelry less flexible. Once you decide your goals, its easier to make the next decision; how many and which metal finishes do you want. If you’re going for the mix and match collection it’s easier to go with one metal finish, but standalone pieces can be matched to a particular outfit instead of the rest of the jewelry collection so you could end up with multiple different metal finishes in your collection. Don’t forget to factor in your capsule wardrobe’s color palette as each metal finish will look different when paired with different color palettes.
Shop ‘til You Drop
So now you know what you want from your collection and what finishes they should be. Combine that with your capsule wardrobe description words and start shopping. I was able to find a beautiful (and budget-friendly) earring collection on Amazon. They have many different collections, but I chose one that had a mix of studs and dangles so I had earrings for any occasion. If you can’t find a curated set you like then curate your own! It will take more time and most likely a little more money, but it will be your ultimate custom earring collection. For necklaces, I purchased three chains online at different lengths that could be layered together or worn separately. I then went to my local craft store and headed for the jewelry aisle. I was able to purchase pendants that can be placed on the chains I already purchased for a fraction of the price of an already-made necklace at a retail store. I’m not saying you have to do what I did, but I do want you to get creative! A beautiful and versatile jewelry collection does not need to cost a fortune. Thrift stores are also a great budget option for jewelry.
Storing and Caring for Your Jewelry
Storing and caring for your jewelry does not need to be complex or expensive. A dedicated jewelry box is a great option for keeping your entire jewelry collection in one place, but it’s not the only solution. I keep my earrings in an old ring box I had lying around. That allows me to keep them all in one place and easily transport them when we travel. A book is a great place to store necklaces. Bracelets can go around a vase or bottle. Be creative and don’t spend your hard-earned money on an expensive or fancy jewelry box.
To clean your jewelry, I highly recommend an ultra-sonic cleaner. This would be the one item I would tell you to splurge a little on. An ultra-sonic cleaner is a set it and forget cleaning option with very little work on your part. A small countertop ultra-sonic is all you need and they are available online.
Have Fun!
As I stated in previous capsule wardrobe posts, this should be a fun process. Only buy things that bring you joy and don’t ever settle for less. If you haven’t started your capsule wardrobe yet, click here to get started.
Until next time,
Happy Shopping
