Once upon a time, in a not-so faraway land, there was a little girl who loved jewelry. Earrings, necklaces, rings…she always longed for more in her Minnie Mouse jewelry box. Sadly, her mum didn’t always agree to buying it for her. One day, she decided that when she was older had a degree in Economics, a career and bank account, she would spend all her money on jewelry, clothes and shoes…and then one day she met her husband, who just like her mum, didn’t quite share the same enthusiasm 

I’ve had a love affair with jewelry since forever. I dream of jewelry and have a serious affection for tassels – family members will attest. Many of my friends have asked me how I source jewelry. While I’ve come a long way from the yellow polka dotted hoops I bought on my first trip to London (circa 1985) and the MM jewelry box, I’ve never thought of my jewelry evolution per se. I go with what feels right and a couple of basic criteria.

Look for pieces that are an extension of you. Many can buy Alexis Bittar or Amrapali – but is it you? Does it tell a story? Jewelry needs to speak to me right away. Unfortunately, a lot of pieces speak to me! I’m still regretting not buying a cuff that spoke to me (and that too in a British accent) on my recent trip to London. Side note, if you absolutely love it, buy it.

Understand your visage…Is there an earring shape/necklace style that works for you? If you have a round face, avoid earrings that are too wide, stick with longer styles, you want to elongate your face, not widen it. If you have a short neck, avoid very long earrings that graze your shoulders – it looks forced. Don’t buy chokers/bib necklaces if you have a thick neck, no matter how flattering they are on your celebrity girl crush. Opt for longer, more delicate styles instead. Basically, know what works for you.

The trickier part is once you’ve procured these lovely items, how do you wear them?

Raise your hand if this sounds familiar: You’re getting ready for a soiree and you ask your spouse or significant other: ‘Earring A or Earring B? Does this necklace work with these earrings? Do I look overdressed? Nude heels or these other nude heels?’ I’m an eternal optimist so I ask these questions often, (in machine gun fashion) hoping for clarity and then of course I do the exact opposite.

After years of puzzled looks, shrugs and nonchalant stares, I use the following to keep me in check:

Thou shalt not wear more than one statement piece at a time. Don’t overdo it or you risk looking like the green plant in your foyer at this time of year. People find the need to wear everything at once. Have a glass of wine until the feel passes. There’s no jewelry police handing out citations if you aren’t pairing your necklace with earrings and vice versa. Please give each piece its airtime.

Mix it up, but aim for a fluid look. I love incorporating Indian jewelry with everything I wear. There’s a fine line however, between ‘incorporating’ and taking something too far. Don’t go overly ethnic, tribal or anything that can make your look costume-y. In the case of ethnic, you want to avoid looking like the bhenji-turned-mod (my non-Indian friends, I will explain at a later time) or anything that brings to mind ‘kitsch’.

Match point. No points given to those who go overboard here. If you’re wearing turquoise, kindly stay away from turquoise jewelry. You’re not a mathematical function so there’s no need for a one-to-one color mapping/matching. We’ve all likely been guilty of this at some point in our lives. If your friends tell you this matchy-ness is still cute, they’re either lying or stuck in the same rut as Minnie Mouse. You can however, look to Miss Piggy for style cues, she’s got it down.

Check yourself out before you leave the house. If something doesn’t feel right, lose one item from your look…maybe the extra bangle, going bigger/smaller on the earrings or toning down the makeup etc etc. If you look in the mirror and think “damn girl, you cute”, your work here is done…proceed by strutting gracefully to your car – but finish that wine glass first.

Plan B. I always keep an extra pair of earrings in my purse in the event that I’m over/under dressed. Come look for me the next time you’re in a pickle.

How you select jewelry is entirely personal. I gravitate towards vintage, ethnic and filigree styles. Some of my friends love resin, tribal designs and geometric patterns. The key is how you actually wear/pair your choices. We all love showing our wares but less is always more. Think of congruence between the occasion and your look – sometimes, a simple pair of studs (pun unintended) is all you need.

PS. I have nothing against Minnie Mouse and my hubby. As for my mother, she has definitely turned a corner.