Jewel Tones

Cold weather and jewel tones go hand in hand. Both are high drama, high intensity and high contrast, making them a harmonious, natural pairing. Moreover, the deeply saturated, high vibration jewel tones provide psychological benefits that energize and elevate, offsetting the winter blues with a touch of glamour. They are strong colors, however, so it’s important to know how to wear them, how much to wear at once, and when:

1. Monochrome
   Jewel tones make a statement, so why fight it? Try a glamorous head-to-toe jewel tone look, but keep the lines clean to not overstimulate the eye. Try a fuchsia slip dress, lapis sheath or ruby red kimono evening wrap for a monochromatic power look that makes a splash. Pair with brushed metal jewelry that doesn’t compete with the strong hues, only complements and grounds them.

2. Light neutrals
   Jewel tones are rich, deep and saturated, which can give them a heavy quality. Avoid black and instead pair them with neutrals to maintain balance and not overwhelm, overpower or weigh down. Think cream, taupe and camel, and light neutrals that create harmonious pairings — emerald green and mocha (not chocolate), royal purple and dove gray (not charcoal) and citrine and light denim (or white denim, but not dark wash). Pairing jewel tones with light neutrals safe guards the vibrant hues from dominating, and you from disappearing.

3. Handbag
   A pop of jewel tone can pack just as much drama as a head-to-toe look. Try a cobalt tote bag for everyday, an amethyst envelope clutch and LBD for date night or a sapphire seqin baguette and white tuxedo suiting for black tie. Or for extra panache, tie a contrasting-colored silk scarf to the top handles of a jewel tone handbag. As an accent color, jewel tones act as a focal point just as much as head-to-toe looks, so wearing them sparingly does not minimize their power.

4. Shoes
   If jewel tones intimidate you, start small and far away from your face. Footwear is a safe place to experiment, so try Viva Magenta Mary Janes, ruby red ballet flats or sapphire velvet smoking slippers to test drive the palette. If those colors seem too strong, emerald green is universally flattering to all skin tones so try it instead. For styling, go for high-low pairings to keep the rich, bold colors grounded by mixing with denim, camouflage or flannel.

5. Jewelry
   Jewelry is the natural — and perfect! — place to showcase jewel tone hues this season. Try sparkly huggies, glamorous teardrops or dramatic chandelier earrings to draw attention up and toward your face, and to brighten it. If that’s too much bling, accessorize with a single statement cocktail ring that dazzles or an enamel cuff with jewel stones clustered throughout. Add multiples for more drama and go for high-low outfit pairings to keep it über stylish.

See BestLifeOnline.com press feature here.