Sweater Weather: Style Tips for Fall Layering

Above: Amazing sweater by Farm Rio

Here in our neck of the woods, the trees have gone fully technicolor, with so many leaves on the ground you hear nothing but crunching when you walk outside. Temperatures have dropped, too, and though I’m not a fan of the cold I am, ironically, a huge fan of sweaters. Give me a shaggy sleeve, a complicated fisherman’s cable knit, or a brightly colored yarn any day.

I also still insist on going full jewelry in the colder, months and have found that with a slight strategy shift, you can keep wearing jewelry along with those extra layers. Here are my top tips for transitioning into fall:

1.

Wear sweaters with necklaces that have extender chains — thicker knits tend to make necklaces sit higher than normal, so wear your necklaces on their longest settings to make up for it. Most of my necklaces have extenders already, but you can also purchase extenders that can be attached to any necklace.

Wear this Halcott Necklace with…

…over this Sezane sweater.

2.

Show off an intricately patterned sweater with clean, all metal earrings — a necklace would get in the way of that great pattern, while earrings will compliment it.

Pair this gloriously 80s-style Farm Rio sweater…

…with these brass Halo Hoops.

3.

Pair larger scale necklaces with really chunky, solid-colored sweaters. The chunkiness and texture already make a statement, and need jewelry that can keep up.

Wear this Cosmos Necklace…

…with this Line & Dot cable knit sweater.

4.

Slip a cuff or bangle over your sweater sleeve, with the sleeve helping keep it in place.

Get cozy in this Madewell sweater…

…and this silver Asp Bangle.

5.

Try your rings on different fingers — lower temps mean rings will fit a little more loosely, so move them around to find a better fit.

Some wider rings, like this Hathor Ring, will fit differently if you switch their direction on your finger, too.

A wide, chunky Hathor Ring.

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Happy layering!

Your jewelry care kit

Don’t let a bent ear wire or small smudges get in the way of you wearing your favorite jewelry. With just a few basic “tools,” you can put together your own emergency care kit and fix your jewelry right up.

YOU’LL NEED:

• 1 flat-nose plier

• Spare earring backs

• Lint-free eyeglass cloth wipe (for gold plated jewelry) and a regular polishing cloth (for solid gold and silver jewelry)

• Small cloth bags
  

I find that earring backs love to go missing because they’re so small, and having spares means you don’t have to swap them out every time you want to wear a new pair. After recently losing a few myself, I added a few different kinds to the shop.

Why flat-nose pliers? Lots of earring posts (including on most of my earrings) are made of sterling silver, a pretty soft metal that can bend easily. To straighten a bent post, you can use those flat-nose pliers to very gently close the whole post between the jaws of the pliers. Open up the pliers, slightly rotate the earring, and close the pliers again. Repeat this a few times and the post will straighten out.

Cloth wipes are great for cleaning up any surface dirt on your jewelry. I recommend an eyeglass cloth for plated jewelry, since it’s soft enough not to scratch through the plating. Regular polishing cloths, meanwhile, are best for solid silver and gold. For both kinds I recommend gently rubbing in a circular motion; rubbing too hard and in just one direction can create a shiny patch of metal.

Lastly, pick up a few small cloth bags for storing your pieces. Cloth bags, like the black velveteen ones I include with all my jewelry, are a great way to keep your jewelry together and to prevent scratching. Ideally, every piece of jewelry gets its own bag, or even better, upgrade to a cute monogrammed case like this one.

These few items, stowed away in a bathroom cabinet or in your travel bag, will get your jewelry looking great again in no time.

Taking Care of Your Sterling Silver

Sterling silver is a classic metal, and a matte finish makes it feel well-worn and well-loved. I’ve been using it more and more lately (have you spotted it in the Starscape Collection?), and love that solid, un-plated sterling silver is pretty easy to keep clean, too. 

Looking to freshen up your silver jewelry? Try these tips:

1. If it has a matte finish, lightly polish it with fine steel wool using circular motions. The steel wool mimics that matte finish while removing tarnish.

2. If it has a shiny finish, use a polishing cloth (my personal favorite is a blue Sunshine cloth for matte pieces and this yellow one for shiny pieces). Stones don’t like polishing cloths, though, so cover them up with your finger while you use the cloth.

3. To get into nooks and crannies, scrub it with a soft toothbrush and warm, soapy water. Always be sure to dry it well, because any wet spots will leave splotches.

4. Take off your jewelry before doing any household cleaning. Those chemicals can quickly tarnish the metal and harm any stones.

5. Wear it often. The natural chemicals in your skin actually help to keep it cleaner than when it’s stowed away.

Some pieces in the shop are plated sterling silver, so be sure you know the difference before you start scrubbing!

Any questions? Shoot me an email (sara@saragolden.com), I’m always happy to chat jewelry!

De-Stressing Holiday Travel

Holidays are a great reason to spend quality time with family, especially the ones you don’t see very often. Or maybe you prefer disappearing for a while, visiting remote locales where you can disconnect and recharge. Here are my favorite tips for minimizing the stress of getting there so you can spend more time actually enjoying your time away:

1
Try limiting yourself to one carry-on so you can skip baggage claim and get out of the airport fast. If you do need to check a bag, Tracy of Brunette Wine Bar recommends putting emergency supplies in your carry-on: a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a bathing suit; even if your luggage gets lost, your vacation’s not ruined.

2
If you’re like me and you can’t go anywhere without jewelry, bring a jewelry roll or travel case to protect your valuables. They’ve got dedicated spaces and pockets designed especially for jewelry, and they let you bring options (very, very important 😉).

3
My friend Amy recommends bringing small bags of candy for the airline counter, gate, and cabin crew on your next flight. You might be having a rough day, but they have to deal with everyone’s rough day. It’s a small gesture of thanks that can go a long way, and might results in occasional perks from grateful staff. 

4
Suysel of Tilton Fenwick recommends having a photo of your passport and license on your phone just in case something should happen to the real ones.

5
My friend Peter recommends looking into gym hours or workout classes at your hotel or near where you’re staying. The holidays are all about overeating and lazing about (mine are, at least), and a trip to the gym can help keep you feeling balanced.

Hope these tips help make your trips more enjoyable, and have a wonderful holiday!