Let Me Tell You About the Time I Wore a Necklace to a Job Interview
Okay, so it was 2003. I was 24, stupid, and living in a tiny apartment in Brooklyn with three roommates named Marcus, Lisa, and Dave. I had this interview at a fancy magazine uptown, and I thought, “Hey, why not wear that chunky necklace my grandma gave me?”
Big mistake. The editor looked at me like I had three heads. “Honey,” she said, “this isn’t a rave. It’s a job interview.” And just like that, my jewelry dreams were crushed. Or so I thought.
Fast forward 20 years, and I’m the one giving the advice. And let me tell you, I’ve seen some things. The trends, the fads, the “oh my god, what were they thinking” moments. And honestly? I’m kinda tired of it all.
But here’s the thing: jewelry isn’t going anywhere. It’s not a fad. It’s not a trend. It’s a committment. A lifelong one. And if you’re gonna do it, you gotta do it right.
First of All, Stop Overcomplicating Things
Look, I get it. You wanna stand out. You wanna be unique. But honestly, sometimes less is more. I remember this one time, I was at a conference in Austin, and this woman walked in wearing enough rings to sink a ship. And I’m not exaggerating. She had rings on every finger, on both hands. And they were all different. And they were all clanking together like a one-woman band.
I asked her about it later, over coffee at the place on 5th. “I just love jewelry,” she said. “I can’t help myself.” Fair enough. But honestly? It was too much. It was overwhelming. It was a distraction.
So here’s my advice: pick one statement piece. One. Not five. Not ten. One. And build your look around that. Trust me, it’s gonna make a bigger impact than you think.
And while we’re on the subject, let’s talk about diy projects home decoration. I know, I know, it’s not jewelry. But hear me out. The same principles apply. You don’t need to fill every inch of your home with knick-knacks and trinkets. Sometimes, a single well-placed piece can make all the difference.
Secondly, Stop Chasing Trends
I’m gonna say something controversial here. Trends are overrated. They’re completley overrated. And honestly? They’re kinda stupid.
I remember this one time, back in 2008, everyone was wearing these giant, chunky bracelets. And I mean everyone. It was like a plague. And I thought, “Nope. Not gonna do it.” And you know what? I’m glad I didn’t. Because a year later, no one was wearing them anymore. They were out. They were done. They were over.
So here’s my advice: find your style. Stick to it. Don’t let trends dictate what you wear. Because at the end of the day, it’s your look. It’s your identity. It’s your succesfully curated collection of jewelry that tells a story about who you are.
Thirdly, Stop Being Afraid to Mix and Match
I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. I’m not a perfectionist. I’m not anal retentive. I’m not someone who obsesses over every little detail. And honestly? I think that’s a good thing.
Because sometimes, the best looks are the ones that are a little bit messy. A little bit imperfect. A little bit “I threw this together at the last minute.” And that’s okay. In fact, it’s more than okay. It’s kinda awesome.
So here’s my advice: don’t be afraid to mix and match. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Don’t be afraid to break the rules. Because at the end of the day, it’s your look. It’s your style. It’s your story.
And if anyone tells you otherwise, well, they can just suck it.
Finally, Stop Worrying So Much
I’m gonna say something else controversial here. Stop worrying so much about what other people think. Stop worrying so much about what’s “in” and what’s “out.” Stop worrying so much about what’s “trendy” and what’s “not.”
Because honestly? It’s exhausting. It’s physicaly and emotionally draining. And it’s not worth it. Not even a little bit.
So here’s my advice: wear what you love. Wear what makes you happy. Wear what makes you feel like the best version of yourself. And if anyone has a problem with it, well, they can just suck it. Because at the end of the day, it’s your life. It’s your look. It’s your story.
And nobody can take that away from you.
About the Author: Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m a senior magazine editor with 20+ years of experience. I’ve seen it all, done it all, and honestly? I’m still not sure I know what I’m doing. But here we are. And I’m gonna keep doing it. Because I love it. And I can’t imagine doing anything else.
When I’m not editing, you can find me drinking too much coffee, complaining about the state of the world, and trying to convince my cats that they need to wear tiny little sweaters. (They don’t. But a girl can dream, can’t she?)
Oh, and one more thing. I’m not perfect. I make mistakes. I say the wrong thing. I spell things wrong. (Seriously, autocorrect is the devil.) But I’m human. And I’m honest. And I’m here to tell you the truth, even if it’s not pretty. Even if it’s not what you wanna hear. Because someone’s gotta do it. And it might as well be me.
