We often think about jewellery as an accessory: something we choose to complement an outfit, mark an occasion, or add a finishing touch.

But jewellery can do something much more interesting.

It can tell a story about who we are.

And perhaps even more importantly, it can express the different sides of who we are.

Who are you when no one is looking?

We all move through the world differently depending on where we are and who we are with.

At work, we might be confident and decisive. With friends, playful and spontaneous. At home, quiet and reflective.

We can be both:

• introverted and sociable,
• traditional and adventurous,
• rational and emotional,
• understated and expressive,
• etc...

These contradictions aren't necessarily things we need to resolve. They are part of what makes us who we are.

The question is: how do we express them?

Jewelry as another language

Before we speak, we communicate through what we wear.

Colour, shape, texture, proportion and material all send signals. Jewellery is part of this visual language.

A delicate piece might feel quiet and intimate. A sculptural necklace can be bold and assertive. An unusual material can suggest curiosity and individuality. A familiar heirloom can connect us to our past.

There is no single correct way to wear jewellery.

There is only the way that feels like you.

And sometimes, the most interesting choice is the one that doesn't fit neatly into a category.

Finding your jewellery style

Finding your personal jewellery style isn't necessarily about following trends or deciding whether you are a "minimalist" or a "maximalist."

It can begin with something much simpler:

What do I want to express?

Perhaps you are drawn to pieces that are quiet and architectural. Perhaps you love colour and movement. Maybe you want something unexpected. Or perhaps you are attracted to an object simply because something about it makes you feel different when you wear it.

Pay attention to those reactions.

Look at the materials, shapes and colours you repeatedly choose. Notice what you reach for when you want to feel confident, when you want to feel elegant, or when you want to stand out.

Your jewellery style doesn't have to be fixed.

Just as we change, it can change with us.

There is no wrong expression

One of the things we love about art is that we don't necessarily ask whether a work is "right."

We ask how it makes us feel.

We allow for different interpretations, different tastes and different ways of seeing.

Jewelry can be approached in the same way.

There is no universal definition of what is beautiful, sophisticated or appropriate. A piece doesn't have to appeal to everyone to have meaning.

In fact, perhaps the most interesting jewellery is the jewelry that reveals something personal.

A contradiction.

A memory.

A mood.

A part of yourself that you don't always show.

What side of yourself would you wear?

The next time you choose a piece of jewellery, perhaps ask yourself a different question.

Not:

“Does this go with my outfit?”

But:

“What does this allow me to express?”

Maybe it's your adventurous side. Your softer side. Your rebellious side. Your connection to your heritage. Your love of nature. Your desire to be seen.

Because jewellery doesn't have to define us.

It can simply give us another language through which to express the many different versions of ourselves.

And there is no wrong way to speak that language.