Jewelry Wardrobe Essentials

[Viola]

Great list, ladies. It really does help me.

For the watch people, how do you feel about leather bands vs. metal? Silver-tone vs. gold tone? Pearl/diamond accents? Inquiring minds want to know.

I loved pins at my last job because I felt like they took so much attention OFF the plain button down blouses or plain black tees (yes, I know, but I was considered rather formally dressed by the office) that they and some scarves and cardigans made my wardrobe look way more expansive than it really was.

I've been looking at these Art Deco-inspired pieces, some of them are really cute

[Sharpsburg]

I am trying to put together a basic "everyday" wardrobe for my WWII civilian reenactments. I typically portray a 30-40s lower middle class woman (worker). Can anyone suggest the kind of earrings such a woman might wear. Even my 1942 sears catalog provided few suggestions. They sold more engaement rings. I now wear screw type fake pearls that my mom wore in those years, but i'd love some other options!

Thanks!

[Viola]

My grandmother, who was working class to lower middle class, wore earrings like these and other styles that did not dangle but weren't just pearls or "diamond" solitares. A lot of them were costume jewelry.

Big, not dangly. Not quiet little styles, in my grandmother's case anyway.

[LizzieMaine]

Exactly -- big and colorful button types, often made from plastic or bakelite or such materials, were very popular among the earring-wearing women of the time. Dangly styles were for evening wear, and they generally weren't as big and gaudy as you see today.

[LinaSofia]

Oh, and everybody needs a scotty dog pin. It is required. I got mine when I was a little girl, and I still wear it.

I agree!! A scotty dog pin is invaluable! They add a touch of fun to any outfit.

My list of essential jewellery would definitely include:

a fun, quirky brooch for daytime wear - a scotty dog one is ideal!
And a fancier brooch for evening wear - could be in a precious metal or just costume with rhinestones. Anything that dresses up an outfit.
A pair of formal stud earrings, pearls, "diamond" studs or silver and marcasite ones are ideal and go with anything and can be worn in the daytime or evening.
A pair of fun informal earrings - brightly-coloured bakelite hoops for example.
A classic string of pearls.
A silver chain and assorted pendants. And if you like, a gold equivalent.
I don't think a bracelet/bangle is essential, but it's nice to add an extra touch - a rhinestone one for evening and a colourful bakelite for daytime, perhaps.

I think it's essential to have a selection of a). classic, inobtrusive, tasteful jewellery and b). costume jewellery (or otherwise) with impact, fun and glamour! And hopefully know when one is appropriate and not the other!!

[Wire9Vintage]

Just another vote for the classic pearls. Single strand, with some pearl studs, for so many women was/is the only jewelry ever needed. Pearls with an evening gown or pearls with a sweater set... it's all good.

I would add some simple gold hoops in about a half-inch size. My great grandmother had these, my grandmother had these, my mother had these and bought me some when I was a teenager. These were/are the real everyday jewelry among the women in my family...and about the only gold jewelry other than wedding rings any of us have/had.

[Tatum]

Yep, pearls, definitely.

Another thing I have found helpful (maybe just me) is having a black necklace. Onyx, glass, whatever, but it allows a black belt and black shoes when I don't have shoes or a belt that are perfectly "matchy matchy" for the outfit in question

[kymeratale]

While we are on about pearls (which I agree with BTW) I have a question. I have 2 sets of double strand (one from each Grandmother) that I hardly ever wear becasue they twist around each other and look dumb. The both have clasps like this one, with the little prongs that fit in the little box. Any tips for why they are doing this and how to stop it?

[Miss Sis]

Diamonds go with everything, darling....

[Land-O-LakesGal]

For me a list includes
1. Sweater Guards (or clips as many now call them)
2. Bakelite or fakelite- earings, bracelets, brooches
3. Rhinestones- necklace, earings, brooches
4. Pearls- earings, necklace
5. Brooches-many

I don't do rings and watches as I work with my hands too much