ISABEL SPEARMAN WHY IT WORKS
A little sparkle goes a long way in a corporate setting
QI love wearing jewellery, but I’m not sure how much is appropriate for the office; what should I be looking for?
AWhile on holiday I can’t resist colourful statement jewellery, when it comes to the office, less is definitely more. Earrings are the easiest way to accessorise, sometimes with a simple necklace but more often on their own. I’m not a fan of the large chunky necklace (sorry, Mrs May) as I think it detracts from you and what you’re wearing, as do jangling bracelets.
For everyday, I recommend developing a uniform of sorts. Christine Lagarde loves her pearls, Hillary Clinton sticks to large stud earrings, and Amal Clooney wears small drop diamonds for work engagements. Personally, I like gold hoops. I have a few different sizes to suit different necklines; the higher the collar, the smaller the hoop. Buy two or three options of your favourite style to mix and match with your wardrobe.
There’s a brilliant selection of British jewellery brands with reasonable price points that can be bought online and tried at home. Most brands offer their classic styles in yellow gold and silver, as so many of us have a preference for one or the other. Missoma is one of my favourites, really wearable and a little bit different to what you’d usually find on the high street. The Molten hoops are the perfect example of this and I have a pair in
each size. Dinny Hall’s Wave or Bamboo hoops are good options too, and also come in rose gold, which can be harder to find. If you want a bit more sparkle, err on the side of elegance with simple studs or small drops. Astley Clarke’s Mini Icon Aura studs come in rose, white and yellow gold, and for diamond earrings they are well priced.
I’ve recommended Monica Vinader’s moonstone earrings to many clients and they really do suit everyone. The creamy white stone is the perfect complement to a white shirt and navy suiting. You can choose from studs or drops – I love the Petra drops as they’re a good size without making too much of a statement.
If you love a bit of colour then go for the green onyx. Finally, pearls have had a comeback recently, with designers offering modern updates. And if they’re good enough for the (très chic) managing director of the IMF, they’re good enough for me.