My Aunt Pam used to say, “I’ll wear any color – as long as it’s black.” She was in the fashion business for years, and I suppose she felt the chicest and most comfortable in onyx. Last year, when she passed away, we discovered that Pam had 70 pairs of black pants in her closet! Her closet was a stark contrast to my own spectrum-filled wardrobe, where I’m lucky to find maybe two pairs of black pants that fit. Can I blame this on my mother, who wouldn’t let me wear black until I was over 13? Maybe. In truth, though…deep down, I really love color.

Like the jewelry I create, I adore mixing and matching colors, tones, and hues in my daily style. Maybe it’s the artist in me, but I’m always striving to create something exciting and beautiful, even if it’s a “simple” outfit. In the past, only royalty and aristocrats would wear lighter colors. This is because colorful clothes dirtied more quickly, so only the wealthy could afford to showcase bright clothing. It wasn’t until the 1930’s, with the rise of tourism and leisurewear, that chromatic clothes became more fashionable for everyone. With no shortage of finding colorful garments these days, I’ve collected a few favorite staples over the years – with a particular penchant for jackets. Two favorites? A two-toned, hot pink, star-studded one from Equipment and a bright green jacket from Veronica Beard (see below).

Of course, one of my favorite things when assembling any outfit is picking the jewelry to go with it!  Sometimes I love coordinating an outfit to match the gem’s hues, while other days, I’ll play colors against each other, using gemstones to counterbalance the shade of my clothes. Right now, my current obsession are the Blue/Green No. 2 earrings (from the Nomos II Collection). I love how mesmerizing mixing two totally different patterns can be. The strong colors of the azurite-malachite against the single thread of imperial blue of the bluebird azurite. Cue lots of blues, whites and greens on rotation right now!

If it’s a big gala, I always style myself around the jewels I want to wear – usually because I want to wear my most special piece(s) at the time. Whereas, if I’m going out for a casual dinner or cocktails, I’ll let my outfit of choice guide me to the best jewelry to pair with it. Evening BBQ? Well, the minimal Astro Ring stuns with its single, reflective, coppery stripe of astrophylite. Either way, I’m not going anywhere without a little sparkle!

While Aunt Pam’s signature look might’ve been all black, I feel most chic (and myself) when I wear anything but. Color helps me express not just my personal style but also my current mood, and who I am at my core.  It’s no secret that color has influenced human psychology and our emotions since the dawn of time.  Utilizing what specific colors represent in jewelry design is no exception. I encourage you to wear what makes you feel the most confident. But next time you’re shopping, go against your habitual color and try a bold red or vibrant green. Wearing something bright can be fun – even when you plan to pair it with black.