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Fine Jewelry

How To Style Jewelry With Knitwear This Fall

From chunky necklaces to standout earrings, eye-catching jewelry adds a directional touch to cozy knits

With knitwear season upon us, ANNABEL DAVIDSON seeks out the jewels that sit best with sweaters, cardigans and more

Fashion editor Haajira Muzzamil
Jewelry & Watches
A fan of thin layers? Stack delicate chains to add interest. More into chunky sweaters? Sport one statement piece to keep the look chic

Knitwear – be it whisper-thin cashmere or the chunkiest yarn around – may not seem like the perfect pairing with jewelry, but it can be. As much as a sun-kissed glow really brings out the gleam of gold, so too can a rolled-up cardigan sleeve make a diamond tennis bracelet sparkle. It’s just about getting the balance right – here’s how…

Over or under

A pendant on a fine chain – like Mateo’s lapis lazuli ‘Flip’ necklace – needs a little contrast. It would look hopeless over a very chunky knit (never strain a skinny chain) but, glinting against your skin under Khaite’s cashmere ‘Scarlet’ cardigan, it’s spot on. If you want to wear some jewelry over a chunky knit, such as an oversized turtleneck from The Row or a jacquard knit from Bottega Veneta, you’ve got to fight fire with fire. That means super-strong, super-bold chains by Lauren Rubinski or styles with oversized links and jumbo pendants, like Foundrae’s ‘Love Token’ necklaces.

Go long

While a delicate little necklace might not make much impact over a sweater, a long one works well. Foundrae’s ‘Wholeness’ necklace is a masterpiece in 18-karat recycled gold, while Marie Lichtenberg’s ‘Eye XL Orb’ pendant is big and bold enough to swing over a cozy cardi. Last, but by no means least, Gemella’s ‘Stella’ necklace hangs right down the sternum, with a diamond-set bead that can be adjusted to suit your cardigan’s neckline.

One is never enough

If anything can handle a #neckmess, it’s winter wool. Suzanne Kalan makes working layering necklaces a breeze by doing the layering for you – the 18-karat gold multi-strand necklace is tipped with diamond-dusted rondelles and is long enough to be wrapped around twice. Elsewhere, Los Angeles-based Jacquie Aiche uses hard stones (think lapis lazuli, opal and vivid tourmaline) as well as diamonds to create pendants steeped in symbolism. Its ‘Mini Crescent Moon’ necklace is the perfect way to add meaning and scintillation to your stack.

Lift pared-back knitwear with one bold piece of jewelry

Smooth settings

Any knitwear-lover worth their salt knows that the prongs and sharp corners of rings can be ruthless when it comes to tugging on a yarn. The best rings to pair with your knitwear are smooth and flat, without a tiny metal hook in sight. Yvonne Léon’s vintage-inspired signet rings are just the thing: tiny and sweet, they can handle all the sweater pulling on and off you throw at them. The same goes for Spinelli Kilcollin’s multi-hoop rings – the stones are set flush in the metal to provide sparkle without snagging.

Update an all-black outfit with chunky cuffs or oversized pearl studs

Cuff love

Cuff bracelets worn over sweaters look effortlessly chic. Whether they’re positioned on your wrist, on the bicep or holding the sleeves of a cardigan at the forearm, they just need to be bold enough to make an impact. Carolina Bucci’s wide ‘Florentine’ cuff will easily hold its own, while unique shapes by Anita Ko and David Yurman will add dimension to a curated set. The juxtaposition of wool and jewels has never looked cooler.

KNITS TO KNOW

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