Opulent Gems

CEBU, Philippines - The holiday season is officially here and I can’t help but grin thinking that the holiday is a very good excuse to dress up and end the year with a big bang of parties. One trend that never seems to go out of style during this gem of a season is the trend on jewel tones—which is, by the way, a personal favorite.

Jewel-tone pieces never fail to add a touch of class and elegance without looking Adams-family drab. After all, we gotta give the LBD it’s much deserved Christmas break, too. Besides, the holidays is too festive a season to stick with pieces that play around black, gray, white, and anything in between those three shades.

Christmas is about highlighting deep, rich colors that speak a lot about abundance and prosperity without crossing over to the harlequin level.

Here are some top tips in donning jewel-tone pieces without looking TH (trying hard):

Keep it simple

Make the jewel tone piece your statement piece. This means that it is highly essential to keep the rest of your outfit clean, sleek, and simple. If you’re already wearing a sapphire mini dress, you can forget about putting on killer heals in several splashes of color. Instead, a pair of sapphire strappy heels that don’t call for too much attention will do. 

Color Combos

Jewel tones are lush and rich so in layering colors, it’s best to tread with caution. Be particular of the kind of textile being used and make sure that your jewel tones of choice have the same level of saturation otherwise, you’re better off sticking to one color instead. You’ll never go wrong with complementary colors like a deep amethyst violet with accents of topaz.

Bags and Shoes

The general rule for bags and shoes applies even to jewel tones. For starters, make sure your bag and your shoes are a perfect match—same shade, same saturation, same texture. An emerald clutch paired with emerald heels will definitely pull an outfit together and this combo can serve as your statement piece as well.

Bling

Cocktail rings are often hot holiday accessories owing to their air of opulence. Bejeweled bangles in a complementary stack or a single statement necklace featuring a huge precious stone can up the ante for any humdrum outfit in the closet. Just be very careful in choosing the kind of statement neckpiece otherwise your friend might mistake it as bato ni Darna.

Jewel tones are a great way to stand out without calling in too much attention. This is a perfect balance between being strong and being subdued. Jewel tones are very tricky but most of the time, the key to being able to get the look of your choice is to be experimental about it—just do your best not to look like an 80s aerobics instructor unless it’s for a costume party.