There’s something about gold. It absorbs lamplight and candlelight and the dirty glow of a bar and bounces it back warmer, richer and more flattering against your skin. That right there is reason enough to break it out after dark. But beyond that, a good gold necklace for night is different from a necklace you wear in the daytime. Daytime pieces tend to be more delicate, finer and fade onto the wearer. At night, when you’re going out with friends or on a date, you want your chain to stand out. Maybe that’s a bold link necklace, maybe it’s a pendant with some actual heft to it or maybe it’s an entire stack of gold coins tumbling down your torso with every move you make.
Craftsmanship matters more than most think. Cheap plated necklace will lose its luster under dim lighting and begin to look green by the time you’ve had your first drink. Solid gold or high quality vermeil will stay true to color long after last call. Take the time to inspect how the clasp lays once it’s secured. Do the links lie flat against your collarbone or twist as you move? Is the pendant weighted properly so it doesn’t spin around on the chain. Those are details that are tell tale signs of jewellery that will look as good wrapped around your body as it does on the store’s modelling hand as compared to pieces that will actually stay beautiful while you’re dancing, throwing back drinks, leaning in for a conversation or laughing with friends.
Choosing what to wear underneath is easy. Pick something that allows your necklace to do the heavy lifting. A strapless, sweetheart or halter top dress are all great options. If you go with a boat or skinny strap dress, you’ll only want one statement piece sitting right above your collarbone. It shouldn’t have to compete with other jewellery. The opposite applies for higher necklines, like crew necks or tops unbuttoned too many buttons. These types of outfits allow your jewelry to drape longer, hanging below your collarbone. Layering 3-4 thin chains that are slightly different lengths will look more curated than one thick chain. They’re also great if you’re wearing a solid black dress or suit and your neck is essentially your only jewelry bearing bodice.
Gold after dark is your opportunity to let those low lighting situations work for you. Dinner dates, celebrating at parties, any event past 7pm that could use a little extra glamour. That doesn’t mean it’s made for daytime wear. Turn that same piece on during the day and it can come off looking bulky and desperate. Like I said before, I recommend you treat your gold evening necklaces as you would another one of your closets. An outfit you specifically choose to wear when you know the lighting will make it shine instead of something you threw on in the morning.
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