Necklace Layering: How To Pull Off This Trendy Look

Use Stacking Jewelry to Complement Your Summer Fits

At Maharaja’s, we love jewelry just as much as our customers do, so we’re always looking for ways to stay on top of the hottest jewelry trends to keep our customers stylish and in fashion. We are especially interested in trends that help our customers make the most of their jewelry. 
Layering or ‘stacking’ jewelry is a trend that has been skyrocketing in popularity, and it's sure to be a hot look this summer. It offers plenty of flexibility and room to experiment with your personal style. Best of all, it's a look that's easy to achieve: all you need is a trusted local jeweler and a few tips from this style guide. 
In this article, we’ll talk about:

How to Build A Collection of Layering Necklaces

How to Stack Necklaces into a Curated Look

FAQs About Necklace Layering

Curating Your Collection of Layered Necklaces

Start by going into your jewelry collection and brainstorming ideas about how to combine your various pieces. Make notes about what pieces you’ve got that might make a good focal point if paired with others, as well as what kind of basics you have–for instance, simple chains or pendants.
Take note of which metals you have as well. If you’re interesting in curating matching stacks, you’ll want to make sure you have enough pieces in the same color. You may also want to start with a favorite piece to work around as a centerpiece. As you start shopping around for more necklaces, keep the following in mind:

Necklace Lengths

To create a dynamic and well-balanced stack of layered necklaces, you will certainly need a number of different necklace lengths. Here are a few of the most commonly worn necklace lengths. Keep in mind that everyone’s neck is different, and this is just a generalization. It’s always a good idea to visit your local jewelry store and try some pieces on for yourself. 
Chokers: Chokers sit snugly around the middle of your neck. Despite their name, a well-fitting choker should not be uncomfortable in any way. There are many styles of chokers including chain chokers, pearl chokers and more.
16 inch necklaces: Typically, 16 inch necklaces fall at about the base of the neck.
20 inch necklaces: These necklaces are about collarbone-length.
24 inch necklaces: 24 inch necklaces usually fall around the top of the chest. These are a great option for the statement piece in your stack, with plenty of room for a pendant or a medallion.

 Necklace Types

 Beyond different necklace lengths, it’s important to add different necklace types to your stack, too. Begin with simple chains to ensure you always have some pieces to anchor your look. Here are a few other popular necklace types you may want to consider.
 Pearl necklaces: Pearl necklaces are versatile and can be paired with almost anything, much like simple gold and silver chains. They come in various lengths and sizes, with some featuring large pearls for a bolder look and others featuring small pearls for a more minimalist style.
 Bar necklaces: Bar necklaces are named after their simple vertical or horizontal bar pendant at the end of a chain. The bars can be plain, three-dimensional, studded with gemstones, patterned, or even engraved. If you want to customize your necklace collection, bar necklaces are an excellent choice.
 Paperclip necklaces: Paperclip necklaces are a type of chain necklace that features paperclip-shaped links instead of the traditional small, tightly-knit links. They can elevate your everyday outfits and add a unique touch to your layered necklaces.
 Medallions and chains: Medallion and pendant necklaces both feature a piece of jewelry hanging from the end of a chain. The primary difference is that medallions are circular, while pendants can come in many different shapes. Medallion and pendant necklaces are perfect for being the centerpiece of your layered necklace look.

 Metal Types

 An old piece of fashion advice claims that you should never mix metals, but we disagree. Modern jewelry tastemakers frequently pair metals of different colors to create incredible looks with just the right amount of clash.
Gold layered necklaces: Layered gold necklaces are perhaps the most popular pieces to incorporate into a stack. The best part is that you can choose from various shades of gold, including white gold, rose gold, and the classic yellow gold.
Silver layered necklaces: If you’re layering on a budget, silver is less expensive than gold, but just as stunning. Sterling silver is a long-lasting and attractive metal. With proper care, it will not dull or tarnish. 

Let’s Layer that Look

 Though there are no hard-and-fast rules in fashion, a few guidelines will help you create a show-stopping layered necklace set. These tips will ensure you end up with a curated, cohesive aesthetic. 

Avoid Overdoing It

 This is certainly a look that encourages you to pour it on thick, but that doesn't mean you need to wear your entire jewelry box. A little bit of restraint and thought helps make this style come off deliberate, rather than thrown together. 

Start With The Basics

To prevent your stacked necklaces from looking cluttered or overwhelming, it's recommended to incorporate a few simpler pieces into the mix. These can include basic chains, paperclip chains, smaller pearl necklaces, or necklaces with minimalistic details like slender bars. It's important to keep in mind that if all of your necklaces are bold and attention-grabbing, they may end up competing with each other. Simple pieces can be just as beautiful and can complement your statement pieces by allowing them to stand out

Spice It Up

Once you’ve got your basics down, it’s time to add some contrast and visual interest. There are a number of ways to achieve a dynamic look. Combine different styles and chain types, and create variation among your chain thicknesses. Be sure to use necklaces of different lengths to help showcase the entire layered effect–you don’t want your necklaces crowding each other.
Don’t be afraid to add a splash of color, a unique textured piece, or a bold statement pendant to the mix to really pull it all together. Consider building your necklace stack around a specific theme. Maybe your necklace stack could be built around a focal point, like a prominent pendant or a statement necklace.
If you want to really stand out, layered pearl necklaces are a sophisticated choice. By layering pearls you can create a cascading effect that’s sure to make you the belle of the ball. There’s a reason pearls have been loved and sought after for thousands of years.
Finally, if you’re having trouble coming up with a layered necklace look on your own, you can always visit a local jeweler and invest in a layered necklace set. Many jewelers carry silver and gold layered necklace sets, which make it effortless to create layered looks.

FAQ

How To Measure Necklace Length

If you buy a necklace in a jewelry store, it should be labeled with its length. But, it’s easy to measure the length of your necklaces at home if need be. First, unhook the necklace and lay it out in a straight line on a flat surface. Then, use a ruler or measuring tape to measure it from end to end. 

How To Layer Necklaces Without Tangling

The best way to keep your necklaces from tangling is with a necklace spacer. Necklace spacers, also called necklace separators, feature multiple hooks spaced apart. This way, you can clip each necklace into a different set of rings and the separator will keep them from falling into one another and snagging. 

How To Layer Chains

Add some visual variety to a stack of chains by layering chains of different gauges and colors. There are also plenty of different link styles to play with, including tight-knit, fluid herringbone links, paperclip links and Cuban links. 

Have Fun with Layered Jewelry at Maharaja’s, Your Panama City Jewelry Store!

We hope you enjoyed our discussion of layered and stacked jewelry styles. Our last and most important recommendation is to have fun with it! Making your jewelry your own and trying it out in new and interesting ways is the best part of being a collector–the process should always bring you joy.
Now that you have an idea of what makes a stunning layered necklace set, we invite you to visit our Panama City jewelry store. At Maharaja’s, our expert staff can start to discuss your ideas in detail. Together we can build you the perfect layered look.