How To Wear Jewellery

Published on 09/11/09

When does a good thing become too much of a good thing?

A recent episode of Dancing with the Stars provides a clue.

Carrie Ann Inaba appeared on the show wearing a diamond and platinum bracelet, ring and diamond and platinum drop earrings, all by Neil Lane.

If she had stopped there things would have been fine. The spectacular diamond ring spanned one and a half fingers. On the other arm was the Art Deco-inspired diamond and platinum bracelet at a cool 30 carats and $150,000. And framing Inaba's pretty smile were triple teardrop earrings, set with 6 briolette diamonds totalling 15 carats and $75,000.

For reasons known only to Inaba, or her stylist, a large pearl brooch of unknown origin was also pinned to her shimmery white dress and a necklace draped down to her décolletage.

These latter two pieces, while attractive in their own right, were unnecessary. And with so many substantial pieces competing for attention, it's impossible for the eye to find a place to rest.

It was Coco Chanel who said, "Elegance is refusal." Get dressed, she said, then remove one thing. In this case, two would have done the trick.