Jess Cartner-Morley
Fashion editor of The Guardian
The guru of all things stylish; Jess Cartner-Morley shares with Astley Clarke her love of designer jewellery and her top 10 rules everyone should know about wearing it - Very sensible advice from one who knows.
In the ritual of getting dressed - and most especially in the ritual of getting dressed to kill - there are three elements which are more intimate, more personal, and more powerfully seductive than even the perfect LBD or the most heart-stopping pair of Louboutins. Namely, your lingerie, your perfume, and last but by no means least, your jewellery.
Your new frock might be the first thing people notice when you walk into a room, but the things they will remember you by are likely to be quite different.
or women who love fashion but who would never be its victim - who dress to reflect their own life, personality and style rather than to look like a reflection of every mannequin in that weekend's boutique windows - designer jewellery is one of the most deeply pleasurable and personal things to shop for and to wear. Earrings and necklaces draw attention to your eyes, your mouth, your throat, shining the spotlight on you rather than on your outfit. Rings are a symbol of love that we understand from our first fairytale. The sparkle and shine of precious metals and gemstones have an ancient thrill of treasure - even when your new jewels are a It's-Friday-and-I'm-worth-it lunchtime trinket rather than any kind of heirloom.
It could be a hint of scent caught during a kiss on the cheek; the intriguing I've-got-a-secret aura that comes with wearing a really fabulous La Perla set; the way your cocktail rings catch the light when you run your hands through your hair.
There is no point going to a dinner party wearing a fabulous skirt: no-one will see it. Above-the-table dressing is what matters, and there is no more failsafe formula than a flattering, dark-coloured top and some really gorgeous designer jewellery.
Wearing oversized chandelier earrings has the same wow-factor as wearing a floor-length dress, but without impeding your dancing and being likely to result in a broken ankle when you try and walk down stairs.
Everything your grandmother told you is absolutely true:
pearl jewellery is hugely flattering to the complexion and layering varying length pendants with multiple strings of pearls is a sure way to be on trend this season.
Diamond jewellery looks better and better as you get older.
Diamonds and white hair - that's how you grow old gracefully.
All the old rules about not wearing silver jewellery and gold jewellery together are just that - old. If it looks pretty, wear it.
For some reason, men find hoop earrings really sexy. I don't know why this is but it's a fact.
Fashionistas are obsessed with layering right now. Unless you are seven stone, layering knitwear will make you look as if you are either (a) porky or (b) a shoplifter. Wearing two necklaces of different lengths together, however, looks very modern and has no such dubious connotations.
If you work at a computer, wearing nice rings and bracelets will bring you pleasure all day, because you see them.
You don't have to be a style extrovert to enjoy beautiful designer jewellery. Discreet gems and fine chains can be just as gorgeous as the statement stuff.
When you are in the habit of wearing nice jewellery, people will give you jewellery as presents. Which is a good thing.