How To: Lengthen a Necklace

I love my braided Gemma Redux necklace.  It goes with nearly everything I own and is the perfect mix of gunmetal and bright silver. The only thing I sometimes wish, depending on what I am wearing, is that the necklace was a little longer. There are times when a longer necklace just looks better. Longer necklaces are slimming, a little more laid back, and are an interesting switch up from the omnipresent shorter necklace.

Today is one of those days. I threw on a very fitted black tank, a boyfriend cardigan, and skinny jeans and wanted the help of a long necklace to keep drawing the eye down and keep my proportions in check.

In a matter of minutes I found a simple solution and wanted to share this helpful trick with you. I know I'll be doing this a number of my necklaces this season!

Step one:
Choose your a short to mid-length necklace.

Step 2:
Measure out a piece of matching chain to the desired length and fold chain in half.

Step 3:
Loop the chain through one end of the neckace.

Step 4:
Guide a jump ring through the open ends of your extension chain. Guide the same jump ring through the other, clasped end of your necklace.

Step 5:
Cloe the jump ring for a finished look.

Here you have your longer necklace in 5 simple steps!

 Can you see yourself trying this trick at home?

How to: The Art of Layering

As the temperatures begin to drop, layering clothes is a fun and practical way to stay warm.  But layering isn't just for clothing. Layering accessories is right on trend for Fall. I love layering my jewelry, rarely wearing just one necklace, or one ring, or heaven forbid, one bracelet.  The trick to good layering is having your jewelry look cohesive but not overly planned. It's a fine line, ladies.

Necklaces
I am a big fan of keeping layered necklaces simple. While a mess of bracelets can look cool and edgy, I find that a jumble of necklaces can be over powering and can quickly turn from perfectly layered to messy and distracting. I like to layer two or three dainty necklaces in the same base metal for a look that's decidedly clean, cool, and crisp.

Rings
One of my favorite ways to layer jewelry is with rings. I am definitely a ring girl, feeling naked without at least one special bauble on my fingers. My favorite look right now is layering a bunch of thin bands. You can easily mix metals for modern look and wearing first knuckle rings is also right on trend. A fan of bigger, statement rings? Keep your cocktail ring on one hand while layering thinner rings on the other hand.

The "Arm-Party"
Perhaps the most beloved body part to layer, arm parties have taken 2012 by storm. You can't find a blogger who hasn't mastered the art of the arm-party. Perhaps the easiest pieces of jewelry to layer, stacking bracelets is hard to mess up. Almost anything goes - mixed metals, bright colors, too many bracelets to focus on...  Start with a focal piece and then continue to add different textures and colors for an interesting combination.

How to: Choose an Engagement Ring

Your engagement ring will likely be the most important piece of jewelry you'll receive in your entire life. This is serious stuff! You will wear this ring every day for the rest of your life (God willing!).  For this reason, you need your chosen ring to suit your style and personality.  For example, if you tend to dress casually on a day-to-day basis, you don't want an overly ornate ring.  If you're super modern and edgy, a classic ring may seem boring or dull to you.  And vice versa, if you have a classic style, stick with the classics! I can't stress enough that you want your ring to reflect your personality and style.

Classic:
If your celebrity icon is Audrey Hepburn, Gwyneth Paltrow, or Kate Middleton, than your style might be best described as "classic."  Preferring tailored looks and simple yet coiffed hair, your best bet is to go with a classic, timeless ring like the Tiffany Setting engagement ring.  This ring features a solitaire round cut diamond ring that stands the test of time. Since its creation over a century ago, the Tiffany Setting has been a favorite in the engagement ring world.

Romantic:
Do you prefer whimsical, light fabrics, blush tones, and loosely tousled hair?  If this sounds like you, you might be a romantic.  Look for a ring with a pretty setting, like Scarlett Johansson's stunner from Ryan Reynolds. Scarlett's ring featured an oval diamond set on an intertwined gold band.  Tacori has a similar twisted band version for you romantics!

Vintage:
Similar to Romantic engagement rings, yet more ornate, vintage rings are perfect for gals who wish they grew up in a different decade and have the style to prove it.  Vintage rings often include some etching in the metal of ring and have multiple diamonds. Either composed of cluster and swirls of smaller diamonds or having more than one feature diamond, these rings are as interesting to the eye as the stories behind them. 

Modern:
If you're a modern woman with the most current styles, think, Rachel Bilson, Jessica Alba, and Blake Lively, than a modern ring will suit your fresh style best. Modern rings feature clean lines, are usually solitaires, and tend to be square or rectangular. The emerald cut engagement ring would be perfect for your modern sense of style.

Casual:
Are you a Lululemon kind of lady? Do you consider wearing jeans dressing up? Then you my sporty friend, are a casual cat.  A big sparkly diamond may look out of of place with your hoodie and sneakers. Or it may not! If you're casual but still want a big glitzy rock, go for it! But I am guessing something a little more subdued will make you feel more comfortable and at ease.  There are lots of pretty bands out there today, like this one from Birks, that can double as engagement ring. Take a page from Jennifer Garner's book and rock a simple, yet breathtaking band as your daily ring.

Colorful:
If a regular diamond is too run of the mill for you, than you may take after Divas like Jennifer Lopez, Carrie Underwood, and Jessica Simpson.  Never one to blend into the crowd, your style is most likely colorful, unique, and never subtle. If this sounds like you, a colorful diamond might be the right choice for you. Jennifer Lopez went pink with Ben Affleck before trading it in for a blue diamond from Marc Anthony.  Carrie Underwood dons a yellow diamond from her hockey beau, and an engaged Jessica Simpson is rocking a bright red Neil Lane Ruby ring, flanked by two diamonds.

Tell me, what style do you relate to most? For the record, I think I am a mix between romantic and modern. 

Here I am nearly 5 years ago with my beauty of a ring that my husband picked out all on his own.  You can buy it here.

And since I was searching for ring photos, I threw together a few shots of the big day. Enjoy!