How to Wear Colorful Necklaces Over 50 Without Looking Overdone
I tend to keep my jewelry pretty simple, so I didn’t expect colorful necklaces to be the thing waking up my outfits this spring. I bought one to try, loved it, added a few more, and then started playing with layering them. They add color, texture, and enough interest to make a simple outfit look more finished without making it feel like too much.
Since many of us already enjoy wearing color, this doesn’t feel like a big leap. It just feels like a fresh way to use it.
Why I’ve Been Reaching For Them
What I like most is how easy they are. A colorful necklace can wake up a white shirt, a striped top, a navy tee, or a simple dress in seconds. Sometimes an outfit isn’t wrong, exactly. It just looks a little flat. These fix that quickly.
They also add something near the face, which makes more of a difference than you’d think. It’s a small change, but it can shift the whole feel of an outfit.
I bought this LIzzie Fortunato Mood Necklace last year and have been wearing the daylights out of it so when I spotted the large costume pieces, they felt lke a possibility.
How to Style Colorful Necklaces With Everyday Outfits
Some days I wear one on its own, and other days I layer two together for a little more personality. One necklace looks clean and polished, while layering gives it a bit more presence. I try to keep some connection between them, whether that’s the color, the scale, or the overall feel, so it looks intentional instead of busy. And if the necklace is doing a lot, I like the rest of the outfit to stay fairly simple.
This day I layered 4 smaller necklaces in the same color family. When I took off my jacket and was just wearing a simple white tee, the necklaces were perfect!
Colorful Necklaces to Try
I pulled together a mix of colorful necklaces at different price points, from easy little try-it pieces to a few that feel a bit more special.
Under $50
If you’re just curious about this trend, this is where I’d start. These are easy pieces you can try out with what you already wear and see how you like that little bit of color. They’re simple, wearable, and just enough to make an outfit feel a little more interesting.
Under $100
You’ll start to see nicer details and materials here, but nothing that feels too precious for everyday use. You’ll also notice a few pieces from familiar brands I love, like Madewell, Talbots, and BaubleBar, which tells me this is one of those accessory trends that’s really catching on.
This Bauble Bar necklace was the one that started it all for me. The chunky size and vibrant colors are what attracted me. It’s very lightweight and comfortable to layer on. This is available in 17 colors so the possibilities are endless.
Over $100
If you’ve tried this trend and know you like it, this is where you might want to invest a bit more. These pieces tend to have better materials, a more thoughtful design that is just a little more elevated.
Colorful necklaces are an easy way to add a little more personality to what you wear, whether you choose one on its own or layer a couple together. And the nice thing is, this isn’t the kind of piece that suddenly looks dated. If you’ve had a beaded necklace tucked away in your jewelry box for years, it may be time to pull it back out.
Have you been wearing colorful necklaces this spring, or are you tempted to try them?
This is a very timely post for me as I have just bought a colourful necklace last weekend and am having fun wearing it with various outfits. it really perks them up!
A good spot at tines for inexpensive fun necklaces are thrift stores.
Yes, I agree
I love the Lizzie Fortunato mood necklaces. Great suggestion.
I’m going to pass on this trend. It doesn’t fit with my style. I like simple gold or silver jewelry.
Dorrie Jacobsen would approve. She says, “I always add a “statement piece” or two to every outfit. It may be a dramatic piece of jewelry, a hat, an unusual shoe or handbag or a splash of color. It changes constantly, but I always have something on that turns heads.”
I did not realize they were back in style – thanks for the post. I have several and will gladly put them in rotation. Thanks!
I love this update! Thank you!
Sharan
It’s funny, a couple years ago I took the beaded necklaces I had that were this style and unstrung them so I could use the beads in crafts projects! I guess I should take a look at those beads and restring them 🙂
That’s funny
All beautiful necklaces. You are right I’m sure we all have some of these in our jewelry boxes for sure.
Thanks for the reminder about jewelry! I was just putting away the pieces I took on a recent trip and it reminded me I need to go through my jewelry and purge what I don’t wear so I can see the pieces I will use!
Love your picks. I have one from a few years ago when Liz Claiborne stores were a thing and I wore it so much. I held onto it and am getting it out!
Awesome
Yup! Found it! From my mother’s 50’s jewelry but it’s a perfect blue tone, the most easy wear color. Also found some good earrings and a brooch…
I knew it. What fun!
Etsy.com has thousands of wonderful necklaces of this type, often at great prices. Put “large colored beaded choker necklace” in search box to get an idea.
Reading the description carefully, I see the Bauble Bar chunky Lapis necklace is made of large resin beads. The small spacers between are lapis. Buyers should be aware.
Lapis in the large size would be so expensive!
The multi-colored necklace from Evereve has been my most worn purchase of this Spring. It literally goes with everything! I get compliments every time I put it on.
Good to know! It’s great looking.
Great post! I have saved my chunky pearl choker necklaces from the 80s and 90s and can pair them with a more delicate chain necklace or leave as is. I may try one of the brighter colors, though, which will be very pretty for Spring and Summer.
I both dug out some old beaded necklaces and bought several of the Bauble Bar during the recent sale. (Fuchsia, malachite green and rainbow smaller beads – the dark brown large beaded necklace is stunning for someone who shines in that color). Speaking as a winter, here’s why I think they will work for me. We need contrast. I have a hard time finding my colors in spring and summer. The choices for winters, and much of my summer wardrobe, ends up being black, white, and navy. Frustrating. Add one of these necklaces and ba-bam, color, contrast and something interesting near the face. It’s a bit Wilma from the Flintstones, but maybe she was ahead of her time!
lol, great visual Shari and I love your point about the contrast.
The Lizzie Fortunato necklace and the brown-toned necklaces with varied colors and shapes are my favorites. For me, I think the very large uniformly-beaded necklaces make me feel like Wilma Flintstone!
lol!
I have a triple strand turquoise necklace that I will be digging out. It goes so well with so many plain tops and tees and really makes a monochromatic outfit less boring.
It sounds gorgeous
I have a few gathering dust from the 80’s to check out. I’m petite so they might make me look like Wilma Flintstone. Smaller beads would probably be better.
Apparently many of us have the same visual about Wilma 🙂