a layered approach

Givenchy pandora, Eileen Fisher cardigan

Whew, it’s been a busy week…(and in my head, I’m finishing that sentence with “…in Lake Wobegon.” In Garrison Keillor’s voice). We moved our offices at the beginning of the week, which gave me the opportunity to clear out about 14 years’ worth of accumulated junk, and start with a clean, uncluttered space. We’re still within the same building but now on a different floor, with a fresh new build-out. New furniture, new carpeting, new air conditioning system….which still needs a bit of calibration. While the warm weather has continued in LA (low to mid-80’s F) It’s been so chilly cold in the office that by day three, I’d even gone past this level of layering and had resorted to the Drastic Measures…a lightweight wool sweater and a scarf.

French Kande jewelry, Givenchy bag

I love the look of layered necklaces, which become the focal point of this simple outfit. The two above are both from the French Kande “Concorde” collection, which I think is one of her best yet. The shorter necklace has strands of Swarovski crystals that add a nice bit of sparkle. The longer necklace (c/o French Kande) has a black-coated “Rex” medallion and black jasper beads. The bracelet is from an earlier collection. Those blue beads are sodalite, and coordinate beautifully with denim.

short necklace | long necklace | tank | cardigan (similar)  | bracelet | bag (similar) | jeans | shoes (similar)

I purchased this bag in Paris in early summer, and though I’ve worn it, haven’t yet featured in an outfit post. (It’s not always the case, but this particular bag was priced considerably lower in France than here in the States, and stronger dollar while we there helped too.)

Do you layer your necklaces or wear singly? Do you plan your outfits around a focal point?

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36 Comments

  1. I love the long necklace, with the black medallion. It really dresses up a simple black and white outfit, doesn’t it? Love black and white with jeans, too. I’m in sympathy with the air conditioning woes. At our school, the air con and heat were all centrally controlled, from the school board office, according to specific dates. So if we had a cool September, we froze until they turned off the cool air. It was okay while teaching because we moved around a lot. But for sitting at our desks, we all had big bulky sweaters on our chairs. Our building manager could do little to make things more bearable. He even began to call our heating and cooling system “Christine.”

    1. susan, thank you! Yes, I think this black medallion is really distinctive. And I LOL’d at “Christine.” Too funny. (And now I have “Bad to the Bone” earworm.)

  2. I love looking at your jewelry and hope you keep adding to your collection, as they say, “Jewelry takes people’s minds off your wrinkles”. Not that you have many wrinkles. 🙂 Unfortunately I am not loving the Givenchy hanging off your arm. It doesn’t do much for the outfit, perhaps it is the color, shape or style. What does it look like being held with the other strap? Maybe this is a time when you could dye the leather. I know, crazy to think of messing with a designer bag…. I do love your red Ines bag and Brahmin.

  3. Your layered necklaces add so much punch. I think I’ve spotted your sodalite bracelet before– love it

    I do layer my necklaces, constantly. Sometimes I like to do it within a “theme”, like the color white. I’ll wear a chain that alternates steel links with white agate links, then a coin pearl and silver chain, and for whimsy, a long slender chain with a tiny owl pendant watch– the face of the watch is white, so it ties in.

    Or, I have an oval Sleeping Beauty turquoise pendant on a thin chain, worn with a long strand of tiny, vintage looking crystal beads of various muted gemstone colors, looped around and around.

    Sentimental favorites will often be “layered” in, like my beloved collection of various silver crosses– an organic Robert Lee Morris silver cross goes with everything…

    1. nell, thanks! I think layering in sentimental favorites with current pieces is a great way to create a very individual look.

  4. I love layering necklaces as well. I always look at your handbags with interest, (tinged with envy.) I would collect more if my apartment’s closet was larger — I bet I would enjoy taking a peek at yours. 😉 — French Girl in Seattle

  5. Nice! Those are beautiful French Kande pieces and love your new bag–I was just thinking about your Givenchy bag last night (instead of sleeping)….looks good for travel.

    1. sybes1, thank you! Yes, the black version of this bag has been an excellent travel bag, and I’ll probably use this one for travel as well.

  6. I have been layering jewelry for a very long time. People used to ask me why I wore two or three necklaces or two or three bracelets and I usually answered that I couldn’t make up my mind so I wore them all! I believe in the “Feel Good Policy”, which goes something like this, I get dressed, put on my jewelry and look in the mirror, if I Feel Good I go out the door, if something doesn’t click I remove one thing. And you look stunning, as always!

  7. Great look on you. Nothing beats black and white with jeans! I’ve always layered necklaces, but I wear a lot of jewelery all the time: 5 ear piercings, lots of rings, bracelets, necklaces. I sometimes where asymmetrical earrings: studs on one side & (matching) dangly on the other. Makes my OCD friends’ heads spin & occasionally elicites puzzled comments from strangers. Jewelery is such fun! I’m not into handbags, thanks goodness — own only 2 & one of those is over 35 years old. I need to show restraint *somewhere*, heaven knows.

    1. Janet, thanks so much! Black/white/denim is always a winner with me too. Your layered jewelry sounds very distinctive and a true expression of your style.

  8. I love the combination of jewelry. I would never tire of wearing a look like this. Did not comment on your red yesterday, but liked that too and a nice change from neutrals.

    1. pink azalea, thank you! Truth be told, though I do enjoy experimenting I’d be happy if I had to wear some version of this outfit most days.

  9. Simple, chic, elegant, but with that casual nonchalance you pull off so well. Thanks for the great posts lately. Loving your new purchases and how you are incorporating them with your basics!

  10. I admire your style and enjoy your blog. I am grateful for all the outfit inspiration you have given me and also for introducing me to French Kande! I received one of their beautiful medallion bracelets for my birthday last spring and now I’m trying to pick a necklace for my upcoming anniversary (so hard to choose). Your FK collection is beautiful and I love seeing how you combine the pieces in your outfits.

  11. 2 very individual, yet striking pieces.They would be wonderful on their own but they really work in harmony when layered together. Neither draws focus from the other, despite each being very strong. I really thought they were one piece! From time to time I combine necklaces to wear, but not in this way – more 2 or 3 thinner strands together – but I’ll start to play around more having seen how great this looks. Thank you for the inspiration.

  12. Looking at you I should wear my necklaces layered. Never done that before. Your Givenchy bag is very “extra ordinaire” to use a nice French expression. I would think it is cheaper in France as it is a French make. No import duties, no shipment cost. etc.
    As for layering, we have to do that too. From Monday onwards temperatures are dropping and the sun is hiding.
    Greetje

  13. Okay, I’m completely obsessed with these pendant necklaces. You have managed to get the balance spot-on with the lengths and weights of the pieces. I have a new project now…thanks for the inspiration!

  14. I don’t layer my necklaces purely because I wear gigantic statement pieces so it wouldn’t look good layering them. I have started layering my bracelets though. Love how you’ve styled your necklaces here, it makes such a different to the outfit.