BLING IT ON!
What is it with us women and bling? We just love it! Rhinestones, studs, crystals, sequins, glitter, and don’t forget the real deal. There’s a reason why it’s said that “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” The reason—no doubt—is that a little bit of shine makes us look and feel utterly feminine and (BONUS!) draws every eye in the room. The trick is to keep our use of bling classy as well as fashion-forward.
1. Clothing: Trends for outerwear bling definitely come and go, but if you really love glitter in your life in any season, a safe rule is to go easy during the day and let loose a bit at night. Those stud-speckled jeans are perfect for an evening movie yet are probably a bit much for the office, even on Casual Friday. Full-blown shine works in Vegas, but keep in mind that for those of us who live elsewhere, less is more. Let your natural beauty glow during daylight hours—don’t rely on over-decorated outerwear.
2. Jewelry: This is the fashion category where most of us feel most comfortable in “blinging it.” And why not? You can choose your focal point and the possibilities are limitless—a single large cocktail ring; diamond studs to spotlight an excellent hair day; layers of crystal rhinestone bangles for a diva look or an illusion necklace dotted with zirconia. It doesn’t have to be expensive to look expensive, so take advantage of today’s much-improved fashion jewelry choices.
3. Handbags: A handbag is arguably a woman’s favorite accessory, so a bag with bling is about as close to Nirvana as it gets, isn’t it? As long as it’s not over the top, a little shine on a purse catches the sun during the day and glistens under electric lights at night. Unless you’re going to a formal dinner or the Oscars, choose a handbag whose studs or other shiny embellishments compliment an already-fabulous design rather than overwhelm it.
So go ahead and shine, ladies—and keep it classy!
