How Much Jewelry Should You Wear to Work or Work out?

How Much Jewelry Should You Wear to Work?

Rules For Work Jewelry

Here are my general thoughts on work jewelry, just to throw some spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.

If it jangles or makes a sound, it’s too much.

An arm party looks great in a picture, but if you’re typing a ton or walking down a hallway with other people, you need to be wary of how much noise a bracelet or suite of bracelets can create. Similarly, some of my larger statement necklaces can definitely make sounds that, I think, would put them in “after work events only” territory — not work jewelry.

Earrings with a lot of movement can be distracting.

I’ve always felt this way, and wish I’d known how to take .gifs a few years ago because my best “proof of concept” here came when I was watching a documentary about the Enron scandal (probably The Smartest Guys in the Room). The serious journalist being interviewed had long, shiny silvery earrings on, and every time she moved her head while speaking it made me focus on the earrings, not what she was saying. I’m always a fan of huggies because I find posts to be uncomfortable to wear (particularly if you’re having a phone conversation without a headset) and they’re generally small, but of course there are drop earrings that don’t have too much movement also. I’m getting better at rotating my jewelry by focusing on putting my necklaces and earrings away at night, which forces me to consider the full range when picking out what I’m wearing in the morning. I find that if I save the “putting away” for the morning, that it becomes “putting them on” instead, and I get stuck in a rut.

Discount your left hand entirely.

Daily watch + engagement ring/wedding band = things that don’t count as jewelry if you’re counting (or if you’re against mixing metals). I think I’ve followed this rule more and more as I’ve gotten older, but I wish someone had suggested that when I was younger.

Pick one or two areas to focus on rather than “three pieces only.”

Especially since layered looks are so popular right now with more delicate necklaces and rings, I think limiting yourself to the number of pieces is a silly rule.

Think about where your jewelry will be seen, and if you want to emphasize that area.

For example, if you’re attending a networking party where you may be holding your drink, a cocktail ring can be a great choice because it’ll be seen when you shake hands with people and hold your drink. On the flip side, as a busty woman I’ve always avoided the 24-30″ necklace because they usually hit right in the middle of my bust; I’ve also talked about how a great necklace can “raise the neckline” of an outfit — a 16″ or 18″ strand of pearls is great for this because they reflect light back into your face; they also read as very conservative and can “stodge up” a more modern look or pattern. Similarly, if you’re giving a presentation and plan to have your back turned to the audience often, a brooch at the back of your blazer or in your updo can be a nice touch.

Can you wear a gold chain to work?
Yes, you could wear a gold chain to work with ease because the real or solid gold necklaces have the power to elevate any outfit you choose to wear to work, whether a suit or a casual t-shirt or top. But you just can’t throw on the delicate gold chains; you need to master the art of accessorizing your delicate piece with ease.

You will be happy to know that accessorizing with gold necklaces is not as complicated as you think it is, just as long as you don’t overthink things.

Keep in mind that when it comes to accessorizing for work, you need to keep things subtle by settling on the necklaces that will not cause distractions at the workplace while allowing you to show off your style and personal preferences.

6 Tips For Wearing Jewelry To Work

1. Remove one accessory before leaving the house.

Gold necklaces are easy to style, even with your work dresses, but since you don’t want to go overboard, settle on just one piece of gold necklace. A bohemian-style gold bib necklace, for example, would go a long way in taking your outfit to the next level, even at work.

2. Go for one bold piece.

While accessorizing for work means not bringing too much attention to yourself, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try simple pendant necklaces with smaller crystals, charms, or custom pendant pieces. Just stick with the smaller pendant necklaces.

3. If you only choose one accessory, make it earrings.

Besides a simple, dainty gold necklace, you should also stick with the smaller earrings likes studs, and if wearing hoops, choose the smaller ones. The small dangle earrings are also ideal because they will not draw attention but will also frame your face well. And if you have multiple piercings, you may want to stick to just one pair of earrings, settling for the piece that will not be overwhelming.

4. Use rings to improve your mood.

It can be decorated, pleasing to the eye, and can be rotated to ease your mood when you’re bored at work.

5. Settle on one bold piece

Gold necklaces are easy to style, even with your work dresses, but since you don’t want to go overboard, settle on just one piece of gold necklace.

6. Settle on one bold piece

Can you wear a gold chain to an interview?

If you are getting ready to go in for an interview, you will be happy to know that you get to dress in the best way to represent your personality and style. You no longer have to worry about wearing plain clothes and no accessories.

When dressing for an interview, we recommend that women wear stud earrings and one or two more pieces of jewelry. Regarding the necklaces, you could wear a simple gold chain or even a simple pearl necklace. Go for simple, classic pieces, but don’t layer necklaces. You could top it with simple gold, pearl, silver, or a diamond pair of studs.

On the other hand, men going for interviews should keep things simpler – so, no necklace, but perhaps just a wedding band and a watch.

That said, you need to understand the culture of the place you are interviewing for. While some simple accessories are accepted in some work environments, others tend to be more strict, which means that you have to research well and dress appropriately for the job you are interviewing for.

What Type Of Jewelry Should You Wear To A Job Interview?

When it comes to jewelry for a job interview, men should only wear a watch and a wedding band. Women should wear stud earrings and one or two other simple pieces of jewelry. When it comes to necklaces, do not layer them. Instead wear one simple, classic necklace like pearls.

Do not layer a bunch of bracelets to a job interview. If you must wear a bracelet, wear only one. This one bracelet should not be plastic or cheap.

With rings, simply wear an engagement ring and maybe one other classic ring on your other hand. Earrings for women should be classic, small, and simple. Gold, silver, pearl, or diamond studs will do.

Although it is important to wear your most expensive pieces of jewelry to work, be cautious when doing so. You do not want to appear snobbish and not in need of a job. Not being cautious of your expensive jewelry could also lead to someone stealing your jewelry.

What Type Of Jewelry Should You Not Wear To A Job Interview?

Although sleek and simple, your jewelry should send an overall authoritative message without taking the spotlight away from yourself. Although it is good to be authoritative, it is not good to be over authoritative with your jewelry.

For example, do not wear a multitude of rings at once. Instead, just wear one or two. In fact, you should only wear one or two of any type of jewelry item at a time.

To ensure that you appear sophisticated, do not wear cheap or plastic jewelry. Instead, wear precious metals and stones. Also, make sure to not wear any jewelry that makes any sort of political or religious statement.

Is It OK to Wear Jewelry While You Work Out?

How Working Out In Jewelry Can Damage Your Skin?

Not only can getting sweaty in jewelry mess with your favorite pieces, but it can also affect your skin.

If your jewelry is turning your skin different color

Those cheaper base metals—copper, nickel, and brass—Rueff mentioned? As they corrode, they can stain your skin, often leaving it blackish or green.

But so can gold-plated and sterling silver jewelry. “Since the layer of gold in gold-plated jewelry is so thin, that can also turn your skin black or green,” she says. And since sterling silver contains some copper, it can also cause skin discoloration when tarnished.

Why, exactly? Quick science lesson: That green or black residue is actually a copper oxide deposit, a compound created when the copper used in jewelry reacts with oxygen in the air, explains Evelyn Darius, M.D., a physician with virtual health platform PlushCare. Sodium chloride, a compound in your sweat, can also cause a similar reaction in jewelry.

Good news: Unsightly as this skin discoloration might be, it’s not harmful, says Dr. Darius.

If you’re potentially allergic (and even if you aren’t)

Certain metals can potentially aggravate your skin, too. For example, about 15 percent of people are allergic to nickel, which can cause serious irritation.

“This can present as a rash that can be bumpy, rough like sandpaper, light pink or red, swollen, and itchy,” says Dr. Darius. (More here: What’s Causing Your Itchy Skin?)

“Sweat and friction can cause gold to leach out of jewelry,” explains Dao. So even people who might otherwise tolerate their jewelry can end up with a reaction called allergic contact dermatitis (a red, rashy reaction to a substance, sometimes due to allergy and sometimes not) from working out in jewelry that’s leaching. (Related: This Is Why Your Skin Is So Itchy At Night)

If you have new piercings

Sweat alone can irritate new piercings, even if you don’t have jewelry in them during your workouts, says Dr. Darius. Well-healed piercings should withstand sweat just fine, but certain metals can still irritate your ears when mixed with sweat or extra friction.

If you’re wearing jewelry with a “tug” factor

Metal issues aside, certain styles of jewelry can also pose a risk. Wearing heavy earrings that tug on your ear lobes during a workout, for example, can exacerbate irritation, says Rueff.

Plus, hoop earrings and long necklaces can also get caught on gym equipment, in your hair, on body parts, or on clothing, potentially tearing piercings and scraping or pinching the skin if they get yanked hard enough, adds Dao. (Um, yikes.)

The Do’s and Don’ts of Rocking Jewelry When You Work Out

That said, you can totally still spice up your workout attire with jewelry—as long as you stick to the right materials and styles.

Avoid wearing jewelry made of the following materials when getting sweaty

nickel
brass
copper
gold plate

Instead, rock:

pure gold
gold-filled jewelry
sterling silver
silicone (like those workout-friendly rings you’ve probably seen on Instagram)

To minimize your risk of reacting to your jewelry (especially the cheaper stuff) during a workout, Dr. Darius recommends applying a little petroleum jelly to the skin around your jewelry. You can also coat your jewelry with clear nail polish to prevent any pesky skin discoloration.

Beyond that, stick to more minimalist pieces of jewelry, Rueff recommends. Stud earrings and simple, lightweight bracelets and necklaces can all make you feel like a queen while you get your sweat on—without getting in your way.

Skip the rings if you’re lifting weights, but go ahead and pile on your favorites (as long as they’re not loose) for workouts like yoga.

If your skin or piercings are prone to irritation, make sure to cleanse and dry both your piercings and jewelry well after sweating it out, says Dao. (And clean that sterling silver jewelry at the first sign of tarnishing!) After all, dark, moist environments (like the inside of your ear piercings) are ideal for germs. (As are all these germy-spots in the gym. Ick.)