The key to layering necklaces well is having a mix of proportions, rather than a lot of pieces. The successful sets have had consideration given to chain length as a tailor considers hemlines – a shortest piece that sits at the collarbone, a mid length that comes just below it and a longer chain that finishes where you might start to see some boob. Three lengths is really the max before it becomes overload. The most common error is buying necklaces that are all the same drop length because they inevitably tangle and fight with each other rather than hang together as one intentional piece.
Texture and weight are important, too. A fine cable chain will always layer on top of skin and sit neatly, but open links and thicker curb chains need space to hang freely, so function better as the longest layer in a stack rather than right down by your throat.
Mixing metals is now very easy to get right, but mixing finishes within the same metal (matte versus polished) will always look higher end than having everything with the same shine. A pendant should have a reason to be there – some weight or texture to it – so a coin, a small stone, a tarnished signet shape work better than a flat, thin, decorative charm.
Speaking of texture, neckline-wise these work best on tops that give them somewhere to hang. So a button down that you wear open, v-necks, boat necks, a blazer worn without anything underneath. They all allow layered necklaces to fall where they want rather than be lost underneath lots of fabric.
Now the one type of neckline that doesn’t work with layers?
A crew neck jumper. It chops your necklaces off at the shortest length and flattens everything.
Occasions? Layered necklaces are endlessly versatile because they can elevate simple clothing. They turn a plain white shirt into something that looks put-together enough for daytime meetings. They can dress up a slip dress for night time without needing anything else. And layers are also one of the few jewellery categories that look good in photos from far away, which means they’ll work for everything from wedding guests to a weeknight dinner date. I prefer to build a small but permanent set of layers, rather than buying pieces as needed because layering only looks and feels good once you have a handful of pieces that you know work together.
Top Picks
![Layered Beaded Necklace [Multi]](https://images2.productserve.com/?w=200&h=200&bg=white&trim=5&t=letterbox&url=ssl%3Acdn.wconcept.com%2Fproducts%2F7205112%2F47%2F720511247_1.jpg&feedId=21675&k=b22459044ed4065436006e7d3bf22e13dd0073f6)
