I’ll never forget the first piece of fine jewelry I owned: a dainty tennis bracelet gifted to me at age 13 by my stepmom. It was more than just a gift though—it was a family heirloom passed down from her great-grandmother to every woman in the family thereafter, and now, it was mine. I was mesmerized by it. And since I was advised to only wear the bracelet on important occasions, it became a kind of good luck charm for me. I felt special and stylish and, quite honestly, powerful when I had it on. This was the first time I understood the impact a single piece of jewelry can make not only on an outfit but also a person’s mood. Over a decade later, I have collected many rings, necklaces, and more that hold equally important memories. Some were gifts from loved ones to celebrate a major milestone and others I purchased myself while traveling somewhere new for the first time.
After many conversations with people over the years, I’ve learned that jewelry is very personal to nearly everyone. Take my co-worker, fellow editor, and friend Anneliese Dominguez, for example. We were recently chatting about what Valentine’s Day gifts have felt the most memorable over the years, and we both found ourselves romanticizing moments with jewelry. The reason is simple really: We feel good when we wear our favorite pieces. Good because our outfits are infinitely more unique and good because we are wearing a little reminder of important memories, travels, or ambitions. So why not do more of that in 2021? Anneliese is already one step ahead of me, styling all of her favorite spring looks with the gorgeous Rose des Vents collection from Dior, featuring spring’s best jewelry trend: good luck charms.
Anneliese was first drawn to this collection because of the colorful gemstones, ranging from onyx and mother of pearl to malachite. (The gorgeous green stone on the longest necklace worn here). “I love experimenting with fun colors, especially when wearing more simple outfits,” she says. However, what really sold Anneliese was a bit more symbolic.
The collection was inspired by Christian Dior’s lucky star and the wind rose mural in his garden, representing his love for travel. The symbol has now been reimagined by creative director Victoire de Castellane as an 8-pointed star, similar to a compass, that offers a sense of guidance in the right direction. “I’m very into the fact that this collection is just as meaningful as it is beautiful,” Anneliese says. “The celestial symbols on these pieces are a reminder to always reach for the stars, so to speak—a motto I’m incorporating into my life this year. I love the idea of looking to my jewelry for a daily reminder that I am capable of my goals and dreams, and these pieces do just that.”
Anneliese tells me her style has evolved recently to be more refined. “I’ve discovered how important it is to own really chic staples, so I’ve been curating a closet of structured jackets, good quality denim, and a lot of neutrals,” she says.
Her refined style, as evidenced by this simple-but-polished outfit here, is naturally the perfect canvas for statement jewelry. “I love how each piece in the collection not only stands out by itself but is also ideal for layering. I was working with a lot of space on my neck for this look, so I wanted to fill it with just the right amount of necklaces. I added two of the longer chains to perfectly balance out the choker. The bracelets, earrings, and rings make perfect additions as well. Sometimes more really is more.”
The charms on many of the pieces can be flipped over to reveal the flat side of the stone, a detail that makes this collection so special and versatile not to mention perfect for looks that already involve lots of print and pattern. “The fact that the pieces are all reversible is basically a fashion girl’s dream,” Anneliese confirms. “You essentially get two pieces of jewelry in one.” The more options, the better, right?
While Anneliese’s leather jacket, ribbed tank, and denim are more of an everyday look, this elevated monochromatic one will surely be in the mix on date nights this spring. “Since I’m in a top with a high collar, I nixed the necklaces and opted solely for rings and bracelets. I’ve always been notorious for wearing a lot of rings, so I love the way these can be stacked on one finger for a little bit of a chunky feel. Also, can we just talk about this hand chain? It’s seriously dreamy.”
Speaking of dreams, I had to ask Anneliese what hers are for 2021. While she has career goals and travel destinations in mind, first on the list is finding her dream home by the beach. Surely, she’s now got all the good luck on her side.
