Ask Katerina: My Top Tips for Professional Jewellery Styling

Having been so immersed in jewellery for the last decade, I have more experience than most in styling pieces for red-carpet events, photoshoots, still-life editorials and masterclasses. Now, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of KaterinaPerez.com, I’d like to share the questions I am most frequently asked about bringing jewels together and my answers to guide your styling journey. From mapping your face shape and understanding your skin tone to navigating the battle between minimalist and maximalist aesthetics, here are a few tips to help you navigate through jewellery styling…

The art of fashion styling is something we all know about. Some stylists are celebrities in their own right and go on to create their own clothing lines and TV shows. So, why is jewellery styling so under the radar? Over the last ten years at the helm of KaterinaPerez.com, I have noticed a slow and steady blossoming of jewellery styling on the red carpet, especially at the Met Gala, the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival. Continue reading to see the highlights of a recent conversation with my editor Sarah Jordan about my approach to jewellery styling.

SJ: There’s a whole profession dedicated to fashion styling, but do you think Hollywood is missing more specialised jewellery stylists who can cast a professional eye over high jewellery and fine jewellery dressing?

KP: Definitely! In the past, jewellery was a mere accessory to the whole look, something you put on at the very end that isn’t given enough thought or allowed to have the right emphasis. Nowadays, jewellery has become a more important part of our wardrobes and is seen on all major red-carpet occasions. I believe there is a need for a jewellery stylist who understands what’s available in the market, what the biggest trends are, and who goes out to find certain types of jewellery to showcase the style or personality of a celebrity client. There is no difference in the demand, attention to detail, effort and attention that goes into fashion styling versus jewellery styling. However, I can’t think of any professional jewellery stylists off the top of my head! That’s why we regularly see mishaps on the red carpet where, yes, the jewellery looks nice, but it could be better. For example, a celebrity may be wearing a beautiful dress with an open neckline perfectly suited to a necklace, but instead, they wear a cocktail ring!

SJ: Styling for the red carpet is a business that’s built around brand partnerships and sponsorship. Do you think this affects the types of high jewellery we see at major events? 

KP: There are two scenarios why celebrities are photographed wearing specific jewellery on the red carpet. One of them is, of course, sponsorship, and they must stick to a brand or choose something from a brand they are affiliated with. The second is because jewellery is chosen at the last possible second! It’s not a conscious, well-thought-out decision but often a spur-of-the-moment just before a celebrity heads out the door. There is simply a lack of time to pull something that fits perfectly. When I have been to red-carpet events, I have experienced first-hand how hard it is to finalise an outfit where everything matches perfectly. Another important consideration is security. High-value products can’t be transported from A to B in the blink of an eye – this requires planning. As a result, we don’t always see the same breadth and variety of high jewellery on the red carpet as we do fashion.

SJ: What do you think are the fundamentals of jewellery styling, and can you share some of your top tips with us? 

KP: I believe the focus should always be on what complements an individual, whether that’s gemstone colours, precious metal shades, textures or proportions. What volume of jewellery can they pull off? A petite woman may look overwhelmed by very large earrings, whereas very discreet stud earrings could look lost on a taller woman. It is also important to think about face shape when choosing earrings. For example, people with an oval-shaped face will find that many earring styles are universally flattering, but those with a square jawline or more angular features may need to choose more carefully. With rings, it is important to look at the length of your fingers and choose chunky cocktail rings, stacks of rings or more delicate pieces to elongate or minimise accordingly.