Hardware: Silver or Gold
A few days ago I found my elusive dream handbag but, alas, it has silver, aka palladium, hardware. This has thrown me into an existential style crisis. All of my everyday jewelry is yellow gold, likewise, the hardware on my bags and shoes is golden. I even removed the white gold bands from two Cartier Trinity rings, and had Fendi swap the silver hardware for gold on a handbag. In my 20s I wore a steel watch paired with yellow gold, but somewhere along the way my steel and platinum pieces fell to the wayside — probably when I reset my engagement ring in yellow gold. I pride myself on staying true to my personal style, but these days it feels too rigid and, frankly, old-fashioned. Younger women are mixing and matching and I am still just matching.
The real question is why do I care so much that things match. I fear I have become persnickety and have challenged myself to loosen the reins on my style choices.
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You should stick with what you love! I’m the same – all gold jewelry and used to mix-n-match in my 20s, but just love love love gold and I will not get a bag I love if it has silver because I like matching!
Ohhhh! I hear ya. On a similar note, I have always matched my handbags with the same-brand wallet/card holder/change purse and am discovering that younger fashionistas do not do this! Trying to break away from long-standing ‘rules’ for myself…..it is a challenge!
I used to not mix and now I mix. I’ve always loved both gold and siler and like many other things, they are as good together as they are separately
I love that you bring this up, Preston. I specifically look for bags without hardware for this reason! The Row, for example.
I am mixing my jewelry more lately but I do get this conundrum! I am curious what is the bag you found that you love?
I once had a very trusted salesman in my Hermes store that steered me towards the palladium… he said it had a more modern and younger vibe. I agree for me it depends on the bag. But I still prefer gold jewelry except for my wedding ring.
IMHO, silver/platinum/palladium and gold look great and modern together. As I write this, I’m looking at my left wrist, and the 15-year old steel and gold watch that my husband’s late, dear friend sold me wholesale when he was working for a watch company. It still feels so modern to me.
I think skin tone can sometimes point an arrow as to what jewelry suits you.
Such a good topic. Except for a few fun summer pieces, all of my jewelry/watches are matching white gold/platinum, and I no longer buy anything with gold hardware. I do think it’s more modern, and also sophisticated and understated. If someone offered me an Hermes or Chanel with golden hardware as a gift … I would still turn it down haha!
Sometimes, all it takes is one bracelet that incorporates both silver and gold (aka David Yurman, among others) to bridge the distance and make both relevant.
My name is Mary & I’m a hoarder! I’m the first to admit – I love what I love and lots of it – from my Cartier to my turquoise…from my Hermès bags to my LL Bean duffle. I love both gold and silver/palladium. It doesn’t bother me in the least if I mix it one day and the next match it! I personally think mixing gives a look personality.
Ha, same quandary for me and as Sue mentioned, I have steered my choices to hardware free bags. Whenever I see mixed metals, I absolutely love it! Preston, there is no way you are not polished and chic in anything and everything you choose to wear. Now, please do share your dream bag and enjoy!
Meanwhile, I’m so curious to hear what dream handbag you found, Preston! Do you mind sharing??
I see mixing metals as wearing something beautiful with something else beautiful-that’s all, they aren’t at odds. I love Cat’s suggestion of bridging the two with a piece that combines both. I just ordered a new pair of eyeglasses (silver metal) because they looked best with my coloring and my hair, but it does give me pause wondering if they will look okay with my daily gold jewelry. I will find out soon.
I think you like what you like! I recently got a vintage designer bag I was coveting that had gold hardware. It showed up and it was too bright for me surprisingly. So back it goes. If it doesn’t feel right to you, you won’t wear it.
I think it would be impossible not to mix metals and see nothing wrong with it. If something seems out of place or too contrived, I would avoid it. I also wear far more gold jewelry than silver, and my best pieces are all yellow gold. Wedding band is platinum, but it’s not as though I take it off with gold jewelry. My everyday watch, a Lady-Datejust oyster/oyster steel/yellow gold bracelet, no diamonds, bridges everything + leans sporty and modern helps me avoid slipping into matronly world.. It’s wonderfully understated and works perfectly with handbags and shoes whether palladian or yellow gold hardware. But I also avoid large hardware/logos in the first place. In fall, I swap out for a brown leather strap Cape Cod watch (palladian hardware) and for evening a cocktail watch or no watch at all. For me, it’s the overall, head-to-toe look in the mirror, and I err on the side of wearing less jewelry than more. Wearing pearls poses its own requirements – would love to hear a discussion on that!
Meanwhile, did anyone else love the WSJ feature on ‘smaller’ watches? Right up my alley.
Wear what you love. I too had the silver/platinum purge years ago and reset all platinum jewels in 24 K yellow gold and am quite happy with my choice. That said, I do have some legacy accessories with palladium that I wear, though not as frequently as I probably could. I have a 30 year old pair of suede Gucci lug sole loafers that I’d sooner lie down and die than not wear because of the silver horse bit!
I’ve been collecting Hermès Picotins, yet my favorite color combo – alezan in size 22 with gold hardware – has proven elusive. Just bought the one with palladium hardware and look forward to carrying it and breaking my personal style rule.
Mixing doesn’t bother me unless I’m dressed up for dinner out. Then I match. In summer I’ll wear more silver and white gold. Dull gold 14k feels old fashioned and heavy to me. If it’s gold then white or 18k. Platinum is always fresh. I can’t believe you removed the white gold from a Trinity ring!
I read and sympathizingly agree, yet when I see your beautiful photo above I think only “gosh it’s pretty when it’s all gold together!” Also, as someone who loves wearing either all black or all white (or if I’m feeling colorful…gray), gold helps to subtly warm that stark palette the same way that a nude shoe can. PS the Hermes lippie is simply the loveliest packaging in such a long time… PPS unrelated but the Morgan Library has a fabulous Jane Austen exhibit going on right now. xx
Stay true to what your buying patterns and actions (taking the white gold out of your Trinity ring, wow!) throughout the years have led you to — a jewelry stash filled with yellow gold! A strong sense of vision is not rigidity but a statement that you have the confidence to know what works for you, are comfortable with it and will proceed with it!
I actually switched everything to silver/white gold years ago…it is just a matter of changing taste on my part. Hardware on a bag wouldn’t bother me if it were yellow…but jewelry metal mixing used to. But…I say wear what you love! Don’t force the issue…then again, glad you bought the bag!
I understand, I’m a gold girl ~ and I take it one step further, I don’t like it too shiny so I burnish it.
My purses all have gold trim, except a Prada pouch, from many years ago, trimmed with leather and very heavy silver hardware.
It’s a favourite, for Prada too as they recently reissued a stripped down version. So I proudly wear my silver trimmed vintage version with many compliments. I’m sure no one but myself realizes I’m mixing metals ;-))
The tray is gorgeous – could you share the source? Thanks.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CH2nl2tg_Oc/?hl=fr
I am voting for mixing
Here’s another vote for (Preston, Cat, Laura) bridging the two with a piece that combines both metals. For me, it’s a Cartier Tank Francaise in stainless and yellow gold. I feel like I get the modernity of mixing while complying with the (admittedly old-fashioned) “rule” of matching! I can wear anything else, as long as the watch “pulls it all together.” Preston, don’t ignore the question about pearls: how can we wear our classic single strands in a way that’s modern? (I see lots of articles on how to buy NEW pearls that are modern, but that’s not what I mean.) What’s the modern styling secret for this “white slice” you described in a previous post? Jeans and a tee?
I agree Lisa!
We need Preston and our KIC gang to help us wear our short single strand of pearls, and not look dated and matronly. I added a modern toggle closure, nope didn’t do it.
Help!
I too am fussy about wearing jewellery in one color with bag hardware in another. So I mix my jewellery (for example, a steel and gold watch or a bracelet in white gold and one in yellow gold) so the bag doesn’t look ‘off’. You can always get a piece of your existing jewellery rhodium plated (dipped in white gold).
I remember when growing up, if a woman wore stilettos with capris or tight fitting pants she was considered trashy or declassed.
Fast forward many decades later, and it’s a fashion choice no one thinks twice about.
Similarly, in reading the comments about mixing gold and silver – or platinum – I think what looks or seems odd to your eyes now will
eventually fade with time and become just another acceptable “looks fine” jewelry choice.
My engagement ring and wedding band are platinum and I mix them with gold jewelry but the connector is the size of the
gold jewelry.
I have to admit once my hair turned silver, I have favored jewelry18K white gold or platinum settings.
But I’m not about to stop wearing expensive pieces of gold jewelry because I have since bought jewelry set in 18K white gold or platinum.
Ditto with gold hardware on handbags, zippers on jackets, etc. because it’s all very discreet.
I don’t think the fashion police will frown in disapproval on mixing gold and silver.
It’s really about how you put it together.
And if one likes to wear all gold (tone) or all silver (tone) then, that’s one prerogative – but maybe with a fresh twist to make it seem modern – today.
J.
The dup of your dream bag has gold hardware. It looks very good.
I’m with you. All gold all the time. Almost all The Row pouches and small bags this year have the silver and I just any do it. My 24 year old daughter has no problem with a differing color hardware bag. But maybe this what separates the generations and has its own charm. Just like my mother would always and only wear matching bags and shoes. Stand behind your instincts — they’re very good!!