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How To: Stacking Rings

A stack of well-matched rings will show your fashion flair.

Stacked rings are a hot trend. It’s a great way to give new life to a ring that’s a little lonely and boring on its own or to have fun mixing and matching colors and styles to create something totally unique.

Stacking 101

First of all, the thing to remember is there’s no “right” or “wrong” way to do this. If you love how it looks, that’s what matters. Don’t be afraid to experiment and get input from friends whose style you admire and who can give advice without squashing your personal expression.

Still, there are some tips to help you achieve an eye-catching look without crossing over into Liberace territory. For example, every finger stacked with loads of rings could be overkill; let the stack be a focal point.

Another effective trick is to wear rings of different widths together, such as pairing a skinny band with something thick and chunky. If your rings feature stones, stagger them so the gems don’t line up vertically. Not only will that look more coordinated, but it’s much more comfortable to wear.

How many rings should you wear on each finger? It’s really up to you, but you’re better off varying it from finger to finger. See what looks and feels right. If you have an especially bulky ring or a favorite that you want to showcase, consider letting it fly solo and leave the stacking to other digits.

Stacking by color & metal

Mixing color gems creates a dramatic look, especially when you work with deep, rich shades of blue and red. You can also use gems in different hues of the same color family for a nuanced appearance. Different colors in enamels are also a great bet.

Don’t shy away from blending yellow gold with white and rose varieties. Mixing different textures also adds visual appeal. You can (and should!) wear white and gold metals together. In fact, combining rings of only one type and color of metal sort of defeats the purpose of stacking. If you’re too matchy-matchy or “safe,” you’re missing a great opportunity to show individuality.

Stacking what you already have

If you’ve fallen out of love with some of the rings in your jewelry box, stacking is the perfect way to see them in a new light. Even old-fashioned gifts from grandma can get a new lease on life when combined with more modern styles. Your engagement ring and wedding band aren’t off-limits, either! No one will say you don’t take your vows seriously just because you add another fancy bauble to the same finger, especially another colored gem paired with your diamond.

It can also be fun to get a fancy manicure — for example, adding rhinestones or colorful patterns — to take the look all the way to your fingertips. In fact, if you’re going to draw attention to your hands with dramatic stacked rings, you might want to splurge on a nail treatment anyway, just to make sure your appearance is completely polished (literally).

Finally, don’t let your fashion statement get in the way of your daily routine. If your job requires you to be on a keyboard all day, make sure you can comfortably move your fingers around. It’s also probably not a great idea to bejewel your fingers if you’re going to be doing things like handling easily snagged fabrics or moving big, heavy objects.

Most of all, trust your imagination! Stacking rings gives you countless ways to get more mileage out of the jewelry you love to wear.

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