How to Style Handmade Statement Jewellery: 5 Looks

Handmade statement jewellery can make a familiar outfit feel different without changing the clothes. Start with one piece you love, repeat one of its colours in your outfit, and leave enough plain fabric around it for the detail to show.

Our handmade collection includes embroidered necklaces and earrings with playful motifs. Here are five ways to wear them, from a plain shirt to a festive saree. These are styling suggestions you can adapt to your own wardrobe.

1. A statement necklace with a plain shirt

Try a necklace with a cotton or linen shirt and trousers or jeans. Open the collar enough for the necklace to sit without pressing against the buttons. If the necklace is broad, compare wearing it above the neckline with wearing it against the shirt; the fabric and necklace shape will determine which sits better.

Keep your other accessories simple for the first try. A patterned handbag and large earrings can work, but adding everything at once makes it harder to see which detail you actually enjoy.

The Matsya set combines an embroidered necklace with matching earrings. Wear the necklace on its own for one outfit, then try the earrings separately with another. A coordinated set can provide more than one styling option.

2. Colourful earrings with a simple saree

A plain saree gives detailed earrings a clear background. Pull one colour from the earrings into the blouse, a bindi or a handbag if you want a coordinated look. You can also use contrasting colours; matching every accessory is not necessary.

If the saree border is already elaborate, try earrings without a necklace. Check the view from the front and side with your hair as you plan to wear it. Long hair, a bun and a scarf each change how much of an earring is visible.

The Pari earrings are described in our listing as colourful and embroidered. They are a starting point for an earring-led outfit. Size does not reliably tell you weight, so ask for measurements or weight if comfort is a deciding factor.

3. An embroidered necklace with a plain dress

Choose a dress with a neckline that gives the necklace a defined place to sit. A low scoop or open V offers a different backdrop from a high neck. Avoid positioning the bottom edge of the necklace exactly where the fabric begins if the two keep catching or overlapping awkwardly.

For a daytime look, try one necklace and small earrings you already own. For a celebration, compare the matching earrings. Photograph both combinations before deciding; the effect can be quite different from a close-up mirror view.

4. A motif-led piece with a neutral outfit

A recognisable motif can be the detail around which you build the outfit. The Liora Evil Eye Necklace with Earrings is one example from our collection. Let the motif remain visible against plain fabric and keep other necklaces away from its centre.

Choose motifs for their design or personal meaning. A motif name is not a claim that jewellery has protective powers, and it does not tell you what metals or stones a piece contains.

5. A complete set for a festive outfit

A necklace and matching earrings can work together when you want a fuller look. Try them first with a relatively simple neckline, then add bangles or a ring only if you want more detail. If your blouse, dupatta and jewellery all have strong patterns, reducing one element can make the others easier to see.

For a wedding invitation, read our wedding guest jewellery guide. For blouse-specific pairings, use the saree neckline table.

What to check when buying handmade jewellery online

• Construction: look for close-up photographs showing embroidery, finishing and the fastening.
• Dimensions: check necklace width and length as well as earring drop.
• Materials: handmade does not automatically mean precious metal, gemstone or hypoallergenic.
• Set contents: check whether the photographed earrings are included.
• Care: follow instructions for the actual materials and construction.

For embroidered or mixed-material pieces, ask before using a cleaning liquid or soaking them. Store each piece so hooks and edges cannot catch on another item, and inspect the fastening before wearing.

How do you choose between a necklace and earrings?

Choose the necklace when your neckline gives it space and you want attention around the collarbone. Choose earrings when your blouse is detailed or you prefer to leave the neck clear. There is no requirement to wear both.

Browse the handmade Indian jewellery collection to find the colours and motifs you would enjoy wearing beyond a single occasion. Product availability and details are shown on each listing.