Wearing vintage jewellery with modern fashion

There is real joy in pairing a favourite blazer or knit with a piece that has a story. Vintage jewellery brings character to everyday style and it does so in a way that feels personal rather than prescriptive. Below, we share how to style vintage with a modern wardrobe, drawn from years of helping customers find pieces they feel confident wearing.

Begin with one hero piece

Start simple. Choose one item that sets the mood and dress around it. A vintage ring with presence, a locket on a fine chain, or a single brooch on a lapel can do more for an outfit than a handful of competing pieces. Once the hero is in place, add smaller accents only if they support the look.

Balance is everything

Modern clothes are often clean and minimal. Vintage can be ornate. The balance between the two is where the magic happens. If your outfit is tailored and sharp, try a jewel with texture or pattern. If your dress has print and movement, opt for vintage with calm lines and clear stones. Let the outfit and the jewel speak to one another, not over each other.

Colour, metal and texture

Work with what you already wear. If your wardrobe leans to navy, grey and cream, vintage gems with deep blues, warm garnets and soft pearls will feel at home. If you love black, silver tone marcasite and white metals look effortlessly chic. Mixed metals are welcome. Silver and yellow gold can sit together if the proportions feel deliberate. Texture matters as much as colour. Filigree, millegrain and hand engraving add quiet depth next to modern fabrics.

Vintage 9ct Gold Waterfall Pearl Necklace dated 1970

Necklaces
Layer two or three lengths rather than many. Keep the top chain fine, the middle with a small pendant, and the lowest with the character piece. A vintage locket is perfect at the base. Try our 18ct Gold Garnet, Pearl and Turquoise Heart Locket and contrast it with a shorter modern chain above. For movement and soft light, the Vintage 9ct Gold Waterfall Pearl Necklace, dated 1970 sits neatly on the collarbone and layers beautifully over knits or silk.

Rings
Stack with intent. Mix one statement vintage ring with one or two slimmer bands so the star still breathes. Our Vintage Sterling Silver Marcasite Shamrock Ring adds a hint of sparkle without overpowering a stack. A classic three stone ring gives structure and symbolism. The Vintage 18ct Gold Trilogy Diamond Ring brings measured brilliance and pairs well with a plain band or a slim eternity.

Earrings
If your necklace is doing the talking, keep earrings refined. If hair is up and the neckline is clean, vintage drops or studs with old cut stones frame the face beautifully.

Vintage Gold Bangle by Smith and Pepper — 9ct Gold Bangle by Smith and Pepper Chester 1954

The quiet power of brooches

Brooches are back for good reason. They anchor a coat, blazer, knit or scarf and look instantly polished. Pin slightly off centre on a lapel or at the shoulder of a knit. If you wear a belt, a small brooch near the buckle can be a clever accent. Keep other jewellery simple when a brooch is in play.
If brooches are not your style, a single engraved bangle can play the same anchoring role. The Vintage 9ct Gold Bangle by Smith and Pepper, Chester 1954 adds texture and polish in one move and sits comfortably against knitwear and tailoring.

Outfit ideas you can use today

Denim and a white shirt
Denim and a white tee is the easiest canvas. Roll the sleeves and add a slim leather belt, then open the neckline one or two buttons so a mid length vintage locket sits neatly on the chest. Layer it with a fine chain and a short strand of pearls for light near the face. Keep the lengths considered: pearls close to the neck, a delicate chain at collarbone, the locket at 18 to 20 inches so it lies flat. Small hoops or studs finish the look, with bracelets kept minimal. Cuff the jeans, choose loafers or clean trainers by day, and swap to a heel and a red lip for evening. The mix feels simple, relaxed and quietly elegant.

Check Out: Vintage Georg Jensen 9ct Rose Gold Heart Locket

Tailoring for the office

For a smart alternative that works beautifully with blazers, try a lapel brooch. Our Vintage 9ct Gold Cameo Brooch, Birmingham 1973 pins neatly to a jacket and adds a refined focal point without competing with your tailoring.

Wear it slightly off centre on the lapel or at the shoulder of a knit, and keep other jewellery simple so the carving can stand out.

Knitwear and midi skirts

Chunky knits call for jewellery with presence. A wide engraved bangle sits beautifully against wool and keeps the look sharp. Try the Smith and Pepper 9ct Gold Bangle from 1954, then add a pendant with a little length or movement. The 1970 Waterfall Pearl Necklace sits cleanly over a fine knit and brings soft light near the face.

Evening and occasions
If the dress is simple, choose one piece with drama. Art Deco clusters, long pendants or an eye catching bracelet feel modern against clean silhouettes. If the dress is embellished, select vintage that echoes a single detail rather than competing with all of them.

Weekend city break
A heart locket with a silk dress and sandals works by day and moves into evening with a red lip. Swap earrings and shoes and you are ready for dinner.

Fit, comfort and care

Size and proportion matter. Rings should feel secure but never tight. Necklaces should sit where they flatter your neckline, not where a random chain length dictates. If you need sizing or a different chain length, ask us. We can advise on the best solution and ensure the character of the piece is preserved.

Care is simple. Jewellery goes on last and comes off first. Avoid perfume, hair spray and lotions near stones and settings. Wipe with a soft cloth after wear. Store pieces separately so they do not mark one another. A small routine like this keeps your favourites ready for the next outing.

Make it yours

The most successful looks feel like you. Choose pieces that echo what you already love to wear rather than fighting it. If you favour crisp shirts and blazers, lean into geometric Art Deco and clean bezels. If you live in silk and soft knits, reach for warm gold, pearls and engraved detail. Trust your eye, then refine the mix with one good piece at a time.

Spotlight pieces to style now

How we can help

We choose every vintage item by hand and present clear photographs, measurements and honest descriptions so you know exactly what you are buying. If you would like suggestions for your wardrobe or for a specific event, our team in Stockport is happy to help. We can guide you to the right era, scale and metal, and we can advise on sizing or a simple refresh so your piece arrives ready to wear.

Explore the full Vintage Jewellery collection or get in touch for personal advice. Matching new and old is where style gets interesting and it is where vintage truly shines.