Pearls - how on earth do you wear them??

[BoxAndKnife]

I've recently inherited three sets of pearls - two triple-strand sets that sit on my collarbones and one slightly longer, single strand necklace. They are all beautiful and good quality, and frankly it seems a shame not to wear them.

But...I am worried I will end up looking like a) Princess Di in the kindergarten years or b) Alistair Sim in the original St Trinian's film. My style is very much on the casual side - to me the worst fashion faux-pas is to be overdressed - and whilst I secretly harbour Jilly Cooper-esque fantasies of being the kind of woman who could wear a string of expensive pearls with a moth-eaten cashmere jumper and a pair of filthy jeans whilst getting the garden out from under her fingernails, I'm really not sure I could pull it off. Also DH would wonder if I'd had a blow to the head.

Added to this I already have completely grey, quite unruly hair and although I love it I'm not wild about adding any more years, style-wise. (I'm 47).

So, any thoughts? Is there a way for a terminal scruff-bag to wear pearls or are they destined to sit in the jewellery box forever?

Pearls suit everybody and are totally timeless. I agree they look nice when worn more casually as it modernises them a bit. I have a long string of black pearls which go with absolutely everything. I also think you could have them restrung into a design you like, necklace and bracelet perhaps.

I've enjoyed reading these ideas. I have a pearl necklace, (family hand me down), but never worn, wasn't sure what they would work with and thought they'd appear a bit fussy or fancy.

Think I will dig them out and give them a go !

Double them up and wear as a bracelet to start with until you get brave enough to wear as a necklace.

If you wear them doubled as a bracelet, please check that the string is knotted, otherwise you could snap them and lose pearls.

I would wear with a loose blouse and light coloured jeans. I love pearls.

Pearls are wonderfully flattering worn them since I was a teenager, cheapo then. I have a lovely bracelet, so I would have a bracelet made out of one of them. Earrings made out of leftover pearls. They work with casual clothes so well.

@echodot

On Mumsnet, we normally just clutch them

🤙

@WhereDoesThisToiletGo that necklace is beautiful! Would you mind telling me where you got it please?

A friend wears them with business formals, and sometimes large pearls on a loose Tshirt. She only wears one item of pearl jewelry so nothing on ears or only very small hoops/studs. I have a bracelet I wear on spl occasions, they are expensive and dressy. I would love to buy a good quality necklace. I wear simple pearl studs with my formal clothes sometimes.

Personally dislike them so I would sell them, but thats just me.

Big organza shoulders a la 80s are in so you could wear pearl with such a top or dress. Pearl necklaces wil be easier to wear with jumpers and velvet dresses/tops in winter and crisp plain shirts and jeans in summer.
With a white t shirt for example, i would wear a pearl necklace with several gold or silver dainty/chunky chain necklaces.

Pearls do amazing things for brightening the skin. Wear them together. Casual or going out. They can really “lift” your face. Lucky you 😊

I had a pearl choker with gold beads between very 80s
Inherited a double strand
Years ago DP bought me a black pearl necklace
I had the whole lot made into a very long strand and matching bracelet - knotted between each bead
Didn’t cost a fortune and I wear them much more now

Jeans and a white shirt maybe? I think then you'd look classic rather than dated.

I love pearls fwiw and wear pearl earrings quite a lot, with dresses etc. But I do dress a bit old fashioned / beyond my years / vintage. I like that style though 🤷‍♀️.

I wore one of the triple strands out last night with a loose, slash-neck smock-type top in a dark purpley-grey and skinny jeans. They looked really lovely (imo) and they do lift one's complexion!

Thanks for all the tips. I won't be selling them, obviously. I don't think I will be getting them re-strung either tbh as I think the whole point for me is that they have a slightly vintage vibe. But it's great to hear that so many people are wearing and loving them!

I have some and had event figured this out either. Just to say, however you wear them, be extremely careful to keep them away from perfume, sun cream etc. Will destroy them!