5 Things My Fabulous Southern Grandmother Taught Me About Jewelry

Southern women often get thrown into a trope of being over-the-top, but for as long as I can remember, that is what has made my grandmother the most effortlessly fashionable person I've ever met. The opposite of subtle, she dazzles with layers of jewelry and a loud personality. Turns out, there's much to be learned from someone who isn't afraid to be confident; and while it goes much beyond aesthetics, she especially taught me about her favorite accessory: jewelry.

From how and when to wear it to old-school tricks you'd only learn from a seasoned Southern woman, here are 5 indispensable things my grandmother taught me about jewelry.

No Earrings Are Worth Stretching Out Your Lobes—Do This Instead

Take it from a seasoned lady who actually prefers clip-on earrings to avoid this issue altogether—she doesn’t mess with stretched lobes. This old-fashioned secret has long been shared at the beauty counters of department stores as a way to keep earlobes from becoming permanently stretched after years of wearing beautiful, but heavy earrings, and all you need is a basic Band-Aid from your bathroom drawer. 

How To Do It

You take a regular-sized Band-Aid and cut it so that you’re left with around one inch. Place the inch-long bandage on the backside of your earlobe (where you’ll be placing the back of the earring later). Next, put on your earring, piercing through the bandage before securing the back of the earring. Now, the snippet of Band-Aid is basically layered between the backside of your earlobe and the earring back. 

Instantly, there is a noticeable lack of pressure, pain, and physical heaviness; but also a visible change in how the earring looks more supported from the front, rather than dragged down. 

Necklace Clasps Aren’t Cute—Here’s How To Keep Them In Place

There’s nothing more irritating than looking in the bathroom mirror only to notice that the beautiful design of your necklace is actually on the backside of your neck, while the clasp is sitting front and center. Particularly for dressier occasions when there might be photos, such as weddings, my grandmother knows to pull out this trick: clear nail polish.

How To Do It

Gentle on skin but generally effective for hours-long wear, clear nail polish will keep your necklace in place. All you need to do is place a small dot of clear nail polish on the skin on the backside of your neck and press the necklace clasp onto it. Allow it to dry, and your necklace should stay in place and keep from rotating. Warm water and soap can remove the clear nail polish when you no longer require it. 

There’s No Such Thing As Too Many Pearls

As mentioned before, my grandmother is basically the opposite of subtle, especially when it comes to jewelry. Nothing is off limits, and layering is encouraged—on hands, wrists, and neck. Raised as a quintessential Southern lady, she knows her way around a strand of pearls, and in fact, finds them even better when layered together or mixed-and-matched. You’ll hardly get more compliments than wearing a multi-strand pearl bracelet or statement pearl necklace. 

Southern Living Coin Pearl And Disc Stretch Bracelet Set

Southern Women Always Overdress, Even At Home

This lesson was gleaned over the course of my life, watching my grandmother don red lipstick and layers of jewelry from the moment she wakes up or even if she was simply heading to play tennis or cards with her friends. For instance, Southern women will always veer on the side of overdressed, even if we’re just celebrating a holiday at home. It’s about creating a sense of excitement around being gussied up, no matter who you’ll see. That goes for jewelry, too. Why not show up with a pair of statement earrings? Why not make something feel like a truly memorable occasion?

Southern Living Multi Graduating Oval Drop Earrings

Don’t Lock Up Your Most Treasured Pieces

Wear them—and often. My grandmother once told me that she wasted years not wearing any of her mother’s heirloom jewelry pieces in fear of the occasion not being special enough, or that something would happen to them. However, she found not wearing them enough, and therefore not thinking of them and looking at them often, was much worse than donning an ill-timed cocktail ring or broach. Much like using the “good silver” and your fine china for casual meals to feel special, use the same fanciful logic with your most prized possessions, as it will make you treasure them even more.