“Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.”

An iconic woman in so many ways, Coco Chanel’s words and influence continue to shape every aspect of style and fashion for women worldwide, especially when it comes to jewelry and accessories. Classic Chanel pieces are always in fashion. One of the revolutionary designer’s most famous quotes is all about accessories. Sometimes less is more, sometimes more is a bit much, but one thing is for sure… earrings are rarely left behind.

“Costume jewelry is not made to give women an aura of wealth, but to make them beautiful.”

Coco Chanel believed that if women could afford to choose from a selection of beautiful jewelry, not all precious stones, they would have the freedom to accessorize every outfit they have. She herself was rarely seen without her signature oversized earrings and ropes of pearls. A pioneer of costume jewelry, she created fabulous yet affordable baubles made of chains, beads, and glass to complement her casual daytime collection dating back to the 1930s. The tradition of Chanel earrings endures to this day, offering elegant configurations of cultured pearls, plated metals and rhinestones.

“It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory of fashion that heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure.”

Earrings often set the tone of other accessories, chosen based on a woman’s neckline, hairstyle and mood on any given day. We rarely leave home without them, however casual the look. As essential to a woman’s signature look as shoes and lipstick, the “Double C” Chanel earrings are iconic and timeless.

Here are a few favorites from our extensive selection of Chanel earrings to finish your holiday party look.

These classic Double C earrings are vintage Chanel, made in France. Black clip on earrings detailed in gold are the perfect complement to another Coco creation…the Little Black Dress.

Chanel gold tone logo hoop earrings are perfect with a strapless gown and an updo. These gorgeous hoops are oversized at 3” and flawlessly pair with an eye catching cocktail ring. Regally engraved with iconic imagery, these recognizably Chanel earrings are at once bold and elegant.

This pair of Chanel 18K yellow gold Comete Diamond Star Earrings is a luxury worth having, Not ALL jewelry needs to be costume, of course. This rare and exquisite pair of Chanel earrings will wow your friends and family for years to come. Created of 18-karat gold with an elegant shooting star design, accented with diamonds.

If you love high-end jewelry, you’re probably familiar with Chanel earrings. However, knowing how to pair a single favorite with any outfit is essential. This allows you to wear them with any outfit without looking repetitive, and where there’s a will, there’s a way. Check out these tips and tricks for adding those pair of new earrings to any outfit, whether for business, a formal affair, or a casual day out.

1. Pair Stud Earrings with a Business Ensemble

Black or navy business suits can be dull when worn without embellishment. If you want to add some pizzazz to your professional look while still keeping it tasteful, pair your crisp suit with some stud earrings. While adding too many accessories can appear loud and unprofessional, you can achieve a good balance with the right pair of studs and Chanel earrings have plenty of choices when it comes to that. Simple gold stud earrings can add class and color to a skirt suit and pumps, or consider adding even more flair to your business suit with turquoise stud earrings.

Pearl earrings are also a great way to make a statement at the office while adding a touch of femininity. As a matter of fact, pearls are better than diamonds when it comes to business attire since they’re understated while still carrying an air of sophistication. However, it’s best to just wear one pearl accessory at a time. Don’t overdo it with a pearl necklace, bracelet, and earrings all at once, or attention will be attracted to your jewelry, rather than your work ethic and professionalism.

2. Wear Statement Chanel Earrings with a Simple Outfit

It’s best not to pair large statement earrings with the same style of clothing. If you’re going big and bold with your earrings, you should opt for a simpler aesthetic with your garments. For example, consider dressing up in a plain white frock or crisp blouse with a bold necklace or eye-catching earrings. You can also add an edge with high fashion designers like Chanel, a detail that elevates you from savvy dresser to true tastemaker. Wearing a classic designer makes it simple to jazz up something as casual as a pair of jeans and a sweater, especially if you go for statement earrings. Dangling earrings are an excellent choice for more laid-back ensembles, and add elegance to a basic look. If you need to dress up for a formal event, consider pairing some bold Gripoix earrings with a simple black dress. Taking a note from the incomparable Coco Chanel, highlighting her statement that fashion is fleeting, but style is infinite. In other words, you can follow the trends, but being truly memorable and unique is all in the details.

3. Add Sparkly Earrings to A Dress or Gown for a Night on the Town

Flashy or sparkly earrings are a great look for a night out on the town. Chanel offers a wide selection of rhinestone and crystal earrings in a diverse range of designs and colors. While a night out gives you free range to select almost any type of accessory you like, you can never go wrong with vintage earrings. These work especially well with a simple black or red dress for a classy look during a first date or girls’ night out. If you’re headed to the club with your friends, try pairing a slinky dress and sky-high heels with a pair of crystal earrings. For more formal nights out, pair diamond earrings with your gown at a festive gathering or ball.

4. Choose the Proper Color Scheme to Match Your Earrings with Your Outfit

Many people believe that mixing gold and silver jewelry is a huge fashion faux pas. Fortunately, when you’re wearing Chanel, mixing and matching gold with silver creates a stylish contrast. Consider pairing silver earrings with a chunky gold necklace. If you decide to forego the metallic in favor for a pop of color, Chanel jewelry comes in a wide range of hues so you can easily match the color of your earrings and jewelry to your outfit. An easy way to figure out which colors complement each other is to use the color wheel as a guide for matching your earrings to your dress. Colors across the wheel from each other tend to look great together, so consider pairing a red dress with a pair of green earrings. You can also match colors next to each other on the wheel. For example, a blue dress looks perfect with violet earrings.

There you go with some really good ideas for looking your ultimate best. And if you are looking for unique and eye-catching jewelry, TrueFacet’s the perfect place to browse luxury items. Take a look at our marketplace today!

While Coco Chanel’s ready-to-wear designs (labeled under the House of Chanel) were understated, her jewelry was bold, flashy and highly ornate. We explore the history of Chanel jewelry, the most influential jewelry designers behind the Chanel brand, and how they, alongside Coco Chanel, revolutionized the costume jewelry industry.

The 1920s Perception of Fine vs. Costume Jewelry 

Until Chanel arrived on the fashion scene in the later 1920s, only the wealthy could afford jewelry as it was made nearly exclusively with precious stones and fine metals, and even still, the high cost of jewelry meant women could only wear one to two pieces. Meanwhile, costume jewelry was a sort of style faux-pas and looked-down upon as being only for women who couldn’t afford the real thing. Although Chanel had an impressive fine jewelry collection of her own, bestowed to her by her adoring suitors, she preferred mixing fine pieces with costume jewelry. Chanel was notorious for layering on ropes of faux-pearls and necklaces that contrasted beautifully against her minimalist designs.

The Introduction of the Chanel Maltese Cross Cuff

For her own line of costume jewelry, Chanel turned to Duke Fulco di Vedura. In 1927, Fulco was working for Chanel as a textile designer but Chanel quickly noticed his talented eye and asked him to update the settings of her own fine jewelry. Soon after, Chanel made Fulco the head designer of Chanel jewelry, a post he would hold for eight years.

Together, Chanel and Fulco designed the now iconic Chanel Maltese Cross motif. The cross design (also known as the Almalfi cross) was loosely inspired by the star of the Knights of Malta. In Fulco’s interpretation, the Maltese cross was filled with multi-color semiprecious stones and set upon a mismatched pair of white enamel bracelets. Chanel adored these bracelets, added them to her personal wardrobe and wore them constantly. The Chanel Maltese Cross cuffs became commercially available around 1930 and have remained a mainstay of the Chanel jewelry collection since.

Chanel, Fine Jewelry, and the Bijoux de Diamants

In 1932, Chanel began experimenting with her first and only fine jewelry collection, dubbed the Bijoux de Diamants. The traditional fine jewelry designers largely scoffed at her foray, criticizing her designs and dismissing her as a simple dressmaker and costume-jewelry designer. The Chanel house did not dabble in fine jewelry until 1993 when the brand opened a fine jewelry and watch boutique in Paris’s Palace Vendome. To commemorate the event, Chanel released the original Bijoux de Diamants designs alongside their latest collection.

Rebuilding After World War II with Robert Goossens

In 1939, World War II was already underway and Chanel closed up her shop for the duration of the war. Chanel reopened her store at 31 Rue Cambon in 1954 and resumed production of her ready-to-wear and jewelry collections.

She turned to the French jeweler Robert Goossens to design her collection. Goossens’s father was a metal foundry worker and he had trained as an apprentice in jewelry making in his youth. Before collaborating with Chanel, Goossens was already well-known in the couture jewelry space, having designed for Rochas, Balenciaga, and even Chanel’s rival Elsa Schiaparelli, after being tapped by Cristóbal Balenciaga to design a Byzantine-style cross necklace for Balenciaga’s presentation.

Goossens shared Chanel’s love of mixing faux and semi-precious stones in his designs. He is best-known for designing a gold brooch with three pearls and a diamond which Chanel wore herself and replicated in her collection. Goossens would continue designing for the Chanel brand, even after Coco Chanel passed away in 1971.

Chanel Jewelry Today

Today, the Chanel brand still honors its costume jewelry origins and Coco Chanel’s fundamental beliefs that jewelry should be a healthy (if not playful) mix of fine and costume jewelry so the wearer can pile up inexpensive jewels that pair perfectly with their ensemble. Chanel herself was a pioneer in the trend of costume jewelry and the iconic designs are as popular today as they were when they debuted.