How to Incorporate Trends Into a Jewellery Capsule Wardrobe

No matter how committed we are to a capsule wardrobe, trends still have a way of influencing our style (and our shopping habits). One minute you’re perfectly content with your minimal jewellery, the next you’re eyeing up an absurdly colourful pendant thinking, maybe I’m a statement jewellery person now?

You’re not. Probably.
But also… maybe?

The good news is you don’t have to choose between your carefully curated capsule and having fun with trends. You can absolutely stay true to your style and experiment without impulse-buying a bunch of gold-plated regrets you’ll only wear once.

Here’s how to do it.

Start With a Solid Jewellery Capsule

Before you start chasing trends, you need a solid foundation of everyday staples you’ll actually wear. That’s where our 5-4-3-2-1 Jewellery Formula comes in. Think of it as the capsule wardrobe checklist for jewellery, only way less rigid and a lot more wearable.

Here’s what you need:

• Everyday Staples (3–5 pieces): The go-tos you wear on autopilot: simple chains, classic studs, dainty bracelets, and that ring you never take off. They work with literally everything.
• Statement Pieces (1–3 pieces): The showstoppers and conversation starters. Think: tarot card necklaces, raw crystal pendants, or chunky skull rings. The weirder, the better.
• Signature Jewellery (1–2 pieces): Pieces that feel like you—the ones you'd miss if you left the house without them. Not just accessories, they’re your personality in metal form.
• Special Occasion Jewellery (1–3 pieces): For moments when a simple chain just won’t do. Vintage pearls, a diamond necklace, or that piece that makes you feel dressed up—even in jeans.
• Seasonal or Trendy Pieces (1–3 pieces): The fun ones—charms, enamel, or anything playful to keep things fresh. Trendy, but not throwaway. (And definitely not gold-plated!)

At Oh My Clumsy Heart, that’s kind of our thing: recycled metals, minimal designs, made to last longer than whatever micro-trend TikTok’s obsessing over this week. Start here, and you’ll have a jewellery wardrobe that can do it all, from everyday errands to dramatic exits.

Figure Out Which Trends Are Actually Worth It

Not every trend deserves a spot in your jewellery box. Some are fleeting (remember feather roach clips?) others stick around far longer than expected. The trick is figuring out which ones are actually worth it—as in, the ones you’ll still be wearing long after the trend is over.

Here’s how to spot a keeper:

• It fits your style, not just your feed: If it looks great on influencers but feels like someone else’s jewellery in real life, it’s probably not the one. The best trend-led pieces should blend seamlessly into your wardrobe, without making you question your personality.
• You’d wear it even if it wasn’t trending: If it still makes your heart flutter, without the social media validation, you’re onto something good. Bonus points if you want to wear it with everything.
• It’s well made: Fast fashion is fun—until your jewellery falls apart or turns your fingers green. Look for pieces made from recycled metals, gold-fill, or sterling silver that are built to last, not end up in a landfill.
• It complements your existing pieces: If a trendy piece plays nicely with your existing jewellery capsule (hello, 5-4-3-2-1 formula), it’s more likely to earn its place. You want to expand your style, not derail it.
• You can imagine wearing it five years from now: You might not wear it every day, but if you can see it living a long life in your collection (and not collecting dust next to those novelty earrings), it’s a keeper.

When it comes to trends, we’re all for a little fun. But if it’s not sustainable, not your style, and not something you’ll actually wear longer than a few weeks... it’s just clutter in disguise.

Choose Your Metal Wisely

Mixing metals used to be a faux pas. Now it’s encouraged. But if you’re trying to build a jewellery capsule that doesn’t spiral into chaos every time you see a new trend, it’s worth picking a lane—mostly gold or mostly silver.

Don’t worry, figuring it out doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, we’ve written a whole guide on how to decide between gold or silver jewellery. But here’s the short version:

• Peek inside your wardrobe: Warm tones (browns, rust, olive)? Gold will look best.
• Cool tones (black, navy, jewel tones)? Silver’s your match.
• Mostly neutrals? Lucky you, you can wear either—or both.

Mixing metals is great for an eclectic look, but sticking with one dominant metal keeps your capsule cohesive, your style intentional, and your impulse buys in check. It makes getting dressed easier (and quicker), and it stops your jewellery box turning into a chaotic mess of microtrends.

Use Layering to Update Your Look

Feeling like your outfits are getting a bit... samey? Layering your jewellery is the easiest way to shake things up—without having to buy a whole new wardrobe or dramatically reinvent yourself.

Even minimalist jewellery can make a big impact when layered right. It’s all about playing with proportions, textures, and lengths. Suddenly that plain t-shirt and jeans combo? Elevated. That simple dress you’ve worn a million times? Looks brand new with the right necklaces.

Whether you’re leaning into a trend or just bored of your usual routine, a little clever layering goes a long way. No shopping spree required—just some strategic stacking. And if you're not sure where to start, we’ve got you. This is how to layer jewellery and how to match necklaces to necklines.

Don’t Fall for the Fast Fashion Trap

By now, it’s hard to pretend we don’t know better. That £5 necklace you picked up at the till? You know it wasn’t ethically made—no matter how much the brand talks about “eco” packaging or “conscious” collections.

Every year, piles of cheap jewellery are churned out to match whatever trend is going viral that week—made from poor quality materials, designed to fall apart, and usually binned before your skin has even finished turning green.

Don’t be fooled by the greenwashing either. Brands love to throw around buzzwords like “sustainable” and “recycled” to make their jewellery look more eco-friendly than it actually is. But unless those claims are backed up with real info, it’s just clever marketing.

Here’s how to avoid the trap:

• Ignore the marketing fluff. Look for specific material info: recycled metals, gold-fill, sterling silver. If they’re vague or evasive, there’s a reason.
• Check the price-to-quality ratio. A real sustainable piece might cost more up front, but it won’t fall apart the second you wear it.
• Ask yourself if you’ll wear it next year. If the answer is no—or worse, you’re not even sure it’ll last the month—it’s not worth it.

Trendy styles are fun, but only if they’re built to last. Choose wisely, wear often, and don’t let flashy marketing convince you that disposable jewellery is anything other than landfill in disguise.

Not sure what’s real and what’s just clever branding? Our guide to How to Spot Fake 'Sustainable' Jewellery breaks it all down.

Know When to Walk Away

You don’t have to try every trend. Seriously. Just because it’s all over your feed doesn’t mean it belongs in your jewellery box.

Before you get swept up in the hype, ask yourself:

• Will I still like this next season?
• Does it work with anything I already own?
• Do I feel like me when I wear it?

If the answer is a hesitant “maybe” or a full-body cringe, walk away. Trends are supposed to be fun, not stressful. Trust your gut. If it feels like a ‘meh,’ it’s not a must-have. There’s no shame in being picky—especially when you're building a jewellery capsule that reflects your personal style, not someone else's sponsored content.

Trends Can Be Timeless—If You Style Them Right

You don’t have to throw out your jewellery capsule to have a little fun. With a bit of thought (and a lot of self-control), you can try new trends without losing your personal style in the process.

If your capsule could use a little glow-up, we’ve got you. Our trend-aware, sustainably made jewellery is built to last—and made to match everything you already own.