Is it clumsy to carry more than one ring on your hand? And once I have rings on my ring finger, what's next? Are there rules of ring etiquette? How do I make it not look in bad taste? – Beth, Brooklyn, New York
When Ariana Greenblatt, the 16-year-old “Barbie” actress, made her Golden Globes red carpet debut this month, she did so in a white Saint Laurent tuxedo shirt, black pants, a black cummerbund, and a pair of eight Chopard diamonds. rings, one on almost each of her fingers, which she waved proudly at the watching paparazzi. And she wasn't the only attendee adorned like this.
Jewelry designer Irene Neuwirth, also at the Globes, stacked seven of her pearl rings on both hands to match her white Christy Rilling dress. “There's something a little illegal about wearing a lot of rings,” she said when I asked her.
Other ring aficionados include Johnny Depp, former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele and Dior designer Maria Grazia Chiuri, all of whom like to wear jewelry on their fingers, and all of whom underline the fact that there are no real rules. when it comes to how to do it. how many rings you can wear at once or which fingers you should wear them on.
Even the idea that you have to wear an engagement ring on your left ring finger is more of a convention than an actual dictate. The ancient Romans believed that this finger contained a vein, the vena amoris, which connected directly to the heart.
Still, there are certain considerations that should be taken into account when dressing your hands. Our hands play a key role in how we interact with the world and what we put into them matters.
On the one hand, said Rachel Garrahan, curator of the jewelry project at the Victoria and Albert Museum, “the pleasure of wearing a ring, unlike other forms of jewelry, is that the wearer can enjoy it as much as everyone else.” Just look at your hand when you want a touch of joy or a boost of confidence, she said. And if one ring does that, imagine what two (or three or four) could do.
In fact, wearing the rings you love can almost reflexively inspire a different, more dramatic way of speaking. One that involves a lot more gesturing than, perhaps, has become common. Suddenly, you might find yourself moving your hands back and forth to emphasize your points with words and a bit of glitter, instead of putting them in your pockets.
On the other hand, a group of rings (is that what we should call it? A pride of rings? A bouquet of rings?) can also be associated in the eyes of the beholder with various aesthetic traditions: gothic, new romantic, heavy. metal, which in turn connect with specific stereotypes. Therefore, you must be prepared for subconscious judgments that may arise.
Plus, large rings are often impossible to ignore. The knuckles and brass knuckles aren't as far apart (although that could also be a good thing, in a pinch).
There are also practical considerations. Ms. Garrahan noticed that what she called “prong-set gemstones” could snag on fine knit fabrics. And stones like emeralds and opals are famous for their softness, making them impractical for everyday wear. Especially if you, like me, tend to slam your hands on desks and sinks.
The key to wearing them well is balance, in jewelry, as in all things.
Ms. Neuwirth, for example, wore earrings with their multiple rings, but not bracelets or a large necklace. Ms. Greenblatt wore a few simple necklaces and only small earrings. Each woman kept her clothing to a minimum.
Similarly, Michele tends to wear her rings with jeans and T-shirts, and Chiuri usually pairs her jewelry with jeans and a button-down shirt.
Modern is the contrast between grandeur and simplicity. If your hands are your focal points, you don't want the rest of your outfit competing for attention. This becomes less of a statement than a rule.
Your style questions, answered
Each week on Open Thread, Vanessa will answer a reader's fashion-related question, which you can submit to her anytime via email either Twitter. The questions are edited and condensed.
