The first two things to consider when choosing what to keep are deciding what your signature pieces are going to be, as well how many items your capsule collection will consist of. No two collections will look entirely the same, and choosing your essentials is a deeply personal process, albeit a difficult one.
“To be honest, I’m a bit of a jewelry hoarder. I can’t help it!” says Morgan Thomas, the founder of Yam, a jewelry brand based out of New York City. “But, I typically try to keep the essentials, the pieces that stay out on my dresser, and vintage finds I know I won’t be able to get anywhere else. Basically if you wear it everyday or haven’t seen it elsewhere, you should keep it.”
But, what if you’re just starting to build a jewelry collection for the first time?
Instead of going for the first shiny thing you see, consider selecting a few key pieces to create a stash small, then keep it that way. For Thomas, this means having a pair of hoops in her constant rotation. “Whether it’s from my own collection or a hand-me-down pair from my mom, it’s my go to item and I consider it one of the most versatile pieces in a jewelry collection,” she says.
Chari Cuthbert, the founder of BYCHARI, takes a similar approach. “I think a great pair of hoops will give you the most bang for your buck. Once you find your staple pair of hoops, you can wear them year-round to elevate any outfit.”