Idiosyncratic Style

Don’t have a ton of cash to shop accessories this season? Create your own one-of-a-kind layered necklace at almost no cost. Inspired by of the moment designers, you can make your own version to showcase your idiosyncratic style.

(clockwise from left) Tom Binns, Abs and Janice Savitt

STEP 1: GATHER SUPPLIES
Look through your jewelry box for pieces of jewelry that you don’t wear or are bored with. If you haven’t got a lot to work with, check out thrift stores for small bags of broken jewelry or even find some cheap pieces from a mall jewelry store. You will also need small jewelry pliers and some fine jewelry wire that can be found at any craft store. You can also pick up new jewelry closures and extra lengths of various interesting chains at reasonable prices.

STEP 2: PREP YOUR PIECE
Start to take apart all the jewelry you have acquired. Separate all the bits into different groups (closures, chains and charms). Choose a design theme for your necklace, something to keep you on point throughout the creation process. Seperate the pieces that support your design theme (tone, style, bling…)

STEP 3: BUILD YOUR NECKLACE
Choose your base, a length of chain you will use to build the rest on. I like to use small safety pins to secure pieces together temporarily, because sometimes the design changes as you work. Once I am sure of placement, I then use the jewelery wire to neatly secure the pieces together. If the safety pins support your design, go ahead and leave them in or add them later. Try to have a lot of fun throughout this process, play with the placement and the pieces you use to find the most interesting combinations. Be sure to securely fasten a closure to the ends of the necklace.

STEP 4: WEAR YOUR CREATION
Your new necklace is simple enough to wear for day and cool enough to wear at night, so wear your new designer necklace anywhere with the pride of knowing you made a unique piece that no one else will have and you didn’t even have to open the wallet, just your mind and creativity.

The Gun Metal Tangl Necklace was made for less than 20$.
The Layered Nautical Necklace was made from found objects and cost 0$.