In the May 2010 issue of InStyle magazine is another illuminating interview conducted by the magazine’s Contributing Editor of Fine Jewelry and Watches, Marion Fasel. The interviewee this month is the glamorous red-haired actress Debra Messing. Her comments provide a useful springboard for a discussion of personality and other personal factors that relate to an individual’s selection of jewelry.

Messing relates that her father was an executive with a costume jewelry manufacturer. Every birthday and Hanukkah gift she received was jewelry, which was all she wanted. When asked what style of jewelry she currently prefers, Messing replied:

I love anything oversized. It originated from a place of insecurity, actually. I felt my face wasn’t pretty enough for little, diminutive gems. I wanted something big and powerful to take the attention off my face. Growing up I always wore big hoops, and now I feel there’s something more ‘me’ with large pieces.

I found these comments fascinating, as insecurity is not a reason I would have anticipated would have any application to such a lovely woman.

Notice that Messing’s comments reflect that with maturity came more self-confidence, and that she still gravitates toward large jewelry with the realization that there’s “something more ‘me’” about large pieces.

Given her vibrant, outgoing personality as well as her attention-getting red hair, generously sized mouth and eye-catching smile, she has plenty of reason to gravitate toward larger pieces of jewelry – it suits the features of her face as well as her personality.

As an image consultant, I have worked with individuals whose lack of self-confidence was reflected in their choice of overly modest jewelry, a choice rooted in a fear of drawing attention to themselves. Tiny jewelry may seem like a safer choice, but in fact, in can draw attention to the disparity between the smallness of the jewelry and the woman herself if she is full-figured or has large features or a large bone structure. For example, tiny drop earrings or small studs on large ears can make the ears appear relatively larger. For such an individual, graduating to larger pieces may produce some aha! moments and genuine delight. Combining several smaller pieces of jewelry, such as necklaces or bracelets, can be an excellent way to explore the look of bolder jewelry that doesn’t feel uncomfortable.

I encourage you to read the full InStyle article, as Messing also shares her thoughts on such topics as how her hair comes into play when deciding what jewelry to wear, how the occasion influences her creative and strategic choices in jewelry, and why she is particularly attracted to white diamonds, green stones and Baroque pearls. All of these topics make great conversation-starters for a fun and possibly very enlightening discussion of personal preferences in jewelry.

JCK