A good necklace stack looks effortless, which is exactly why it's annoying when yours ends up in a knot by lunchtime. Here's how we build ours.
1. Use three different lengths
Leave about 5 cm between each layer so every piece has its own space:
- 40 cm sits at the base of the neck: your fine chain or small pendant.
- 45 cm falls on the collarbone: the piece you want noticed.
- 50 cm drops just below: a longer chain or a charm.
Not sure what suits you? Our size guide shows where each length sits.
2. Heaviest at the bottom
Put the chunkiest chain or biggest pendant on the longest layer. Weight pulls down, so a heavy piece on top drags everything into a tangle.
3. Mix textures, not too many shapes
A fine cable chain, a paperclip chain and one pendant looks considered. Three pendants look busy. Pick one star and let the chains support it.
4. The anti-tangle trick
Fasten the longest necklace first and the shortest last, and keep clasps at the back of the neck. If you wear the same stack daily, a little layering clasp (one clasp, two or three chains) stops them twisting together completely.
5. Gold, silver, or both?
Mixing metals is completely fine now. The trick is to repeat each metal at least twice across your necklaces, bracelets and earrings so it looks intentional, not accidental.
Start with one piece you love and build around it. Shop necklaces.