What Jewelry to Wear on Vacation

Packing for a vacation is easier when a few beautiful pieces work with several outfits. A favorite pair of earrings, a colorful necklace and a bracelet you love can take you from a leisurely lunch to dinner overlooking the water.

When choosing jewelry for resort wear, start with the clothes you plan to bring. Linen, simple dresses and neutral separates make a beautiful backdrop for freshwater pearls, warm gold and colorful gemstones. Here are five ways to bring them together.

1. Pair Linen with Colorful Gemstones

An ivory linen blouse or dress gives colorful jewelry room to shine. Turquoise, lapis and blue gemstones bring a cool contrast, while coral adds warmth.

Try statement earrings with a boatneck blouse and linen trousers. With an open-collar shirt, choose a gemstone necklace that sits comfortably inside the neckline. One noticeable piece can give an otherwise simple outfit its personality.

Explore the Capri collection for sea-inspired blues, freshwater pearls and gemstone jewelry to wear with your favorite linen pieces.

2. Wear Freshwater Pearls for Lunch on the Terrace

Pearls don’t need a formal occasion. Their soft luster is lovely with a relaxed shirtdress, an ivory blouse or a simple cotton dress.

A baroque pearl pendant adds interest without requiring much else. For a little more presence, choose pearl drop earrings or a necklace with sculptural pearl shapes. Let the neckline guide you: an open collar leaves space for a necklace, while a higher neckline gives earrings a chance to stand out.

Discover pearl and gold designs in the Montecito collection.

3. Add Warm Color to Neutral Resort Outfits

If your suitcase is filled with ivory, beige and navy, jewelry is an easy way to introduce color.

Coral and carnelian bring warmth to pale linen. A necklace combining blue gemstones and pearls can brighten a navy dress. You don’t need to match every color in the jewelry to your clothes—a simple background lets the stones become the focus.

For a relaxed lunch, wear a colorful bracelet with small earrings. For dinner, add a statement necklace to the same outfit.

Explore the Amalfi collection for expressive combinations of coral, pearls and colorful gemstones.

4. Choose a Statement Piece for Sunset Cocktails

Evening resort dressing can be wonderfully simple: a flowing dress, comfortable sandals and jewelry with a little presence.

Choose earrings that show beneath swept-back hair, or a statement necklace against a clean neckline. If your dress has a bold print, look for jewelry that picks up one of its colors. With a solid dress, you have more room to experiment with shape and contrast.

The Ibiza collection brings together distinctive gemstones, pearls and statement designs for evenings away.

5. Pack a Jewelry Set You Can Wear Several Ways

A coordinating set earns its place in a suitcase because you can wear the pieces together or separately.

Wear the earrings alone for a casual afternoon. Pair the necklace with a linen blouse the next day, then bring both pieces together for dinner. If your set includes a bracelet, it gives you another way to change the look without packing more.

Browse our jewelry sets to find pieces that work together throughout your trip.

A Simple Vacation Jewelry Packing List

Lay out your outfits before choosing your jewelry. Start with:

• Small earrings for casual days
• Statement earrings for evenings
• A necklace that complements several necklines
• A favorite bracelet
• A coordinating set, if you enjoy wearing matching pieces

There may be overlap—a set can supply several of these pieces. Choose what you’ll enjoy wearing and leave enough space to pack each item carefully.

Keep necklaces separate to prevent tangling and protect pearls and gemstones in individual soft pouches or a lined travel case. Remove jewelry before swimming, and apply sunscreen, perfume and lotions before putting it on.

The best vacation jewelry feels like you, wherever you’re going. Choose pieces that bring something special to the clothes you already love.

Explore Laura B. Smith Jewelry’s Montecito, Capri, Amalfi and Ibiza collections.

Made for Somewhere Beautiful.