Costume Travel Jewelry for Evenings & Parties

by Tina Boomerina (Christina Gregoire)

You can definitely wear cheap bling that’s over-the-top and still look tasteful, even if you’re over 40, 50 or 60. Yep, cheap CZ earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings with sparkle and size are perfect for drinks and dancing ‘til dawn.

Faux Pearls Light up Your Face

Some of you who grew up with overbearing mothers from days of yore may disagree with my opinion, but chic women often wear magnificently exaggerated fake sparkles when they get dressed up… especially when they’re traveling.

And, you can find tons of cute, inexpensive costume jewelry options that will look fabulous when you’re wearing: A pantsuit – when going out to dinner in Manhattan A flowing maxi dress – when going out for drinks in Waikiki A short dress – when dressing up for formal night on a cruise A pair of jeans and a tee – when jamming the night away in a nightclub

Leave the Real Jewels at Home

Except for your wedding ring or diamond studs, you should leave the valuables at home. Of course, not many of us have diamond encrusted chandelier earrings passed down to us from Grandmamma, but for those of you who do, it is probably prudent to leave the good stuff at home in a safe. Even if your itinerary includes partying with the French Ambassador, you should pack good fake bling just like everyone else does. Why risk the family tiara?

What is Costume Jewelry?

When people use the word “costume” in the phrase “costume jewelry”, it means ensemble or outfit, as in the tradition sense of the word. Yes, there are times when “costume” has nothing to do with dressing up as Cher or Marie Antoinette for a fancy dress ball.

Costume Jewelry Earrings

And, even though most people assume that “costume” is interchangeable with “cheap”, that usage is technically incorrect. Costume jewelry describes a type of accessory designed to go with a specific outfit or “costume”, as opposed to "good" jewelry, which is meant to go with anything.

Fashion Jewelry for Travel

While packing, you should lay out your evening costumes to see if they need a little spice to jazz them up into full-on eveningwear.

You should always be looking for cool, unique costume jewelry that won’t be worn by every HSN-shopping woman you run into. That way no one will know how much (or how little) you spent on your bling. And, if you already have a collection of common sparklies, try to put your common stuff together in creative ways to give your look a unique twist.

read about travel jewelry at boomerinas.com

Pendants Make Your Neck Look Longer

Large CZ Earrings

The easiest way to give your nighttime costume some groovy sparkle is to add huge earrings. Most of the time, you should start with big earrings or a traffic-stopping necklace, but not both. Well, there are exceptions, but following the “one statement piece” rule works for most women. I must admit that I am the exception. I can wear more than one statement piece at a time, but tiny jewelry looks ditzy on me.

The key thing to remember about costume earrings is that you want a pair of earrings, which are cute and substantial, but not heavy. As you may remember from your college days, it is no fun to wake up with a hangover and bleeding earlobes. (Well, at the very least, if you must wear heavy earrings, try to find clip ons.)

Plus Size Statement Necklace

Statement Necklaces

If your dress or top has the right neckline, you might want to start with a huge statement necklace, rather than statement earrings, and add other pieces from there.

Personally, I don’t favor sets. Most of the time, I prefer to mix and match costume jewelry that has the same feel, but comes from different brands or different collections or different eras. However, a matched set can be chic when you’re doing it in a retro way… like when your ensemble has a 50’s or early 60’s feel… or if your outfit is a bit mod.

Costume Jewelry: Colored Crystals

Your jewelry doesn’t have to match the color of your outfit. I think it’s more important for the color to look good with your skintone. Well, I suppose the color of your outfit should look good with your complexion… so, I hope you know what I mean. Sometimes, there’s a color that would look great with a dress or a top – if worn by someone else – but that color just doesn’t feel right to you.

You can wear pink CZ’s with a red dress. You can wear purple CZ’s with an orange dress. You can wear whatever makes you feel beautiful when you look in the mirror. So, play around like a 5-year-old in her mother’s closet. To stand out from the crowd, your stone or fake stone can even be black, as in hip jet black.

The only “rule” I’m going to insist upon is that women over 50 avoid jewelry that spells out words or has obvious labels. Those trinkets should be left for insecure, younger women. If you’ve been given a necklace that spells “mother”, leave it home and wear it for Thanksgiving.

Faux Pearls and Layers of Pearl Necklaces

One of the easiest ways to make an evening statement is to layer tons of pearl necklaces (or any kinds of necklaces) ala Coco Chanel.

This method is almost foolproof. Just pile on the necklaces until you reach Nirvana… then add one more, then try taking off different necklaces until you reach the right lengths with the right balance.

I also love mabe pearls, both fake and real. I have both and I wear them for day and evening depending on my mood.

Statement Earrings Are Back

How Jewelry Much is Too Much Jewelry?

Once you have found a perfect piece, either earrings or necklace, your next step is to find smaller accent pieces, with a similar feel, to give your look balance. When you have that perfect big, statement piece, everything else should complement but not compete.

It’s nice to wear a bracelet or a ring, but it’s not mandatory. A necklace always requires earrings but not the other way around. This is especially true when a necklace would detract from a great neckline. Be careful with these necklines:

Strapless dress
One Shoulder dress or top
Halter top

Matching can look old fashioned and that’s the last thing you want. Unless you know what you’re doing, it’s more chic to mix it up. To me, it feels more young and hip. So, gather some goodies together. If money is tight, check out Goodwill, consignment stores, e-Bay, and vintage sites. Fill a whole drawer with costume jewelry treasures.

Women with an attitude can wear almost any earring or necklace during the daytime, in the right situation with the right outfit, although huge CZ drops are almost exclusively for evening.

Every woman needs a wardrobe of cute, fun travel jewelry. And, remember that nighttime changes everything. It’s going to be dark. People will be drinking. So, don’t go all pale and wallflower on me – wear jewelry that people will notice.

More Articles for Baby Boomer Women:

What to Wear for Cruise Dinners and Formal Nights

Best Swimsuits for Women Over 40, 50, 60

23 Trendy Plus Size Clothing Sites for Large Women: Sizes 1x - 12x

Best Women's Crossbody Bags for Travel

Photo Credits: Prshots.com

Main Photo: DebenhamsUK 2013.
Faux Pearls Light up Your Face: Steve Madden spring 2015.
Costume Jewelry Earrings: MonsoonUK spring 2015.
Pendants Make Your Neck Look Longer: Steve Madden spring 2015.
Plus Size Statement Necklace: Evans spring 2015.
CZ Statement Earrings: RiverIslandUK 2013.
Statement Earrings Are Back: Accessorize spring 2015.
Mabe Pearl Earrings Fake Faux: DebenhamsUK 2013.

What do you think of this article? Leave a comment at the bottom of the page and let me know where you find good fake bling. I'm always looking for it and I'm sure my readers are too.