Yahoo Finance Power earrings + matching lipstick = the easiest two-minute Zoom styling hack
Jessica Wu
(@jessicazwu)Are you struggling to stay motivated? Can’t be bothered to brush your hair or even get properly dressed? You are not alone.
This is without doubt one of bleakest Januarys on record, and letting things slide a tad is not only understandable; it’s entirely human. But before you resign yourself to WFB (Working from Bed), I’ll let you in on a little secret.
A quick feel-good fix that takes just two minutes, requires minimal effort and is guaranteed to make you queen of the screen on your next Zoom call. It’s a game of matching your makeup to your jewellery, one I like to call Slap and Bling.
A slick of bold lipstick and a coordinating chunky necklace or big dangly earrings is not only a max-impact, minimal effort styling solution that ensures you’ll standout in that little square on the screen, but it’s remarkably effective at lifting the spirits from zero to hero.
And staying upbeat is crucial right now, not only for our mental health but because positivity has been clinically proven to boost our immune systems. Yes really.
Read on for four positively perfect pairings…
The classic combo
When it comes to bling and beauty pairings, gold jewellery and a bright red lip is right up there among the classics. “Wearing big gold earrings and a red lip shows confidence and can really lift your mood,” says London-based jewellery designer Alona Shelemy, whose eponymous label ByAlona majors in chunky-but-glam gold ear candy, chokers and chains.
The bling: Try Alona’s Lana Choker (£138, Byalona.com), which also doubles as a bracelet, or Colville’s shoulder-dusting sculptural Pasticinni gold earrings (POA, Colvilleofficial.com).
The beauty: Gold jewellery looks great with warmer tones, so look for reds with orange pigments like Lisa Eldridge Velvet Morning (£26, lisaeldridge.com) or Urban Decay vice lipstick in Tilt (£18, cultbeauty.co.uk).
Totally tonal
Those feeling adventurous should consider pairing tonal colours for a more joined-up aesthetic. From lilac earrings with a deep mauve lip, to beaded pink earrings with a pale pink gloss, this one is great for anyone who fancies trawling through their jewellery box, or the back of their makeup drawer. Model and stylist Jessica Wu has mastered the look with aplomb. “I get inspired by the colours, textures, and construction of my earring collection,” she says. “I play a lot with both complementary and contrasting pigments, and pair them with textures like gloss, glitter, pearls, or gemstones.”
For Wu, the key to coordinating a look is “to find an element in the jewellery—whether it’s texture, shape, or colour—and emulate it! I love drawing fun shapes on my eyes and incorporating multiple colours on my entire face.”
The bling: Try Butler and Wilson’s Crystal stud and cone drop earrings (£48, butlerandwilson.co.uk), which are available in a dazzling array of hues
The beauty: Then pick a matching shade of Nars Must-Have Mattes lipstick (£22, lookfantastic.co.uk)
Silver, foxy
From chain bracelets at Hermes to Louis Vuitton to oversized chain necklaces at Givenchy, silver links were all over the SS21 runways. Show the Zoom room who’s boss in industrial strength neck candy or bulbous silver ear baubles, paired either with a minimal makeup and a slick of eye shimmer on the lids, or a cooler toned red lip. “Choose a red lipstick with bluish undertones,” recommends makeup artist Nathalie Eleni. “The cool tones work perfectly to compliment each other and create a subtle balance.”
The bling: Try London label Tilly Sveaas’ large silver curb chain necklace (£870, Tillysveaas.co.uk) or Lucy Williams x Missoma’s silver chunky ridge hoop earrings (now £48, missoma.com).
The beauty: Eleni recommends Charlotte Tilbury’s Red Carpet red (£25, Charlottetilbury.com) or Guerlain’s Rouge G lipstick in shade 219 ( £20, Guerlain.com)
The new neons
A shot of retina-burning brights is just what your video conference vibe needs after 2020’s tracksuit washout, and splashes of neon were seen dotted all over the ss21 runways, from Versace to Chanel. There’s also been a neon uptake among fine jewellers like Bea Bongiasca, Solange Azagury Partridge and New York-based Melissa Kaye, who specialises in delicate diamond and neon enamel designs perfect for peacocking. While she tends to style her acid bright gems with neutral makeup, she would “love to see the neon blue worn with a really cool coordinating eye liner, or the pink with an amazing neon pink lipstick,” she says. “We always encourage wearing jewellery to match your mood and I suppose beauty is similar in that vein.”
The bling: Try Melissa Kaye’s neon yellow enamel Ada earrings (£4,732, shop.melissakayejewelry.com), Bea Bongisca’s tendril rose gold and enamel earrings (£510, matchesfashion.com) or Mers’ Neon Blaze Star Hoop earrings (£55, Emila.co.uk)
The beauty: For a nude shimmer try By Terry’s Terrybly Shine Lip Gloss in Honeymoon Kiss (£30, lookfantastic.com), or for a neon starter pack try MAC’s Ultimate Brights Lips Kit (£52.50, Maccosmetics.co.uk)
5 of the best statement earrings to buy now
Froggie crystal and faux-pearl drop clip earrings, £150, Shrimps at Matchesfashion.com
Treasure sun earrings, £130, Soru.
Crystal stud drop earrings, £48, Butler and Wilson. Butlerandwilson.co.uk
Heart crystal-embellished chandelier earrings, £180, Rosantica. Matchesfashion.com
Colville Pasticcini earrings, POA, colvilleofficial.com
