Is it cool to wear more than one ring on one hand? And once I have rings on my finger, what’s next? Are there any rules of etiquette in the ring? How can I make it not look sticky? — Beth, Brooklyn, New York
When Ariana Greenblatt, the 16-year-old “Barbie” actress, made her Golden Globes red carpet debut this month, she did so in a simple white Saint Laurent tuxedo shirt, black pants, a black cummerbund and about eight Chopard diamonds. rings, one on almost every finger, which she proudly flaunted to the watching paparazzi. And she wasn’t the only one in attendance so decked out.
Jewelry designer Irene Neuwirth, also at the Globes, piled seven of her pearl rings on both hands to go with her white Christy Rilling gown. “There’s something a little illicit about wearing a lot of rings,” she said when I asked.
Other ring lovers include Johnny Depp, ex-Gucci designer Alessandro Michele and Dior designer Maria Grazia Chiuri, who love putting jewelery on their fingers and stress that there are no real rules as to how many rings you can wear at the same time or on which fingers you should wear them.
Even the idea that you should wear an engagement ring on your left ring finger is more of a convention than an actual requirement. The ancient romans he believed that this finger contained a vein, the vena amoris, that connected directly to your heart.
However, there are some considerations to keep in mind when dressing your hands. Our hands play a key role in how we interact with the world, and what we put in them matters.
On the one hand, said Rachel Garrahan, the curator of jewelery at the Victoria and Albert Museum, “the pleasure of wearing a ring, unlike other forms of jewellery, is that the wearer enjoys it as much as anyone else”. Just look down at your hand when you want a jolt of joy or a confidence boost, she said. And if one ring does that, imagine what two (or three or four) could do.
Indeed, wearing rings you love can inspire, almost reflexively, a different, more dramatic way of speaking. Which involves a lot more gestures than, perhaps, has become common. Suddenly you may find yourself reaching out to make your points with words and a bit of sparkle, instead of putting them in your pockets.
On the other hand, a bunch of rings (what should we call it? A pride of rings? A bouquet of rings?) can also connect you in the eye of the beholder to various aesthetic traditions — goth, new romantics, heavy metal — associated with with specific stereotypes. So you should be prepared for the subconscious judgments that may arise.
Also, large rings are often impossible to ignore. Dusters and brass knuckles aren’t that far apart (although that could be a good thing, in a bit).
There are also practical considerations. Ms. Garrahan noted that what she called “tooth gems” could get stuck in knitwear. And stones like emeralds and opals are notoriously soft, so they’re not practical for everyday wear. Especially if, like me, you tend to bang your hands on desks and sinks.
The key to wearing them well is balance — in jewelry, as in all things.
Ms. Neuwirth, for example, wore earrings with her multiple rings, but no bracelets or a large necklace. Mrs. Greenblatt wore a few simple necklaces and only small studs. Each woman kept her clothing minimal.
Similarly, Mr. Michele tends to wear his rings with jeans and T-shirts, and Ms. Chiuri pairs her jewelry with jeans and button-downs.
It is the contrast between grandeur and simplicity that is fashionable. If your arms are your focal point, you don’t want the rest of your outfit to compete for attention. This becomes less of a statement than a screed.
Your style questions, answered
Each week on Open Thread, Vanessa will answer a reader’s fashion question, which you can send her anytime via e-mail the Twitter. The questions are edited and condensed.