Baddie chains and jewellery: what to buy and how to layer it

jewellery is where a $20 outfit starts looking like $200. or where a cute outfit gets ruined by a green neck lol.

here's what the chains are actually called, which metals are worth it, and how to layer them so it's a stack, not a tangle ✨

the chains, by name

chain	what it looks like	wear it
cuban (curb)	thick, flat, interlocking links	alone, or as the heaviest piece in a stack
figaro	a few short links, then a long one, repeat	everyday, layers so well
rope	strands twisted to look like rope	catches the light, looks expensive
herringbone	flat, smooth, liquid-looking	on its own. it kinks if you sleep in it, so don't
snake	smooth, round, flexible	minimal, clean girl
paperclip	long, stretched-out links	layering, holding charms
box	tiny square links	pendants, delicate layers
tennis	a row of set stones	nights out, or with a white tee to be annoying about it

which metals last

ok this is where people waste money.

• solid gold (10k, 14k, 18k). gold all the way through. won't tarnish or wear off. the investment pieces.
• gold-filled. a thick layer of gold bonded to a base metal, way thicker than plating. lasts years with normal wear. the best value, honestly.
• gold vermeil. a thick gold layer over sterling silver. good quality, but the gold can wear over time, especially on rings.
• gold-plated. a very thin layer. looks great for a few weeks, then wears through and often turns your skin green. fine for trend pieces.
• stainless steel. doesn't tarnish, survives showers and the gym, cheap. the baddie-on-a-budget answer.
• sterling silver. 92.5 percent silver. tarnishes but polishes back. the alt baddie metal.

if cheap jewellery makes you itchy, it's usually the nickel in the base metal. solid gold, sterling silver, gold-filled and good stainless steel are your besties.

the lengths

length	where it sits
14 to 16 inches	choker to the base of your neck
18 inches	collarbone. the everyday default.
20 inches	just under the collarbone
22 to 24 inches	around a crew neckline, or lower

how to layer

1. stick to one metal. all gold or all silver. mixing metals is a skill, earn it later.
2. space them about two inches apart. 16, 18, 20 is the classic stack.
3. mix thicknesses and textures. a fine chain, a figaro, a heavier cuban or rope. three of the same chain looks like a mistake.
4. heaviest at the bottom or the middle, never all at the top.
5. two or three is a stack. five is a jewellery stand.

the rest of the stack

• hoops or huggies. gold hoops are literally the most baddie accessory there is. medium for every day, big for nights.
• rings. one or two statement rings beat a ring on every finger. unless you're the alt baddie, then every finger.
• one bracelet. a chain bracelet, a tennis bracelet or a cuff. not all three.
• match your watch to your metal.

look after it

take it off to shower, swim and sleep (except stainless steel). perfume and lotion go on BEFORE your jewellery, not after. store pieces separately so chains don't tangle. wipe with a soft cloth after wearing.

FAQ

what are baddie chains?

baddie chains are statement necklaces, usually gold: cuban, figaro, rope, herringbone or paperclip chains, worn alone or layered at different lengths. it's also a meme, but if you're shopping, it's this.

what gold jewellery doesn't tarnish?

solid gold doesn't tarnish. gold-filled lasts years. gold-plated wears off fastest. stainless steel in gold tone is the budget option that survives water.

how do you layer necklaces without them tangling?

space them about two inches apart in length, mix thicknesses, and put a heavier chain at the bottom to weigh the stack down. a layering clasp that holds a few chains helps too.

why does cheap jewellery turn my skin green?

thin plating wears through and the base metal, often copper, reacts with your skin. go for gold-filled, solid gold, sterling silver or stainless steel.