You may have heard the term “jewel tones” before but what is the jewel tone color palette? Jewel tone colors are rich, deeply saturated colors that call on the hues of gemstones like sapphire blue, ruby red, amethyst purple, citrine yellow, and emerald green. We love the look of these deep, bold colors—including variations that call more to the semi-precious stones like topaz or garnet. We’ve pulled together our favorite ways to wear jewel tones year round.
JEWEL TONE FORMAL DRESS
Jewel tone dresses are perfect to wear to a wedding or another formal event, thanks to the richness of the color. Not as classic as a little black dress but also unlikely to upstage the bride with overly bright color. The FLEUR Dress is a beautiful example of a jewel tone dress for a wedding, thanks to its flattering ultraviolet hue that works across skin tones. The raw silk is expertly smocked by hand in India by female artisans, and the adjustable bow on the shoulder allows for a customized fit. Pair a standout dress with simple accessories in black or metallic.
JEWEL TONE SEPARATES
A head-to-toe outfit with jewel tones is a surprisingly easy way to wear them. Our Pre Spring ‘24 color Orchid is a seasonless shade, and the AURORA Top looks beautiful paired back with tonal bottoms (try a skirt in the Orchid Ikat for a complementary print. And having separates means that you can mix and match them to other pieces in your closet, or try layering them under a blazer or sweater in chillier weather.
JEWEL TONES WITH DENIM
Everything goes with denim, and the classic nature of a great pair of jeans makes a dressier jewel tone top feel more appropriate for casual occasions. Merlette’s new denim collection features 100% organic cotton denim, all finished with signature stitching details and with silhouettes that complement all our ready-to-wear pieces. Adding on a purse, like the hand-knotted MARIS Handbag, to the matching ARDENT Top gives the outfit a perfect polish.
A shirt dress is a timeless style that works as well at an office as it does for brunch with friends or at a festive event. Bright jewel tones take the shirt dress to a new place in your wardrobe, making it stand out without feeling conservative. The JORDAAN Dress, available in 0-14, offers waist-defining smocking created by hand by our team of artisans in India.
Much like a gemstone is set off by being paired with gold or silver in jewelry, jewel tone clothing is enhanced by complementary neutrals. A rich pink, like our SOL Top in Geranium, is crisp against denim, while pairing a jewel tone with black makes it even more luminous. Navy is also a lovely option to pair with jewel tones, especially other cool colors like purple or deep blue.
