Here it comes: the end of another year. Where did 2013 go? Regardless of what you’ve done with the past year, it’s time to shelve the regrets (or celebrate the triumphs!) and charge ahead full-steam into 2014, and there’s no better way to do it than with glitz aplenty. Wearing a cocktail ring doesn’t immediately require you to hold a drink (although, what looks cooler than a brilliant faux gem against a martini glass?), so if you’re the designated driver at this year’s New Year’s Eve bash, you can still rock the look of Daisy attending a Gatsby party, without all of the uncomfortable after-drama.
While rings have been in existence for at least 6,000 years, there’s nothing musty or stodgy about all the things you can do with them. The cocktail ring (also called cluster or dinner ring) is a slightly more modern invention (think early-ish 20th century, and closely tied to the ladies flaunting their disregard of the law regarding Prohibition). Initially, the cocktail ring had a specific design of a large center stone surrounded by smaller stones, but today, the moniker pretty much refers to any oversized ring. It’s also the most common type of costume jewelry, with a riot of possibilities attached.
Veteran fashionistas know that while the fourth finger on the left hand is sacred in some circles, decking out any or all fingers is absolutely fine. After all, why go with just one finger when there are so many choices? The point of the cocktail ring is to dazzle the room, so go bold or go home. And because it’s generally costume jewelry, the cost is far less than buying adornments made up of precious metals and gems, so getting more to display won’t require using up all your holiday cash.
For aspiring ring-wearers who may want to dip a toe into this fashion pool instead of diving in head-first, there are tons of options. To get the most attention, gemstones are the way to go. Whether a single color, different shades of the same color, or all the colors of the rainbow, there are styles to quicken anyone’s pulse: hearts, flowers, butterflies, animals…the only limits are how far you want to go. Rings can be specific sizes, or adjustable, or with stretch bands, so you can swap styles with your friends easily.
If too many gems are not your thing, there are subtler cocktail rings that still let you look fantastic. Imitation pearls, gold, rose gold and silver tone, marbled glass, and double-finger rings let you play with style and still have as much fun as the next party-goer. If you don’t want to be too subtle, try something with glitter – which is always welcome as you watch that crystal ball drop into a brand new year. Happy 2014, everyone!
