The Fine Art of Family Magazine

Forgetting to put on a ring (or several) before leaving the house in the morning is like walking out with no shoes on. It’s a bare essential for me, no matter how dressed up or down I am. It is probably the only jewelry piece I wear every single day without fail. I feel naked without it, especially my cocktails rings.

My collection of cocktail rings cover a wide range of styles to match my mood, from vintage to contemporary—the latter are mostly gifts from my boyfriend who knows better than to buy me anything but. I also own a few cocktail rings that are more like costume jewelry from stores like J. Crew and Claire’s Accessories. They’re incredibly fun, very fashionable, and totally affordable. I tend to mix and match the rings, piling them on only to take them off throughout the day (they can be a bit of a nuisance while typing). In fact, a few are safely lined up by my keyboard as I write this. But generally, I’d say one of my style mottos is “the more rings, the better the outfit.”

Why am I so obsessed? Because I tend to always have on a simple pair of jeans and a t-shirt, I never feel underdressed, messy or too casual when I’m wearing a great cocktail ring. It’s hard to believe that one piece of jewelry can bring relief to the usual “I have nothing to wear” woes, but that is precisely what an amazing ring can do. No matter what I’m put on, a big and beautiful cocktail ring always ties the look together—adding a hint of glamour to what otherwise might have been a drab outfit. Statement pieces don’t tend to go with everything. This is the exception.

Mind you, these oversized rings also look stunning (probably even more so) when you’re dressed to the nines. The aptly named cocktail ring actually became popular during the Prohibition era, when women wore these flashy pieces to notify others that they were drinking alcohol. Not only were these ladies enjoying illegal libations, but also they were doing it in style.

I think the cocktail ring is also the easiest type of jewelry to shop for. Though inexpensive rings can sometimes look garish, you can always find a gum-ball size ring at a decent price that suits your style whether it is simple and pretty or enormous and edgy. However, if you are willing to spend a bit more money, Yves Saint Laurent makes the most stunning cocktail rings, like this one that costs $375. Kendra Scott also has a fabulous one for $75 and H&M offers a few for $10 that are equally as fun.

For Monica Rich Kosann cocktail rings, visit shop.fineartoffamily.com.

[Photography by Inessah Selditz]

Published on June 1, 2010

Tags: Built to Last, Celebrating, Fashion, Heirloom, Heirlooms, Jewelry