I can’t tell you how often I have this conversation with my clients:

Her: “Help, I have nothing to wear! I need more clothes!”

Me: “I see some quite nice clothes here. Show me your jewelry.”

Her: “I don’t really have any except my [insert high-end designer delicate necklace/bracelet/earrings here].”

Me: “Okay, well, we need to get you a necklace.”

And then guess what happens?

Flat-out resistance.

Desire to wear the jewelry equivalent of 10- or 15-year old jeans or boots. (Which I would steer most people away from and which, in fact, most women would see on their own they couldn’t wear, they are just too dated.)

So what is it about jewelry that brings out people’s great reluctance? They wouldn’t hesitate to buy three different T-shirts but will have a very hard time buying three pieces of “fashion” or costume jewelry at the same price point.

I don’t have the answer, except that jewelry is small and thus easier to NOT edit and give away. So we hang on to some of it for far too long and then see we have a lot of it … and so how can we justify getting more? Unlike our clothing and shoes, jewelry doesn’t wear out, get damaged (for the most part), become too large or too small … you get the idea.

This week I shopped with a Lovely Client who bought a bunch of wonderful pieces at Nordstrom’s Anniversary sale and we ended our shopping trip with the purchase of several wonderful pieces. It was yet another reminder to me that one great necklace can amp up many, many different outfits.

Here are a bunch of great pieces, each of which could be worn in many ways, with many outfits. Most or all of them can be worn in most workplaces, too.

So go ahead, try one on! And if you’re not sure which one would be best for you, I adore shopping for jewelry and can promise you it is one of the absolute best ways to transform your style.

(Ketura Persellin is an image consultant, personal stylist, writer, and public speaker in Washington, DC, and area suburbs.)