ASK MS. ELITOU:  Can I polish my pearls with toothpaste?

Hello Ms. Elitou! I was given my Grandmother’s pearls as an anniversary gift and I want to make them look as new as I can. I want to polish them with toothpaste like my other jewelry but I am not sure if they would be safe if I did that. What are your thoughts?

-Aliza W.

Hi Aliza! Thank you for reaching out! I am very happy that you asked this question because I believe many have the same thought when it comes to cleaning pearls.

The answer is NO! It is very important to not use toothpaste on pearls, turquoise, vintage Bakelite, or vintage rhinestones, because they have softer surfaces and may get scratched. read more

ASK MS. ELITOU: How does a teen wear pearls?

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Dear Ms. Elitou:

I am 16 years old, and I received pearls for a Christmas gift from my boyfriend. What in the world do I wear with pearls?

-16 year old Pearl Girl

At 16 years old, there are many things that you can wear with pearls, and depending on the length of the strand, plenty of ways to wear them. Perish the thought that pearls are just for your mom and your grandma. Pearls are for every girl that loves to be stylish and girly.

Here are a few looks with pearls that are perfect for a stylish teen: read more

ASK MS. ELITOU: How do you wear pearls at the office?

Pearls are actually really easy and fun to wear at the office! You can pair them with your blazers, button-downs, suits, sweaters and all of your business attire. It is amazing that there are so many choices of pearls when looking for bracelets, rings, necklaces and earrings. You have the option of different colors, designs, and pearl sizes. When looking for pearls for the workplace, look for simplistic and chic looks so that you will not be a distraction.

Keep these simple notes in mind:

  • Your pearl strands should not fall past your bust line.
  • You should never wear more than one pearl accessory at a time to refrain from looking unprofessional.
  • Your pearls should not overpower your work attire which can make it hard for your fellow workers to concentrate.
  • read more