The Garnet Edit: Color Inspiration for January
January is a month for motivation, fresh starts, and getting cozy with a new journal or a good book. Garnet, January’s birthstone, is believed to symbolize love, passion, and grounding energy. Known for boosting confidence and promoting emotional balance, garnet is said to help one stay rooted while embracing new beginnings. This is the perfect stone for setting intentions for the year ahead!
In this post, we’ll explore how garnet can inspire every aspect of your life this month, from your wardrobe to your dinner table! Let’s dive into the beauty of garnet and all the ways we can channel this stone’s warmth and energy ❤️
Burgundy Glam and Wine Red Nails
Red nails are a personal favorite of mine. If I’ve got polish on my hands, chances are it’s some shade of red. I usually go for warm and bright reds in the warmer months and then once things start to lean a bit cooler I’ll begin to bring in deeper shades like OPI’s Malaga Wine. There’s just something about a lovely rich red that feels so sultry and mysterious. The same can be said for garnet lipstick! For a lip that feels timeless and put together, opt for a classic red like Charlotte Tilbury’s So Red, and for a bit more edge, seek out a deep wine shade like Night Crimson or a dark berry lip stain.
For other regal red touches in your makeup bag, seek out blushes like Glossier Cloud Paint in Storm, Eve, or Black Cherry. Eyeliners like Urban Decay’s 24/7 liner in Alkaline and shadows with a hint of raisin like Merit’s Solo Shadow in Social.
Pomegranate, Raspberry, and Cranberry
We couldn’t discuss garnet without also touching on the topic of pomegranates. The name for garnet actually comes from the Latin word “garanatus” which means “seed,” since garnets resemble the red, jewel-like seeds of a pomegranate! Pomegranates are known not only for their delicious fruit, but for their important role in myth and folklore throughout human history. Many cultures use the pomegranate as a symbol of abundance and fertility, as well as the relationship between life and death. Before I go down too deep a rabbit hole about symbolism (one of my MOST favorite topics!) let’s discuss how we most commonly use this fruit – to eat!
Pomegranates are as delicious as they can be a pain in the butt. If you’re like me and pomegranates weren’t readily available to you until recent years, you’ve likely struggled to get one open without a big ol’ mess. There’s a method to the madness, and I’m so glad I found that! The juice is definitely worth the squeeze, as pomegranates are wonderful in salads, paired with dark chocolate, added into sauces and compotes, and sprinkled like gems over fresh, fruity desserts. Raspberries also fit the bill, as do cranberries. They all share a similar tart, tannic flavor that can give a little depth to anything you add them to!
Accessories, Shoes, Clothing, and Knitwear
There’s just a lovely je ne sais quoi about adding a bit of red to an otherwise unremarkable outfit. I fully maintain that red is a neutral, especially wine red. I’ve always LOVED a red shoe, to the point where a teacher of mine once called my red bow flats my “signature.” If red shoes aren’t your thing, take a gander at a burgundy scarf, an oxblood leather handbag, a silk or satin skirt, a raspberry beret, or a crimson barn jacket.
Of Course, The Jewelry
We clearly couldn’t leave this one out! Even if garnet isn’t your birthstone, it’s a fantastic stone to wear as it’s so versatile. There are endless varieties of garnet and just as many colors to choose from, color change garnets even exist! The stone looks equally beautiful set in silver as it does in gold, and out of all the birth stones it is one of the most readily available and affordable (depending on the garnet you choose, of course!) Garnet is said to bring the wearer luck in love and success in business relationships. Can’t go wrong with that if you ask me!
Luxurious Home Decor: Velvet, Satin, and Linen
When I think of garnet inspired interiors, my mind conjures up images of libraries with crackling fireplaces, dimly lit romantic restaurants, and big luxurious beds with tufted velvet pillows. I think of the set dressings from Dead Poet’s Society, Moulin Rouge, and Saltburn. To incorporate a little bit of burgundy flair in your own home, start with small pops of color. A red berry wreath, a linen duvet in a rich maroon shade, a cozy knit throw blanket, art prints, and velvet blackout curtains!
Entertaining and Cocktail Hour
You can bring garnet to the table with a lovely bottle of red from Burgundy or Bordeaux, with a set of hand-dyed linen napkins, a vase of beautiful roses or ranunculus, a sparkling cocktail with cherries or pomegranate syrup, or a set of vintage glass candlesticks. Pair your garnet inspired items with white and silver for a classic feel, or shades of pinks and a fun bright red for your Valentine’s Day table!
Stationery and Gifting
There are few things as heartfelt as a handwritten letter, and it just feels so special to receive a piece of mail on pretty stationery. Small loving touches like selecting a beautiful piece of letter paper, adding a hand-pressed flower, writing with a new or favorite pen, and melting wax for a carefully stamped seal makes the letter writing just as fun as the receiving! For gifts, tie up your packages with a maroon velvet bow or select a lovely striped wrapping paper!
How do you incorporate your birthstone into your life?
For more inspiration, check out the other posts in The Edit series.
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