Many of you will think a stacked neck is merely about putting loads of jewelry on and leaving the house, but that’s only about a tenth of it – Drew (aka Dylanlex) has taken it to another level (read:artform) and I couldn’t be happier to share her secrets with you today. In the last year or so Drew and her sister have built a loyal following, inspiring stacked necks and perfect minimalist/logo tee/sport luxe outfits all over the world. Drew and I recently got chatting about our love of craftiness and neck jewels in particular, and it wasn’t long before we were feverishly planning her cameo here on A Pair & A Spare. Read on for a pro’s guide to the stacked neck.
You’ll Need:
- 5 or 6 necklaces that you are willing to break up, hit your local flea market to find bulk deals
- Pliers
- Scissors
- Jump Rings
- Stringing Wire (Metal or Rope)
- Extra Chain (in case length alteration is needed)
How to:
1. Pick the base necklace. The base necklace needs to hold the weight of the rest of the pieces, so make sure it is sturdy, the clasp is strong, and it has loops or holes where knots can be tied.
2. Take the second piece and center it on the base necklace. You will have to cut the excess on either sides of the necklace and attach Jump Rings. Cut 4” of stringing wire and tie the second piece to the base. The jump rings will help keep the conjoining parts secure, yet flexible so they don’t snap while wearing.
3. Select the third necklace and do the same as the second – center it. Cut the excess on either side if there is any and attach jump rings.
4. Attach on the other side with jump rings.
5. Work your way down the necklace, using jewelry wire to secure and making sure to use various types of necklace to create interesting textures.
6. Some necklaces you will have to cut to size and others, like chokers and other short necklaces, won’t need to be cut. Keep the leftovers for your next project!
7. Finally, attach large and eye catching pieces necklace to the bottom of the necklace to finish it off.
Voilà – a unique statement dylanlexneck is made!
To stay up to date with what Drew is wearing/making follow her on instagram @dylanlex, you can also tag your own stacked neck with #dylanlexneck to share your own creation with her!
Amazing, I’m totally in love with all her necklace and this one is fabulous!
Your blog is simply perfect 🙂
Thanks so much, Drew is an absolute artist when it comes to these neck pieces, I really want to make one but also kinda want a custom piece by her 🙂
The final necklace is gooooorgeous.My only doubt is about the base necklace, I think it’s a bit different style from the others.Either way I really like it.Very good job! 😀
In my mind Drew shows us that clashing the pieces creates different and interesting textures – but you can always match them more closely if that suits you more. x
So lovely and lux! xx
Pretty much the definition of ‘luxe’, particularly paired with a simple tee like Drew always does.
Speechless!
Love the result, amazing unique piece!
Thanks Tessa, Now all you have to do is find some necklaces you want to break up!
Wow. Though I really love this, I can´t help but wonder if you could comfortably wear this for a day… I mean it must be pretty heavy, right? :O
That’s very true, I imagine it would feel like a breastplate. But I guess it really depends on how heavy the original pieces are – if you think it would hurt you in terms of the weight I would look for lightweight pieces to break up. x
Hello!
Waou!it s so beautiful!I love those necklaces!
Have a nice day!
stunning! you so creative! join our giveaway – polka dot overall: http://babu-new-and-upcycled.blogspot.de/2013/05/our-first-giveaway.html
Wow this is goregous! I’ll def hav to try some of these soon!
a m a z i n g
That is gorgeous! I have so many necklaces here that lack personality, maybe they’ll be more interesting stacked.
I wonder, though, does it feel a bit too hefty on the neck?
Another commentor mentioned that, it might do. I’ll ask Drew how she handles the weight: 🙂 If you are worried I would go for lighter necklaces to break up – the one I saw Elle wearing at Fashion Week had a bunch of delicate chain and rhinestone necklaces wired together which I am sure wouldn’t be too heavy.
It looks so beautiful!
awesome!!!
what an intricate idea! The final product is amazing!!
XO Sahra
EffortlessCool
Thank you Sahra, I’m really in love with the antique feel x
OMG! That turned out great! Looks great on you!
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Thanks Olivia, so glad you like! It’s actually Drew wearing the piece and I have to agree she makes it look good. 🙂
wow! your blog is so interesting:)
WAITING FOR YOU ON MY BLOG FOR MY FIRST GIVEAWAY!
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This is necklace is RAD!!!! Putting this project on my to-do list for sure!!
~Kelsy
Great to hear Kelsey, let me know if you ever get around to it. x
oh my goodness Geneva, this may be my favorite DIY of yours yet! LOVE.
Thank you so much Grace, it was actually Drew that put this together – I wish I had this idea 😉
Amazing!
I didn’t really like the base necklace (and I still think it looks a bit off) but the final piece still looks gorgeous. I’m absotutely in love with all the other necklaces too.
I like the way it came together too. I think the focus here is ‘anything goes’ – when you make your own you can carefully choose which pieces you want to include – or work closely with drew to custom make something special for you. xx
omg I looooove this, it’s stunning! just, wow.
wow. amazing.
did it took a long time?
Good question! I’ll have to ask Drew. x
Looks brilliant! I’m not convinced it would be as easy as you make it look though!
Lauren
livinginaboxx
Hahaha the best DIYs never are as easy as they look, and Drew has made so many she probably has it down pat – choosing the pieces would probably be the hardest.
This girl and this necklace is simply amazing! Been following her for a while and i’m obsessed!!
Great to hear you love her as much as I do!
Love this! xx
Loving this! I used to make a lot of jewellery when I was younger and this post has inspired me to begin again, but until I have more time I might have to check Drew’s creations 🙂
Great to hear, you will DIE when you see all Drew’s amazingness…
well well well it’s about tiiiiiime drew finally let her secret out!!! drew’s necklaces are truly amazing and are a piece of art. as much as i would like to try this myself, i don’t know if it’ll come out half as amazing as any of her pieces! i will just sit back in awe and admire it. maybe i’ll try it out one day….just maybe….one day! 🙂
I so know what you mean, I feel like the matching of jewels and chain pieces is half the task and Drew certainly has an eye for that.
ohmygosh – bedazzled amazement! That is insane in the best way possible! love it!
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Recently stumbled upon your site and I am absolutely inspired!! Such great DIYs and ideas. 🙂
I have so many necklaces that need to be freshened up, so I will definitely be using this. Thanks so much for the tutorial!! <3
That’s so great to hear, Drew would be so proud!
such an amazing delicate piece!
http://www.styleandshades.blogspot.com
It´s so wonderful. Love this diy 😀
xx
glamdevils
Wow, this is amazing.
It’s so beautiful… !
Bravo and thank you !
Xxx
http://rockmafialeblog.blogspot.fr/
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Such an awesome piece, can’t believe you made this – great work.
Such a cool blog post
Lots of love from New Zealand,
Samantha
NovellaPlace.com
xx
Thank you so much, it was actually created by Drew who I begged to come on my site hahahaha. We’re super happy you like it. x
Wow, looks amazing!
amazing… so so beautiful 🙂
Oh wow, such an amazing piece of jewellery and a nice easy to follow DIY 🙂
Love it!!
So glad you like it, it’s one of my favourite projects!
BEAUTIFUL!!
i love it. serioussly! 😉
it’s my new blog. i hope you like it ;p
photosloveit.blogspot.com
I lived it! but I wonder how hevie it may be…
http://www.ellagata.com/
Perhaps try it out with some lightweight pieces before graduating to bigger necklaces?
Super amazing! Love it! Defiantly Pin-worthy!
Pin-worthy – the definition of a good project 🙂
This is mind blowing! Thanks for the post! I’m in Thailand now so will collect the necklaces here and give it a go when I get home… not sure my attempt will end up quite so magnificent though x
Thailand would be a great place to pick up some good necklaces for this project!
Wow! How a amazing it is!
My A Little Style Book
Absolutely stunning – may have to give this one a go!
wwww.fashionablepeople.co.uk
[…] necklace DIY is […]
THANKS! that’s exactly what I’m looking for righ now!
This is beyond GORGEOUSSSSSS!!!!
I’m glad you love it as much as I do, Drew in an artist!
Amazing, but it’s way too heavy for my tiny body!
Haha perhaps you could try attaching together some smaller lightweight pieces? Although Drew is pretty tiny and seems to manage. 🙂
Wow! This is really amazing! I just found out your blog…
Yay!!!!! I’ve been eagerly awaiting instruction to create these.
this necklace is amazing. i really like your blog!!!.
where are you come from?
beauty post G, will be trying this one out for sure!! love the simplicity.
Gush, this is just perfect!
WOAH! This is some serious BLING – I am so trying this.
♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.
http://shoe-fiend.blogspot.co.uk/
Amazing. I tried something like this a few years ago but it did not turn out remotely this fabulous. Putting the pieces together in a way that looks good is a bit of an art form.
ph gosh I absolutely love that idea!!
x
[…] DIY DylanLex Stacked Necklace […]
This is a great idea!
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does she sell these anywhere???
Ten je naprosto skvělý!! Určitě to zkusím.
This is sooooooooooo amazing! You’re so talented!!!!
http://www.semjeitonenhum.com
[…] attempted make my own which didn’t go as well as I had hoped. Luckily for of us ‘A Pair And A Spare‘ teamed up with Drew from the duo to show us how they really build their […]
[…] go check out a pair & a spare’s blogpost on DIY dylanlex stacked […]
[…] From the geniuses at a pair and a spare. […]
Very Sass & Bide, love it! Gonna give this one a go!
OMG this is amazing! I can’t wait to try my hand at it. Thanks so much for these ideas. Great job!
[…] 1. Dylanlex Stacked Neckpiece via A Pair and a Spare […]
awesome
[…] stacked necklace from A Pair and a Spare makes a serious statement. It takes a few different necklaces to get this over-the-top look […]
Oh swoon!!! I absolutely love love love these. Any other ideas on where to buy necklaces for this project? I don’t live in an area with flea markets. Maybe somewhere online?
P.S. Love your site and you are stunning!
[…] Source […]
Hi there. I’m interested in buying a piece. How do I contact Drew? Thanks
[…] completely fell in love with not only DYLANLEX necklaces designs but mainly about the process behind. All the neckpieces she designs are stacked necklaces, she will combine different pieces […]
[…] A Pair and A Spare has created a statement necklace with crystals and also presented how to make a stacked necklace. Honestly WTF girls show us how to create a vintage statement necklace as well as a woven chain […]
WOW WOW WOW WOW! The final piece looks store bought! I admire your work so much! Amazing content!
x Tanaka | http://www.swankxtar.com