A string of delicate antique pearls might not be the first thing you’d think to reach for when putting together a party-ready outfit, but when paired with the right clothes, it can add an edge of elegance.

I took one of my favorite pieces in my jewelry collection, my great-grandmother’s pearl necklace with an intricate yellow diamond clasp. The key to making such a refined piece work with a VIP-style outfit is to keep the focus off of it by drawing the eye to another part of your ensemble. You want the pearls to look almost like a casual afterthought, like they were a natural and obvious edition to your look.

In this case, I drew the eye to my legs with this bold pair of oversized floral print jeans. The black background makes the bright flowers pop and keeps the pants from looking too gaudy or summery. A black tank top compliments the denim nicely without competing for attention. Together, the lace texture of the top and the feminine floral print add some more casual elegance to the look, so the pearls seem perfectly in place.

I paired the clothes with some studded gray boots I picked up last summer at a thrift store in Brooklyn (for only $12!) to edge things up a little, and painted my nails with a cool shade of periwinkle to keep from going down the classic red polish route. By adding little twists like studs and blue tips, you can keep this look fresh instead of frumpy.