Jewelry is an excellent way to add personality to an outfit, or update an back of the closet treasure. And just as there are guidelines to wearing clothes, there are also tricks to wearing jewelry.
Jewelry will always be more flattering and look more fabulous on you if it is kept in the same proportion as your body.
The focus on this post is Necklaces.
I am in love with the current trend of bold fashion jewelry. The bolder the necklace the better! Necklaces can bring femininity to any outfit. The trick to wearing this bold trend is to make sure it is proportionate to the rest of your body and compliments the outfit rather than competes with it.
The first thing to think about is necklace length. Remember our discussion on the v-neck? Well the same rule can apply here as well. If you are looking to add length to your body, a long chain is a great way to do it. The opposite is the choker, which can pack a powerful punch, but can also shorten and widen the neck.
Bold necklaces are very popular and are great statement pieces and look best when they are shorter. If you have a larger chest, steer clear of long bulky necklaces as they can draw attention to the chest, in a negative way.
The best way to wear loud combination necklaces is the bib length. I have put some examples below.
Anthropologie $198
Forever 21 $14.80
You can wear them with ANYTHING! Jeans, Little Black Dress, T-shirt, Button-Down, let me repeat, ANYTHING. The length of this type of necklace is usually 12 to 16 inches.
The chic factor of these necklaces is the combination of elements – pearls, chains, flowers, pendants, etc. The Number 1 Rule to follow with this type of fashion jewelry is that these are statement or focal pieces. You want to pair this with a simpler outfit, so that it is not competing. So stay away from LOUD patterns or embellished tops.
Another flattering necklace option are long necklace chains with small charms, beads, pendants, basically any embellishment. Below are some great examples of the current trend. These add great length to the body and to add your own personal touch, you can combine multiple necklaces, or add your own final touches like a flower.
When you are purchasing jewelry the most important thing to think about is whether the piece you are purchasing is a short term trend or a timeless piece.
There are great stores like Forever21 that have FABULOUS, trendy jewelry at AMAZING prices. I love stocking up on trendy pieces when I go there that are only going to get me through 2 or 3 seasons. If the necklace you are purchasing is going to last through seasons of fashion, then it is definitely a splurge piece!
Here are some great websites to get you started on your jewelry hunt and inspiration:
www.forever21.com
www.richrocksnyc.com
www.jcrew.com
www.express.com
www.piperlime.com
www.anthropologie.com