HOW TO WEAR JEWELRY Selecting the right jewelry that compliments you as well as your attire is very important in projecting your confidence, individual taste, style and professionalism. There are no concrete rules of right or wrong jewelry choices buy and wear what you like. Jewelry can be used to enhance your good features, minimize your negative features or change the way you look. It can give a variety of looks to a single outfit and can even turn a plain outfit into evening attire--jewelry is the best accessory and the finishing touch to accent your individuality and personal beauty. Don't be afraid to try something different once in a while, it's fun to dress in a completely different style, it lets others know that you are confident in who you are. If you look great on the outside, you'll feel great on the inside! The Office Conservative is still the order of the day for dressing professionally. Look for a simple accent to add interest to your standard office attire. You do not want your jewelry getting more attention than you do. The louder your attire is, the less attention anyone pays to your capabilities. Compliment your business attire by wearing less flamboyant colored stones and smaller pieces. Have fun wearing jewelry to work; it reflects your personal statement of style. For Evening You can be a lot more daring with evening wear. If you are wearing a plain outfit, it will be complemented by extravagant jewelry. If you choose a lot of sparkle in your outfit, wear a fabulous pair of earrings and maybe a bracelet or ring. Too much sparkle and shine will work against you by looking gaudy no matter how fabulous your jewelry is. Keep it tasteful but not boring; you want a classy elegant look. Every Occasion Rule of Thumb:
Facial shapes: An oval face is slightly longer than is it wide with curved soft edges. A round face will have equal distance all around with the nose as a center point. It will be as wide as it is long with rounded edges. An oblong face is an elongated oval shape. Many oblongs are mistaken for an oval. But placed next to a true oval you can see that they are oblong. A heart shape is wider at the eye, temple, and cheek area with a narrow chin. The edges are soft and curved. A diamond face shape is widest at the cheeks, narrow at the chin and forehead. It has sharper features. A square face is basically straight across at the forehead and along the side of the face. The jaw is strong and square. The chin may stick out a bit. When the distance from the top of the face to the chin matches the width, this is a square face. A rectangle face is similar to a square. But the face is longer than it is wide. A triangle face is similar to a heart shape. But the lines and edges are sharper and more angular.
Select your earrings carefully, they may be the most important jewelry item to flatter your face. The color, the movement of dangle earrings or the sparkle of gems will draw immediate attention to your face and will either enhance or minimize your features. When choosing earrings, you want a contrast with your specific body frame, the shape and coloring of your face. General guidelines:
Facial shape examples:
For consideration:
Select your necklace as carefully as you choose your earrings as it will also enhance or minimize your facial features, but with the addition of your neck, bust and waist. Necklaces should complement your facial shape and the neckline of your bodice. The following chain lengths are for the average frame; you may have a smaller or larger neck so adjust to your neck size.
Facial shape examples:
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The right necklace will flatter any neckline you choose, however the most common jewelry mistakes are the wrong necklace lengths with particular necklines. You want the focal part of the necklace to be either against your skin or contrasted against the fabric of your outfit. The last thing you want is a necklace that is partially hidden in your neckline or cleavage. See the neckline page for a detailed description and examples. Rule of Thumb:
Facial shape examples:
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Bracelets Select your bracelet on your body frame, they need to be proportionate. Wider bracelets are proportionate for average to tall frames. Narrow bracelets are proportionate for petit frames. Several narrow bands or several wide bands will add balance to the average to tall full figure. For consideration:
The most important part of ring selection is comfort, your fingers must move freely. Make sure the setting and stone do not extend past your knuckle for ease of movement. Select your rings on the size and shape of your fingers and hand. General guidelines:
For consideration:
Broaches and pins are the most versatile pieces of jewelry and it does not matter what your body frame or facial structure is. They can add a splash of color and create interest on a blouse, scarf, jacket, dress, belt, handbag or hat. Wear one or several, you can create a theme or mix and match for wearable art. They can also remove focus from the stomach area when placed just below the collarbone. Purchasing your jewelry in sets of matching stones or design is by far the easiest way of matching your earrings, necklace, bracelet, broach and ring. Another great feature to this method is you do not have to wear it all together at one time, mix it up for versatility. You can also pair jewelry that you have purchased separately by keeping like styles, materials, patterns and colors together. A bold necklace looks best with either matching earrings or small studs. Bold earrings look best with a plain chain or a delicate necklace with the same colors or stones. Rule of Thumb:
Selecting Jewelry for Your Attire Simple necklines such as round, princess or square go best with elegant necklaces (assuming the buttons are small or understated). A big bold medallion or pendant is stunning with a turtleneck, shirt and jacket, sweater, suit or simple dress; however, they do not go well with prints. Light delicate jewelry goes best with light feminine or elegant dresses. Be careful when matching gemstone colors as different lighting (sunlight, fluorescent, incandescent or candle light) hits the stone, the colors may change, especially the red tones and just because the stones are the same color as your outfit doesn't necessarily mean they match. Balance vivid and bright colors with neutral colors. Your jewelry should always compliment not clash with your attire and personal coloring. Wearing the proper jewelry with the right attire for the occasion is a learned art and your careful choice of design, style, color and stone projects your personal confidence and taste. Two of the best reasons to wear jewelry are the color and interest it adds to you and your outfit. Just as you selected your earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings to your individual taste and body frame, select gems and stones that highlight and compliment your personal coloring. Stay away from the monotony of colors that will cause your face to blend into your clothing, no one wants to appear unimportant or invisible. Work with your body, not against it--balance is the key. For consideration: Pale rose quartz or moonstone earrings would disappear on a pale skinned, blonde but add a dark violet amethyst or black onyx to those earrings and you have a striking contrast. By the same token a pair of picture jasper earrings would be lost on a brunette but with the addition of a red carnelian or green onyx you have created contrast and interest. Jewelry with several different stones will match garments of different colors. For example, a bold sterling silver pendant with a green chrysoprase, blue lace agate and a lemon topaz would look great with an outfit of many of the following colors: yellows, browns, blues, greens, pinks, grays, black, off white etc. Pair the pendant with silver hoops and or a ring with a like stone. In these days of staggering economies, this is a major consideration in purchasing jewelry as you get more “bang” for your “buck”. Consider sterling silver as the “fashion perennial”. Sterling silver jewelry is unsurpassed when it comes to affordability, beauty, versatility and durability. It adapts easily to your individuality, personal style and taste to all fashion trends and all occasions. It looks wonderful weather you are wearing a casual pair of blue jeans, professional office attire or the evening out on the town. Sterling silver epitomizes classic simplicity. Compliments from Isabol of
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