Hints and Tips About Wearing Jewellery

By: Joan Booth
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:42:15
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Topics Covered -

What Gemstone for My Colouring?
To Match or To Contrast?
What Length Chain?
What Style of Earring Will Suit Me?
How Much Jewellery Should I Wear?

What Gemstone for My Colouring?

The following tips are useful guidelines to steer you towards the most suitable gemstone colour palette.

Is your hair solid silver or dark without golden highlights?
Do you have dark eyes?
Is your skin tone olive, cool or sallow?
Do you look better in silver than in gold?

Then you are amongst the majority of white Caucasian people.

You can wear clear, clean, bright colours particularly with a lot of white in them. Your best basics are black and navy.

Most semi-precious gemstones will suit you but the following are ideal:

Garnet
Amethyst
Lapis Lazuli
Moonstone
Rose Quartz
Black Onyx
Turquoise
Blue Topaz

Does your hair have golden or red tones?
Do you have medium to dark eyes?
Is your hair dark or medium dark?
Is your skin tone golden or peachy?
Do you look better in gold than in silver?

Then the colours of a typical sunny Autumn day suit you - browns, greens, burnt oranges, teal, deep aubergine. Your best basics are olive green and brown.

The following semi-precious stones are ideal for your colouring:

Peridot
Carnelian
Tiger Eye
Coral
Turquoise
Citrine (especially the golden yellow to orange shades).
Amber
Smokey Quartz
Labradorite

Does your hair have golden or red tones?
Do you have clear, light to medium eyes?
Is your hair medium to light?
Is your skin tone golden or peachy?
Do you look better in gold than in silver?

Then neutral tones are your best basics highlighted with purpley-blue, soft coral or turquoise.

The following semi-precious stones are ideal for your colouring:

Turquoise
Smokey Quartz
Coral
Labradorite
Amethyst
Aqua Chalcedony

Is your hair medium to light with cool tones?
Is your complexion a typical English Rose - radiant with translucent skin and apples in your cheeks?
Do you look better in silver than in gold?

Then all shades of pastel blue, pink and mauve suit you and your basics are grey and a greyed navy.

The following semi-precious stones are ideal for your colouring:

Blue Chalcedony
Moonstone
Rose Quartz
Amethyst
Blue Topaz
Fire Opal

To Match or To Contrast?

- As a rule of thumb contrast the jewellery to stand out on a plain understated outfit e.g. Turquoise or Lapis Lazuli against all black, Coral or Citrine against dark brown. Equally successful is a contrasting but toning colour e.g. Peridot against dark greens, Blue Topaz against navy.

- As part of the same rule, pick out a colour in a print and coordinate to that colour e.g. if you are wearing a multi-coloured pastel print pick out the pink, blue, aqua, lemon, lilac etc. and use a gemstone of that shade to match or tone in.

- Pearls are pretty universal and will add light to most outfits

What Length Chain?

If you're pondering the length of chain you need to wear with a pendant the first thing to decide is what you will wear the pendant with.

Inside an open-necked shirt, over a jumper or with a V-necked T shirt?

A small and dainty pendant will look better on a lighter, shorter chain but a larger, heavier design will suit a more substantial chain and could look stunning worn low on a longer chain.

Once you have made this decision all you need is a piece of string long enough to go round your neck and finish at the point at which you want the pendant to drop.

If it helps you to visualise the finished effect, thread the string through the bail and knot it at the desired length.

Measure the length of string and this is the chain length to buy.

What Style of Earring Will Suit Me?

Jewellery is a very personal affair and you have to feel comfortable wearing your choice.

However, here are a few guidelines to consider:

Face shape and hair style will influence what suits you.

- A pair of large earrings on an elfin face will overpower the face's fine features.

- Similarly, over-large earrings with a short hair cut can look unbalanced.

- Long hair can hide a discreet earring so something more dramatic may be called for.

- A long neck can carry off a long chandelier or drop earring but this style will emphasise a short neck. If you're not a swan, choose a short drop earring instead.

- Hair worn piled up on the head adds height and lengthens the neck. This is an ideal opportunity to wear a drop or dangly earring and it's so sexy!

- Consider the neckwear you have chosen and balance the earring. A dramatic statement necklace requires a discreet, minimal earring. If no necklace is being worn then the earrings can take centre stage.

- Stud earrings suit most face shapes and are practical for everyday.

How Much Jewellery Should I Wear?

- If you are wearing a statement necklace - something large and bold - keep the earrings minimal and discreet. Otherwise the effect of the necklace is lost and your head and shoulders are in danger of looking like an overdressed Christmas Tree. Remember that jewellery is an accessory and should not overpower you. After all it's you who wants to shine!

- Similarly, think carefully about your hands. Many rings of a similar type worn together can create a certain "look". However a special or statement ring needs space around it and does not require accompaniment.

- Avoid over coordinated looks. If you have the matching necklace, earrings, brooch, bracelet and ring they don't all have to be worn together. Be selective and think about the outfit they are accessorising - what does it need?

Joan Booth has spent over 20 years as a Fashion Buyer for some of the UK's most illustrious department stores. She now owns and runs http://www.BoothandBooth.co.uk where you will find a unique range of gem set sterling silver jewellery.

Article source: Expert Articles