Choosing the Right Style of Jewelry for You

by Lisa Morris 
It's important to know how to choose the right style of jewelry to wear before you spend a lot of money on bracelets, chains, necklaces and earrings. Accessorizing with these pieces is a great way to enhance your appearance and accentuate your best features. If not chosen properly, however, jewelry can draw attention to your flaws. Follow these tips for choosing jewelry that works for you.

Bracelets

The tennis bracelet is a simple and elegant string of diamonds, pearls or other gemstones that are individually placed in settings and linked by an invisible chain. This classic inline design purportedly got its present name when tennis champion Chris Evert, playing in the 1987 U.S. Open, requested the stoppage of a match so she could retrieve pieces of the diamond bracelet she had just broken. The tennis bracelet is a great style that can be worn alone or paired with other bracelets by women with petite frames.

Charm bracelets are extremely popular right now and look good on all women. The birthstones and zodiac sign, initial, hobby and animal charms you attach to this bracelet represent your personal history and style.
If you have a petite or small-boned frame, you can choose a chain or link bracelet made of interlocking loops of metal or similar shapes. Chain bracelets are usually simple in design, but some have complex links like flower petals.
Bangle bracelets are typically rigid, where other bracelets are flexible. These bracelets lack a clasp or opening. Layering bangles of different styles, materials or colors creates an even more dramatic look. Bangles are very versatile and can be worn almost anywhere, from a wedding to work.
Cuff bracelets, generally, are inflexible, do not form a complete circle and slip easily onto the wrist. These bracelets are wider than most and work best for women of average to large bone structure. They're not a good choice for woman with a petite frame.
Beyond design, it's also important to know what color bracelet is best for your complexion. If you look good in warm colors, you should choose bracelets in shades of yellow to red. If you look good in cool colors, then metals such as silver, platinum or white gold are the way to go. Other cool colors range from green to purple.

Chains and Necklaces

A choker necklace draws attention to the neck. The narrower the band of a choker, the longer the neck appears. Conversely, a wide choker necklace is the perfect style if you want to draw attention to your collar bones. If you're attending a prom, wedding or formal affair, a rhinestone choker dresses up your look exponentially. This style also works if you're going casual.
Lariat necklaces have no clasps. To fasten one, you thread one end of the necklace through the other and tighten the loop until it is flush against your neck. This creates a V- or Y-shaped neck accent that can elongate your appearance.
A strand necklace consists of objects such as beads or pearls strung together on a visible or hidden chain or string. Long strand necklaces wrapped into several loops look great on most women. You can also wear multiple shorter strands at the same time to create a unique look.
No matter which style necklace you choose, consider how a necklace's thickness or bulk flatters you. Thick necklaces are great for a heavyset or large-boned woman because they are in proportion with her size. The opposite holds true for petite or small-boned women, who do best to choose necklaces that are delicate, thin and doesn't overwhelm their physique.
It's also important to figure out what color necklace looks best with your complexion. To do this, you need a mirror, natural lighting and two necklaces — one gold and one silver. Place both necklaces against your face and consider how each necklace looks. Pay attention to which one catches your eye and accentuates your features. If gold makes your face glow and look healthier, choose the gold necklace. If the silver brightens your face, opt for silver. If both make you look equally good, then you're lucky enough to be able to wear silver or gold, depending on your outfit and mood.

Earrings

Women blessed with an oval face are free to choose any style or shape earring and look great. All other women need to consider how they can use particular types and designs of earrings to create the looks they want.
Stud earrings are unembellished single pearls, gems, metal balls or designs on straight posts. Stud earrings look great with short hair or an updo.
Hoop and big-button earrings are available in many sizes and widths, and they look great on tall women. Stay away from hoops if you have a round face. Instead, choose rectangular or square shapes that lessen the roundness of your face. On the other hand, women with squarer faces should wear round or hoop earrings with more length and less width to help round out and elongate the appearance of their faces.
Drop earrings have stones, metal figures, cut glass or other shapes that dangle below the earlobes. A particular type of drop earrings, chandelier earrings, are so named because the drop parts are suspended from a thin wire or chain, like a chandelier. Women with round faces should wear drop earrings with more length and than width. If you've got a rectangular or long face, you should avoid long dangling earrings that can further elongate your face.
If you've got a heart-shaped face, wear triangular, teardrop, chandelier or circular earrings. Women with heart-shaped faces tend to have smaller chins, and drop earrings with bold shapes bring balance to this face shape.

Other Things to Consider

Whatever jewelry you wear, make sure each piece is appropriate for the event, place or occasion. What's fitting for a night out with the girls may not be right in the office. Hold any piece of jewelry up to your body or try it on in front of a mirror to see how it looks and where you could wear it. It's also wise to have a friend or sales associate give you an opinion.
Also take your personality into consideration. If you have a bold personality, your jewelry style should also be bold. That said, never wear too many large pieces at once. After all, you should always outshine your jewelry!

 Source:http://www.managemylife.com/mmh/articles/authored/choosing-the-right-style-of-jewelry-for-you