How to Build Your Jewelry Wardrobe

Jewelry is a major investment, so you want to select pieces that will be as enduringly stylish and flattering as possible. Here are some tips on how to build the perfect jewelry wardrobe.

1. Know your style. The key to picking out the best jewelry is knowing yourself and your style. Ask yourself what kinds of jewelry catch your eye and what pieces you admire the most. Think about whether you prefer contemporary or traditional jewelry; simple or ornate; or colored stones or white diamonds. Don’t forget to take into account the feedback you get from others. Think about the outfits, jewelry, or accessories on which you often get compliments.
2. Reconcile your style with your lifestyle. Your preferred style in jewelry may or may not be realistic when you consider your personality or lifestyle. For instance, if you prefer jewelry with large, tall stones but your occupation requires you to work with your hands, this is probably an impractical choice. Similarly, if you spend a lot of time outdoors or are very active, simple, comfortable jewelry is your best bet. Remember that if you’re not comfortable wearing your jewelry, you will have trouble exuding the confidence that is critical to your personal style.
3. Start with the basics and work your way up. When you are first putting together your jewelry wardrobe, start with the most basic pieces first. Buy the highest-quality jewelry basics you can afford. You can always purchase matching pieces later. With gold jewelry, basics might include a chain necklace, classic hoop earrings, and a bracelet. With diamond jewelry, you might start with stud earrings or a solitaire pendant. Start with jewelry with classic shapes that will match well with many different outfits.
4. Keep your body type in mind. Height and bone structure play a critical role in determining what type of jewelry will look best on you. Small, petite women might choose longer necklace lengths that hit below the breast and above the waste to elongate her figure. Conversely, taller women might choose choker necklaces that shorten the line of the neck and torso. Full-figured women should stay away from jewelry that is delicate or small.
5. Consider your face shape. Face shape is just as important as body type in selecting flattering jewelry. There are four kinds of face shapes: oval, round, square, and heart-shaped. For oval faces, triangular earrings are often a good choice. Those with round faces should seek dangling, elongated styles to draw the eye down instead of around the face. For square faces, jewelry that adds width to the face is usually most flattering. Finally, those with heart-shaped faces might look for earrings with wide bottoms. If you have any questions, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.