Jewelry: Fashion do’s and don’ts

Picture yourself dressed in a fabulous outfit, hot new shoes, handbag to match and you ruin everything by wearing the wrong jewelry. As if the rules for skirt lengths, shoe height and lipstick color aren’t enough you also have to worry about the do’s and don’ts of wearing jewelry. Don’t fret. These rules are easy to follow!Go Bold and Beautiful. Large retro-cool cocktail rings are very in right now, but resist the “gem-tation” to pair yours with other jewel-encrusted pieces.Mix Metals. The trick is, if you want to mix metals, keep the style of the jewelry the same. You can even layer gold and silver necklaces for a fashion-forward look.Wear the Right Necklace Lengths. Wearing the wrong length necklace with a particular neckline is probably the most common mistake women make when it comes to wearing jewelry. Here are some simple guidelines for getting it right.• Collar necklaces should lie snugly around the middle of the neck, and can be worn with V-neck, boat-neck and off-the-shoulder tops. • Chokers fall perfectly at the base of the neck, and look great with strapless or plunging necklines. • Princess length necklaces (17 to 19 inches) fall just below the throat. This is the most common and versatile length of necklace. It can be worn with most necklines except the high ones. Add a pendant and wear with a V-neck for a pretty look. • Matinee length necklaces (20 to 24 inches) hit the top of the bust, and it’s best not to wear this length with plunging necklines. If the necklace hits the very top of your neckline, it will be fighting for attention with your top. • Opera length necklaces (28 to 34 inches) fall below the bust and look great with a very high neckline. They can be worn from day to evening. This length can also be doubled for a multi-strand look.Consider Your Age and Body Type. Just as a piece of jewelry can accentuate the positive, it can also draw attention to your not-so-positive areas.• Chokers are made for women with more youthful skin. Women with aging necks will want longer chains and necklaces to draw attention away from any neck imperfections. • If you have a wide neck, you can balance that by wearing graduated necklaces, which are very thin around the side of the neck and larger below the collarbone. • If you have a long, thin neck that you don’t want to accentuate, try a triple-strand necklace, with the shortest strand hugging the base of the throat. Avoid V-shaped chains.