How to Shop for Jewelry!

Just in time for the holidays, here are my favorite jewelry shopping tips from How to Win at Shopping (Workman):

pearls

✶ Jewelry is a fantastic way to take a risk. You may not like to wear bold prints or shapes, but a great piece of statement jewelry can make the same impression.

✶ If you don’t wear crewnecks, don’t shop a necklace that is shorter than 18 inches in length. It will create the same unfavorable neckline.

✶ A traditional-style necklace or bracelet receives an instant update when you shop and layer a second piece in a similar metallic.

✶ If you have a large bust, it may be best to avoid necklaces that hit right at the chest.

✶ If shopping for a necklace that sits above your collarbone, first measure the base of your neck. Then add between two and four inches to ensure the perfect length.

✶ A difficult clasp on the “perfect” necklace or bracelet may very well become the reason you never wear it, so before you commit factor in the cost and effort of replacing it with a user- friendly one.

✶ When shopping for a ring, think about which hand you are going to wear it on; a finger on your dominant hand can be one half-size larger.

✶ If you are married, never forget that your wedding and engagement rings will always be part of your everyday ensemble, so use their metals, stones, and shapes as a reference to coordinate a head-to-toe look.

✶ It is best to shop for simple earrings along with a focal point necklace. This will ensure that the pieces complement and balance each other. The reverse is true when shopping for focal-point earrings.

✶ When layering bracelets, rings, or necklaces, shop for uneven numbers. This will create a look that is more interesting and fashion forward.

✶ Don’t be afraid to mix metals. An exclusive style alliance with silver or gold is no longer standard.