How to Match Jewelry with Your Outfit

How To Match Jewelry With Your Outfit

It’s that time of year again! Holiday parties and get-togethers are a fun opportunities to dress up and show off your flair for fashion. That said, choosing the right jewelry to coordinate best with the clothes that you wear takes thought and doesn’t come easily to everyone. It’s important that your jewelry reflects your personality and compliments your outfit. When the time comes to accessorize, do you sometimes imagine Joan Rivers giving you a harsh critique? To help eliminate some of the guesswork, we’ve put together a few guidelines on how to match jewelry with your outfit. The next time you find yourself in doubt about your accessory options, refer to these simple suggestions and you’ll keep the fashion police away.

Dress for the Occasion: Match Jewelry with Your Outfit

The first rule of fashion is to wear an appropriate outfit. Being overdressed or underdressed can make you feel out of place, and you don’t want to be the center of attention for the wrong reasons. Below are some general guidelines on what type of jewelry works for different types of occasions.

1- Type Of Jewelry To Wear To Work

This depends on where you work of course, but generally, this is a time to be understated. Do you work in an office, school, hospital, or otherwise serious environment? Choose simple, classic pieces such as small hoops, stud earrings, small pendants, chain bracelets, or simple single bangles. Diamonds or gemstones are appropriate but stick to solitaire rings and studs or small amounts of paving.

SHOP

If your job is in a more casual environment you can show a little more personality with your pieces – larger hoops and small dangle earrings, layered bangles, large pendants, or layered necklaces – but stay away from statement pieces or too much sparkle. Simple jewelry, especially pieces made of alternative materials such as wood and leather, is also great for laid-back looks.

2- Type Of Jewelry To Wear To Dinner, Drinks, Or A Night Out With Friends:

SHOP

Typically this is a smart-casual or dressy-casual occasion. It’s also a time to really let your personality shine! Almost anything goes but don’t come to the table (or bar) dripping in jewels meant for a special occasion. This is a great time to break out those long dangle earrings you’ve wanted to wear, stack on several rings, some fat bangles, or wear a tiered necklace. It’s okay to draw a little attention. You’re out to have a good time!

3- What type of jewelry to wear to a special occasion:

SHOP

If You are going to a cocktail party, black-tie event, or special occasion now is really your time to shine! For dressy occasions, your jewelry should be elegant. Is your dress a showstopper? Then keep your jewelry simple and sumptuous. Try large diamonds or gemstones to make your look pop. If your dress is a solid color with a streamlined cut, use your jewelry to up the ante. Chandelier earrings or a statement necklace composed of multiple stones and tiers will do the trick – but pick one or the other! If your earrings are the focal point of your ensemble, you may want to skip the necklace. On the other hand, if your necklace is the centerpiece, pair it with simpler stud earrings. For a high-drama look, pile on sparkly bracelets and a chic stacking ring.

Consider Your Neckline To Match Jewelry with Your Outfit

It’s crucial to think about what accessories will work with the cut of your neckline. If your necklace and your neckline are in conflict, your entire ensemble becomes unbalanced. Always make sure that the length of your necklace is significantly shorter or longer than your neckline so that it doesn’t get lost in the mix.

Here’s a list of what jewelry common neckline styles, and what type of jewelry compliments them best.

1- What jewelry to wear with a V-neck dress:

A V-neck may be the most versatile neckline when it comes to necklace options. You can either mirror the V-shape with your necklace or complement it with a curve. For a short V-neck, a choker or short chain is the way to go. As the V-neck gets deeper, the options multiply! Chokers, chains, and short to medium pendant necklaces are all great for medium V-necks. Deep V-necks are great with a lariat or sautoir necklace and also lend well to layers of necklaces. Above all, be sure to never choose a necklace that sits below the V.

2- What jewelry to wear with a turtleneck:

Turtlenecks are best with long necklaces or no necklace at all. Long earrings can be tricky with turtlenecks, so it’s safest to stick to studs, hoops, or very short drops if you’re in doubt. If you’re skipping the necklace, add a bracelet or two (or three) to spice things up.

3- What jewelry to wear with a crew neck:

When the neckline goes high, the necklace goes low. Wear medium to extra-long chains and pendants with crew or boat neck tops. Make sure that they sit at least 2 inches below the collar and go as long as you like. Strands of beads, as well as tiered and layered necklaces, are also great options.

4- What jewelry to wear with a halter or one-shoulder top:

If your top or dress is a halter or one-shoulder style, don’t compete with your neckline. Skip the necklace! This is your opportunity to wear statement earrings like long dangles or chunky cuffs. Jazz things up with bangles or stacks of bracelets.

Color-coordinating Jewelry and Wardrobe

Follow the basic rules of color theory when coordinating your wardrobe and jewelry. The color wheel is a great tool to help you determine which colors fit together best. If you’ve ever been curious about what kind of jewelry goes with a red/blue/green, or any color dress, the answers are here.

Start with the color of your outfit or jewelry and look directly across the color wheel to find its complementary color. Complementary colors create the most vibrant look because they are in high contrast with one another. For example, if you are wondering what jewelry to wear with a navy blue dress, find blue on the color wheel and look across. Orange is its direct complement, so gold-toned jewelry would be a great choice. If you are dressing up for the holidays, you might be curious as to what jewelry matches a green dress. Look no further than rubies or spinels. For a red dress, emeralds are perfect!

Another way to utilize the color wheel is to choose analogous colors. These are the colors that are right next to each other on the wheel. Analogous colors create a harmonious look without being too monotonous since the colors are similar yet different. For example, if you want to choose jewelry to wear with a royal blue dress, go with green or violet gems.

Not sure what jewelry to wear with that little black dress? Black goes with any color! Black on black, looks super chic, too. Our top choice when it comes to black jewelry is black rhodium jewelry with black diamonds.

Tips for Matching Jewelry and Skin Tone

The same piece of jewelry can look a little different for everyone. Certain gemstones and metals are more flattering against some skin tones than others. By learning what works best with your skin type, you can shop for jewelry with greater confidence, knowing that the end result is sure to look fantastic. Here are some Tips for Matching Jewelry and Skin Tone.

Determining Your Skin Tone

Before you go shopping for your jewelry, take a moment to determine your skin tone. Although the surface color of your skin can change in response to sun exposure, rosacea, or extreme temperatures, its undertone always remains the same. To identify your skin’s underlying tone, see which of the following categories you fit into:

Skin Tone Warm:

If you Tan easily and tend not to burn, then your skin probably has an olive or yellow warm undertone. If you are of African American or Indian descent, then you most likely fall into the warm skin tone category–although some deep ebony can have a cool, bluish undertone instead.

Skin Tone Cool:

If you don’t tan well and are prone to burn, then your skin likely has cool undertones (pink, or bluish-red). If you blush easily, then it’s a sure sign that you have a cool skin tone. But if your skin doesn’t seem to fall into either category, then you may have neutral undertones. Neutral skin blends well with most colors, making jewelry, clothing, and makeup shopping a cinch.

The Skin Tone Test:

If you aren’t sure which category your skin falls into; then try looking at the veins on the inside of your wrists. If your veins appear greenish in color, then your skin has warm undertones. But if they appear purplish or blue, then your skin has cool undertones.

Matching Skin Color & Metal Types

Yellow Gold:

If your skin has warm undertones, then you will likely look best in yellow gold, whose rich, gentle hues will compliment your skin flawlessly. For a look that flatters your skin to perfection, combine your yellow gold with champagne diamonds, citrine, peridot, rubies, chocolate topaz, and garnets.

SHOP

READ: Gold Karats What Does It Mean

Rose Gold:

Rose gold can look great with both warm and cool alike, suiting those with olive and pink undertones to perfection. A gorgeous metal by itself, rose gold needs no ornamentation but goes beautifully with morganite or pink diamonds.

SHOP

White Gold:

White gold suits cool skin tones best, with flattering pink and bluish undertones. To complete your look, wear white gold jewelry set with emeralds, turquoise, blue topaz, or purple tourmaline. When in doubt, go with diamonds, but always avoid stones with yellow undertones.

SHOP

Two-Tone Gold:

If your skin tone falls in the neutral zone, then you can’t go wrong with two-tone gold. Since neutral skin works well with a wide spectrum of colors, the world of gemstones is your oyster. As with warm and cool skin, neutral skin is sure to look fantastic against the sparkle of a diamond.

Oxidized Silver:

It creates a great, vintage-style look, and is used by many jewelers and artisans. Oxidized jewelry can work for both cool and warm depending upon the extent of the oxidization. While heavily oxidized pieces work best with warm tones, lightly oxidized pieces can complement cooler ones.

Style Tips To Match Jewelry with Your Outfits

Your style is best defined by the types of clothes you wear and how you put them together with accessories like handbags and jewelry. Though the outfit is canvas, accessories like bracelets, rings, necklaces, and earrings help to bring your fashion sense full circle. With jewelry being that extra ump, that finishing touch, it can take an outfit from boring to stylish in an instant. However, with so many jewelry options to choose from, knowing how to pair them with your clothes may be a bit challenging.

Here are some suggestions to help you out:

Remember, You’re the Focal Point

One thing that must be kept in mind is that your clothes and your jewelry should never overshadow the focal point – you. When you’re walking down the street, yes you want people to notice your trendy outfit and complimentary jewelry, but you don’t want them to be so focused on what you have on that they forget you. Therefore, as you’re pairing or shopping for jewelry remembers to keep the size of the piece and the layout. For instance, if you have a very small-framed face you don’t want to get oversized earrings that will make your ears look weighted down. Instead, you want lighter earrings that help to elongate the face.

Choose One Focal Piece

If you have a collection of large, bold jewelry, never pair it together. You should not try to wear a bold tribal necklace with long dangly earrings or hoop earrings with a chunky necklace.

In fact, when you’re wearing long earrings or a chunky necklace, it’s often best to skip other jewelry altogether to avoid an overwhelming and gaudy look.

Every Piece Should Match the Tone and Context of the Occasion

While fashion rules have certainly gotten a bit looser over the years; that doesn’t mean that there aren’t still some rules you should apply when pairing your jewelry with your outfit; for instance, considering the context and tone of the event or occasion. If you were going to a wedding, for example, you might purchase a diamond necklace from custom jewelers in San Diego to go with a gown you’ve purchased for the wedding. However, if you were headed for a girl’s night out, you might want to tone it down with some costume jewelry instead of going full-on bling.

Jewelry Should Match Your Skin Tone

Your jewelry should not only match your outfit but should also match your skin tone. Try to choose stone colors and metal options that will bring out the natural hues in your skin. There is an array of different colors to choose from. There are also more metal types than silver and gold so be sure to explore your options. While there’s no right or wrong when matching your skin those with darker skin might look better in gold while those who are more fair skin might look better in silver or rose gold. You might choose a blue or a green emerald to match your eyes.

Choose Pieces to Go with Multiple Outfits

Although having a few custom-made signature pieces of jewelry may be nice for those fancy occasions, the best jewelry options are those staple jewelry items that can be paired with multiple outfits. As you’re shopping for jewelry, be sure to look for pieces that could be paired together with several options in your wardrobe. Then, you can mix and match pieces to make your outfit unique every time you wear it.

Less is Sometimes More

Though layering can be very stylish with clothing and jewelry, sometimes less can really be more. There are times when having six or seven bracelets isn’t going to be comfortable for what you’re doing. Over-accessorizing takes away from the outfit and more importantly, it takes away from you. So as you’re pairing jewelry make sure that you’re not going overboard with quantity. A simple necklace and earring combo can be ideal for a day trip to the mall or brunch with friends while a layering effect might be great if you’re hitting a happy hour or going out dancing.

More Isn’t Always Best For Formal Events

You might think that, when you’re wearing a formal dress and heading to a fancy event, you should play up your jewelry to match your outfit. On the contrary, the opposite is often true.

Oftentimes, simple, small jewelry pieces work best with long, fancy gowns or other formal outfits. Try shiny delicate jewelry such as diamond stud earrings to add a subtle flair to your outfit without taking the focus off your formal attire.

Pair Bold With Basic (Or Bolder)

You might think that if you’re wearing a bold outfit, you should pair it with basic, simple jewelry to avoid an overwhelming appearance. While this is a great rule of thumb to keep in mind, it doesn’t always apply.

Sometimes, experimenting with pairing a bold outfit with bold jewelry can turn out great. Other times, it can be a catastrophe. You should be willing to try out different looks; don’t ever be scared to experiment, or you might miss out on something great. If you do choose to pair a boldly printed dress with a chunky necklace or dangly earrings, however, make sure the shapes and colors of the pieces are complementary to keep your look appearing whimsical and sleek and avoid a choppy and thrown-together look.

Match Print Shapes

Something that many people don’t think of when it comes to pairing jewelry with clothing; the shape of your earrings or necklace should match the shape of the design on your clothes.

This tip is applicable only when you’re wearing a shirt or dress that has a bold print or pattern. When you do, you should only wear necklaces and earrings that have pendants in the shape of your outfit’s print. For example, never pair angled stripes on a dress with circular hoop earrings.

Match Bracelets to Sleeves – Match Jewelry with Your Outfit

A good rule of thumb for choosing bracelets to wear with outfits; is that the longer your sleeves are, the fewer bracelets you should wear and the thinner those bracelets should be, and vice versa.

Thick leather cuff bracelets look great when paired with sleeveless dresses. Thin, delicate chain bracelets work better with long-sleeved sweaters. If your sleeves extend past your elbows, keep your bracelet super simple, or skip wearing one altogether.

Balance Your Look With a Long Necklace

Long necklaces can be a great way to balance out a look that might otherwise make you appear shapeless or boxy. Loose clothing can make you appear shorter or wider than you really are, but it looks great when paired with a long necklace.

If you’re wearing a T-shirt dress or other loose dress, for instance, pairing it with a necklace that has a long chain and one large pendant can help add harmony and balance to your look.

How To Match Jewelry With Your Outfit

Jewelry is meant to be a complimentary item that helps to illuminate your style and personal beauty. The best way to pair your jewelry with your outfits is to remember that you’re the focal point, the clothes are the canvas, and the jewelry is the finishing touch. Purchasing jewelry that matches your personality, outfit, skin tone, and style will give you that added confidence you need every day walking out the door.

Pairing jewelry with an outfit can be frustrating and, when done incorrectly, can ruin your whole look. However, by using the tips in this post, you can learn how to choose the right jewelry for any outfit effortlessly to save you time and frustration and help you put together gorgeous looks.