The Art of Crafty Jewelry Selection
Providing you with Elegance that Gives you the Edge!

A People have adorned themselves since the beginning of recorded time, and probably long before that. We all have favorite metals and stone colors but few people know that following certain guidelines will help to insure a purchase that is the most flattering for yourself or for the lucky recipient of your gift. Before you pull out your credit card take a moment and review some of the ground rules for tailoring your purchase to the wearer and making the best possible investment for your dollar.

The general guidelines given below are meant to assist the shopper in making a selection. Nothing is written in stone and there are always exceptions to the "rules." One of the first things the shopper has to keep in mind is the body dimensions of the wearer. As in all wearable purchases, proportion is the key to flattery. Therefore, you would not purchase a tiny pendant or pair of earrings for a tall or larger-sized woman.

Another consideration in the purchase of jewelry is where the consumer intends to wear the piece. For example, a charm bracelet that jangles is not recommended for office wear.

An odd number of jewelry pieces of often the most flattering and creates interest. For example, earrings, necklace and bracelet or necklace, ring and pin are good combinations to try.

Shopping for Earrings, Necklaces and Bracelets

Face shape is the next important aspect to take into consideration, particularly when considering a purchase of earrings. If your lucky recipient has an oval face, then almost any earring shape will work. This shape is considered the most universally attractive. All of the suggestions given below are designed to help the wearer approximate this shape as closely as possible. The only sure way to know what is flattering is to try it on. Therefore, this is only a guideline.

Determining Your Face Shape

There are several methods for determining face shape. They all involve getting your hair off your face first. Look directly into a mirror and trace the outline of your face with an eyeliner pencil. You could also have a friend take a head-on picture of you, print it out, and trace the shape on the picture.

If you still have trouble determining your face shape then measure your face with a tape measure. To determine the width of your face measure your forehead across the widest points which are usually above your eyebrows near your temples. Measure across your cheekbones by smiling and measuring across the topmost and widest part of your face. To determine jaw size measure from one side of your jawbone to the other. To determine the length of your face measure from the hairline to the chin.

The oval face is considered the "ideal" shape, as mentioned above. That is because it is the most symmetrical shape; symmetry tends to be the most flattering to the eye. This face is longer than it is wide. If you possess this face shape you can wear virtually any shape earring. Having said that, however, although round button or hoop earrings look well, studs and triangular shapes are especially flattering. Dangling earrings look well, too, if they are not too long. In that case they will elongate your face too much, visually dragging the eye downward. If your face tends to be on the thinner side or your nose is a bit long, then earrings that sweep up will minimize those traits.

Almost any type of necklace will look great on a person with an oval-shaped face.

A round face is defined as one that is as long as it is wide with no noticeable angles and is fullest at the cheeks. The object here is to create balance by optically slimming the face. An inverted oval face and a triangular face with a rounded jaw line follow the same guidelines as the round face. These shapes look best with an elongated style of earring. Oblongs, rectangles and squares work well. A hanging earring will flatter this shape of face. Another option is an earring with some width and gently curved lines that are longer than they are wide, which will give lift to the face. If you know that the recipient loves hoops, which are always a classic, then opt for an elongated oval or teardrop shape rather than a perfect circle, which would tend to emphasize the roundness.

Another tip for the person with the round face is to avoid tiny earrings, as they can get lost with the round face and hairstyle.

In terms of necklace selection, the object in the case of the round face is to add the illusion of length to the round shape. To best do this, look for longer necklaces measuring 28"-32".

An inverted triangular, diamond or heart-shaped face is noticeably narrower at the jaw than the cheekbones or forehead. The chin is pointed. The woman with a heart-shaped face frequently has a widow's peak at her hairline. This shape face looks its best with an earring that is wider at the bottom such as teardrops or triangles. The object is to detract from the sharpness of the chin by balancing the inverted-triangle shape. Another option for this face shape would be round earrings, which sit on the lobe because they draw the eye up and away from the chin line.

Special tips for the heart-shaped face would include wearing large earrings that have are angular or oval shape or dangles with a large piece at the bottom Avoid hoops, circular-shaped or short dangling earrings.

The person with the diamond-shaped face would do well with earrings that have angles close to the face.

A triangular face, with a square jaw looks best with a shell-shaped or vertically focused teardrop earring.

Additional tips for the triangular face with a narrow jaw include earrings with curves to soften the angles of the face. Any shape that is triangular in nature will emphasize the triangular nature of the face rather than soften it.

In the selection of necklaces, a face that has a narrower jaw is enhanced with a choker, which is very flattering because it visually softens and reduces the sharpness of the chin.

A square-shaped face has a very strong jaw line and angular forehead, which have similar widths. If the face is a bit longer, then it is rectangular in shape. The object of the illusion here is to soften the angles. The best shape to accomplish this would be round hoops, anything with curved edges, drop earrings or multi-tiered dangling earrings. Avoid anything with a square shape, which would emphasize the square shape of the face.

A narrow or longer-shaped face looks best with round earrings including starbursts and flowers, which add needed width to the face.

In the case of a longer-shaped face a high choker balances the length of the face as well as the neck if it is very long. A 16"-18" necklace that ends in a "U" shape flatters this face shape.

Further General Guidelines

In order to further pinpoint the best length for a necklace, the way to determine the optimal proportion for a particular person is to determine their balance points. The way to do this is to measure the length from just under the nose to the chin for a short necklace and from the forehead to the chin for a long necklace. After measuring these lengths, look for a necklace that hits the chest where the length suggests.

In terms of bracelet selection, there are three general categories for determining body size. The first is the petite size. This is the woman under 5' 4" tall. Wearing several narrow bracelets flatter the delicate frame of this woman. If she is plus-sized this has to be taken into consideration and a bit more width in the bracelets or an additional narrow bracelet or two would be more in proportion.

The average size woman stands between 5' 4" and 5' 7" tall. Wide or heavier bracelets would be more in proportion to the dimensions of this woman.

The tall woman stands over 5' 7". She can wear almost any size bracelet as long as it is not too delicate. If she is plus-sized then wearing several thin bracelets or a couple of wide bracelets would be more balanced to her proportions.

In Conclusion

Whether investing in jewelry for yourself or buying it as a gift, following a few simple rules can make a huge difference in its wearability. Purchasing a few of the right matching or coordinating pieces can make the difference between apparently random purchases and a pulled-together well-executed, organized total look. The message you will deliver, subtly yet definitely and concretely, is that you have the skill, ability and desire to pull anything together-professionally-and with Elegance that gives you the Edge!

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