How to Shop for Necklaces

If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times: there are four pillars to dressing well. They are
(1) your best colors,
(2) your best shapes,
(3) your personal style, and
(4) your lifestyle.
Here I'll walk you through how to shop for necklaces that reflect each of these four areas.
Happy shopping!

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YOUR BEST COLORS

More than just gold or silver

As you learn your best colors, you'll also learn whether gold, silver, or both suit you well. Take the three-minute color quiz here to learn your best colors.

When we talk about colors that you look good in, we're talking about what colors best coordinate with your natural coloring. That is, the combination of your skin tone, hair color, and eye color.

Wearing your best colors makes you look radiant, and put together from head to toe. It also draws attention to your face, and away from any areas you're not so thrilled about.

But you may choose a statement necklace that goes beyond gold or silver. In that case, you'll definitely want to choose something in one of your best colors (probably a pop color), especially because you'll wear it so close to your face.

YOUR BEST SHAPES

Long and narrow, or short and wide

Of course we always primarily want to draw attention to your face, because that's where we connect with people and build relationships.

But in the bigger picture of your overall shape, you'll want to create visual balance.

If you're bigger in the hip area than the shoulders, or you find yourself in my situation with a small bust, you'll want to add bulk with a shorter, wider necklace shape.

You might opt for a bib necklace, my favorite style of chunky necklace for a smaller upper half. Or you could choose something like this style, which is longer but has large flowers to add visual interest and bulk.

On the other hand, if your goal is to camouflage a larger chest, you'll want to choose longer, narrow necklaces.

These can be casual and colorful or more classic and elegant. The style is up to you; the important part will be that they create a long, narrow line rather than a shorter, wider neckline.

PERSONAL STYLE

The options are endless

In general, I say to figure out pretty clearly what your personal style is so you can stay true to it, no matter what the trends are.

However, accessories are one of the places where I encourage you to play around a little bit with your style. Especially if you're going for inexpensive accessory pieces to add personality, variety, and inject whimsy into your wardrobe, this is one place I love to do it.

You can change up the whole feel of an outfit with just a few accessory changes. If you've already determined your style keywords, you know you'll have two or three. Then you'll shift the balance of an outfit from day to day, depending on your mood.

Accessories are a great way to tip the scales toward one style keyword or another. They're also a simple way to experiment with things outside of your own style keywords, literally trying on a new style or trend to see how it feels.

Here are just a few styles you may or may not have considered before. Perhaps you'll find one you want to try, though it's a big outside your norm?

LIFESTYLE

Don't forget to be practical

This might sound obvious, but in the beginning of my style journey, it wasn't obvious to me that just because it was labeled "cute mom style" on Pinterest didn't mean it would work for every moment of motherhood in my real everyday life.

It took me a while, but I've learned not to wear my long necklaces where they're likely to get caught on branches, my hoop earrings where they'll probably get pulled out in a tickle fight, or bracelets when I might want to get my hands dirty.

This is why I have several jewelry capsules: one for park days and playdates and messy crafts, and another capsule for speaking events, coffee with friends, and date nights.

Neither is expensive. Even my "nice" jewelry doesn't cost much at all. Instead, if I plan to play hard, I need things that won't get in my way or be a hazard. But, if I'm planning to behave like an adult, I can wear things that are more fragile and dainty, or more cumbersome like cocktail rings and tiered earrings.

Like the "Personal Style" section, here are a few photo examples just to help you get creative if you've perhaps only been wearing one style of jewelry until now.

You've been asking for it, so here it is!

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