How to Style Jewelry For a Formal Occasion
When you’re heading to a wedding, gala, film premiere, awards dinner or other special event, you’ll want to dress the part. No matter what kind of dress, gown or suit you wear, no formal outfit is complete without some sort of jewelry. Here’s how you can choose the right pieces without overdoing it.
Working With the Garment
The first step to picking the right jewelry is to decide what kind of jewelry you’ll wear. Rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and brooches or pins are the standard options for those who dress in a more feminine style, while those who dress in a more masculine style may wear any of those items and potentially cufflinks and tie bars as well. Only on very rare occasions should all of these jewelry pieces be worn at the same time. There’s a famous piece of wisdom that a person should always take off an accessory before leaving the house, but this isn’t necessary if you choose the right pieces.
Look at the structure of the garment you’re wearing and choose jewelry that doesn’t compete with the fabric. For example, if you’re wearing a high-necked gown with sleeves that cover the wrists, necklaces and bracelets aren’t as good of a choice as earrings and rings. If you’re wearing a strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline, a short necklace would be a better choice than a long one that hangs past the top of the garment. This kind of critical thinking is a must before selecting your jewelry.
Making Your Color Choice
After you’ve chosen the specific types of jewelry you’re going to wear, it’s time to think about stone and metal color. You can choose a color that matches with the garment, like amethyst to match with purple, or opt for a neutral tone like black, white or clear. If you want to really make a statement, though, you can choose a contrasting color to add a pop of interest into the ensemble. For example, with a purple dress, a pair of bright green emerald earrings can make a stunning match that adds something special to your ensemble.
Choosing for Longevity
If you’re buying new jewelry, you’ll want to make sure whatever you purchase is something that will make a welcome addition to your existing jewelry collection. In other words: buy something you know you’ll wear again. For example, if you’re in a wedding and you’re wearing a bridesmaid’s dress with pink flowers on it even though you really don’t like the color pink, don’t buy rose quartz or pink tourmaline earrings just because they pick up the color of the flowers. Instead, you could choose a versatile neutral stone like diamond or pearl or forgo gemstones altogether in favor of solid metal.
Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you actually like and that makes sense with your personal style. If you have the time, you could even get something custom made at Westwood Jewelers to make the event truly special.
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