Wear Big Jewelry
Big jewelry can be a bold statement or a simple addition to your outfit—it all depends on how you wear it. Whether you’re a lifelong fashionista or just trying to expand your wardrobe, this tutorial will help you pull off big jewelry both stylishly and tastefully.
Contents
Steps
Necklaces
- Wear a bright, chunky necklace with neutral colors. Try an abstract, 3-D design in crimson to compliment a simple black dress and tights or a thick turquoise necklace along with a white peasant shirt on top of jeans. Your outfit should be comfortable and simple, but the necklace will help to dress it up and draw attention to your excellent fashion sense.
- Pair less elaborate necklaces (such as a long silver or gold chain) with eye-catching clothes. If you’re wearing an animal print, for example, or a polka-dotted pattern on top, you’ll want to keep yourself from looking too “busy.”
- Always wear a large pearl or diamond necklace with elegant clothing. Such extravagant jewelry will look out of place when combined with everyday garb, so if you want to show off your brand-new gems, try making reservations at a fancy restaurant and slipping on your nicest heels before heading out.
- Bib necklaces should be worn with high-cut but low-collared shirts and jackets. Otherwise there will be an inch or two of space between the bottom of your necklace and the top of your shirt. It’s cleaner looking and you won't feel the need to adjust your clothes all day.
- Don’t wear more than one big necklace at once. Several is unnecessary; a good, chunky necklace will attract compliments all by itself. Additionally, do not pair a big necklace with a scarf or any other variety of neck wear. Even if you’re trying to make a grand statement, that kind of over accessorizing is rarely a good idea.
- Be cautious of sloppily made, cheap-looking necklaces. These are tacky and make you seem careless about how you present yourself. As a general rule, you should avoid large necklaces with words hanging from them (“love”, for example, or “best friends forever”) if you want to stay fashion-forward.
Bracelets
- Don't wear big bracelets when you know you'll be doing important tasks with your hands. Big bracelets are best worn on days when you won’t be using your hands much, or if you don’t mind pushing bracelets up your arms or taking them off for important tasks. They may be cute, but they can be a hassle--even typing on a computer can be cumbersome when wearing a bracelet--so if you're planning on wearing any, get ready to commit.
- If you're wearing long sleeves under your bracelet, try to arrange it so that the sleeve and your bracelet align at the edge of your wrist. This detail can be a huge improvement to your outfits, helping you look more put together.
- For short sleeves, simply let the bracelet rest against your wrist. If the inside of the bracelet irritates your skin, take a bottle of clear nail polish and apply several coats to the inner ring. If that doesn't ease the irritation, consider long sleeves.
- Experiment with wearing more than one big bracelet at a time. Unlike big necklaces, big bracelets can be worn fashionably several at a time. However, you should still be conscious of patterns, sizes, etc. Ask yourself questions like "Do these colors complement one another?" and "Can I really keep holding my arm up all day with twelve giant bangle bracelets on it?" If you find yourself uncertain, take off a bracelet or two, and always leave room in your bag in case you want to remove some more later on.
- Wear the best quality of bracelet you can comfortably afford. Similar to big necklaces, big bracelets can look gimmicky if they aren't made from the right stuff, so watch out. A high-quality bracelet can be hard to find, but if you look in the jewelry sections of Macy's or JC Penney or even Target, you're bound to stumble upon something that appeals to you.
Earrings
- For big earrings you should try to coordinate with your outfit more so than with a necklace or bracelet. This is because big bracelets and necklaces usually overlap clothing, creating a sense of composition even if they don't match exactly. Earrings, on the other hand, are located further away from your clothes, so you'll want to have at least one corresponding color between the two of them.
- This is the rule of thumb unless you're wearing a neutral color, in which case your earrings can be your statement piece. Want to spice up an old beige sweater or a gray pair of pants? Just put on some shoulder-length earrings and you've got a conversation starter right there.
- Wear large, expensive earrings only to formal events to accessorize formal attire. Emerald chandelier earrings, enormous sapphires--keep them out of your day-to-day life unless you're a princess or a daring debutante.
- Wear feather earrings occasionally. Feather earrings can be difficult to manage and clean. Try to only wear them on sunny, windless days, so they don't get wet or fly up like an umbrella during an aggressive storm.
- If you have more than one hole in your ear, put studs in the uppermost holes and your big earrings in the bottom one. This will prevent any overlap, and big earrings just look better when they have more room.
- Be wary of your surroundings, since earrings that dangle tend to get caught on things. If you're really worried, you should probably put up your hair and wear a tank top or other shirt that's unlikely to get snagged on an earring.
- Stay mindful of the amount of pressure the earrings exert on your ears. If you start to feel pain or even discomfort, take out the earrings and check for redness. You also might want to clean the hook/pole with isopropyl rubbing alcohol from time to time (although this goes for all of your earrings, especially if they're hurting your ears). If cleaning them doesn't relieve your discomfort, you may be allergic to them--some people can only wear earrings with solid gold hooks/poles.
Rings
- As with big bracelets, you shouldn't wear a bunch of chunky rings if you're planning on doing work with your hands or getting them dirty. This is particularly true if you haven't had the ring fitted properly, and it either keeps sliding off your finger or it cuts off your circulation; if that is the case, find a jeweler or a jewelry-loving friend who can recommend someone to fix it as soon as possible.
- Engagement and wedding rings, though typically not too big, are traditionally worn on the left hand. You shouldn't have trouble supporting the weight with your hand, and if you do, consult someone to have that changed.
- Costume jewelry rings and Ring Pops are fun, but they're not appropriate in professional settings. If you're going to wear big bijoux rings, save them for evenings out or when you're in more casual surroundings where a splash of creativity is accepted.
- Paint your nails if you want your hands to look more polished when wearing big rings. Another tactic to employ if you're self-conscious of your hands is to get a tan--just be careful not to turn yourself orange and you should be perfectly fine.
Tips
- Have fun with your jewelry. Fashion is all about what you choose to wear, and without experimentation you'd never find out what you like.
- Don’t let any of your jewelry get too matchy-matchy. If you have red pants, red shoes, red bracelets, red earrings, and a red necklace, you’re probably a little too red.
- Get creative with your look by basing your entire outfit off a single piece of jewelry. Don’t be afraid to buy anything eccentric--taking risks is how you discover your own personal style.
Things You’ll Need
- Big necklace(s)
- Big bracelet(s)
- Big earrings
- Big ring(s)
Related Articles
- Choose Jewelry
- Accessorize With Jewelry
- Wear Earrings
- Wear a Claddagh Ring
- Wear Pearls
