The Right Jewelry for Every Look

The Right Jewelry for Every Look

A massive gold-tone necklace: detailed craftsmanship of the weave, large precious stones and numerous delicate ornaments – undoubtedly a magnificent piece of jewelry. Paired with the right clothing, it completes the perfect look for a sophisticated and prestigious event. But this type of accessory would not be a good choice for a business meeting, as it would look far too striking for the occasion, and it certainly could not be worn as an everyday piece. A piece of jewelry on its own can be an exquisite work of art – beautiful, unique and chic – but the wrong combination with clothing could ruin the entire outfit and prevent the beauty of the jewelry itself from standing out.

The question is not whether to add jewelry to our outfit, because the answer is a definite YES. The dilemma is what jewelry to choose so that it suits our style, is appropriate for the occasion and complements our look. That is why in this article we will give you guidance for this difficult choice, together with clear examples.

1. Strictly Formal Attire

Strictly formal attire is a mandatory dress code for high-class events such as premieres, gala evenings, balls, the theater, the opera and so on. Etiquette requires women to wear dresses whose style depends on when the event takes place (morning, afternoon or evening), while men wear a tuxedo or suit. The choice of jewelry is limited – restrained clothing requires accessories to be few in number, expensive and simple, with nothing extravagant or outside established standards. Jewelry again varies depending on the occasion, but it usually features precious or semi-precious stones, gold or silver, or is Swarovski-style. A classic of the genre, Coco Chanel’s “little black dress” is the choice of many women for an evening event together with a pearl necklace and earrings, and the reason is simple – this outfit is refined and elegant and conveys style and class. With dresses featuring an open and deeper neckline, a necklace is not essential; a pair of earrings may be completely sufficient. But if you still want to wear a necklace with the dress, you can never go wrong with a simple single-strand necklace with crystals or other stones. Heavy accessories are not excluded, but they should not be eccentric. The key when choosing jewelry for strictly formal attire is to pay attention to the stones – their natural beauty and brilliance should stand out, while the design should emphasize them.

2. Semi-Formal Attire

Semi-formal attire, also known as an office/business look, is suitable for official, business and formal occasions as well as informal situations, restaurants and visits. It is equally appropriate for wearing to work in the office, conferences and interviews. Here, the freedom in choosing accessories is greater than with strictly formal attire, but to keep your look stylish you should follow several rules and avoid common mistakes. Necklaces are generally avoided unless paired with a suitable blouse; the main accessories are earrings, bracelets and rings. They can be matched in combinations such as necklace and earrings, bracelet and rings, bracelet and earrings, or bracelet and necklace. They should not draw too much attention but should instead be fine and delicate. For a necklace – a thin chain with an interesting design or two intertwined chains, a layered necklace with or without pendants, a simple delicate long necklace, or a short necklace close to the neck. Bracelets may be rigid bangles or soft chain bracelets, but never more than one or two on one wrist; rings should also be limited to no more than two and should not be large or bulky. Earrings – long or short, the choice is yours, but again as clean and simple as possible. Simplicity is important – a simple but stylish design. Accessories should never be overdone: you do not need a “full set” of jewelry – rings, bracelets, necklace and earrings – because that would look overly ornate and kitschy; one or two pieces are completely sufficient. And one choice that is always right is a watch, for both men and women. The office look itself is the combination of clothing plus jewelry, and when combined correctly it creates that striking effect of elegance and simplicity together with an air of class.

3. Everyday Attire

If strictly formal looks have imposed restrictions so far and semi-formal attire has focused on style achieved through simplicity, everyday clothing gives complete freedom of action: a choice of color palette, a wide range of shades, elements and combinations. Our everyday look is a form of self-expression, and for that reason it uses the personal touch as its main strength. This is where bright and distinctive accessories come in, adding individuality to the outfit. But understated and ordinary jewelry is also an option, such as a small pendant, stud or cluster earrings, a delicate bracelet and a band-style ring. For the bold and daring, however – those who want a memorable and distinctive look, and those who like to experiment – we recommend jewelry with unconventional shapes, asymmetrical forms or unusual designs, with the only warning being to combine them correctly with the colors of your clothes. Such accessories include large hoop earrings or ear cuffs that cover the whole ear, heavy rigid bangles that can be made of any material and in any shade, necklaces with large semi-precious stones or simply an unusual design, full-finger rings, midi rings or monogram rings. And all kinds of beaded jewelry are an ideal addition to everyday clothing.

   4. Specific Styles

These include the dress styles of subcultures such as Goth, Alternative, Rock, Punk, Emo, Hipster and others. We place them under one common heading because they share a common accessory – leather goods. Thick leather bracelets with spikes and chokers in the same theme, heavy chains used as waist accessories, necklaces or bracelets, and multiple earrings worn in different places – these are the first things associated with rock and punk style. Characteristic Goth jewelry includes “sinister” elements such as skulls, bats, crosses and so on, and is typically black. But the accessory options do not end there. Leather bracelets offer enormous variety – colors, materials, ornaments, pendants, configurations and combinations. Hipsters and those who dress in Alternative style make the most use of them. The possibilities are countless, because bracelets can be combined in every possible way: individually or in sets of several, on one wrist or both, paired with rings or pendants. With this type of jewelry, it is difficult to overdo the number of pieces; here the maxim is: the more, the better. The only possible mistake is for the individual pieces not to match, creating confusion – a clumsy and chaotic set.