Necklaces are commonly worn jewelry that transform outfits regardless of the occasion at hand. You can upgrade your wardrobe by getting the best necklaces depending on your budget, taste, and preference.
Necklaces have been in existence for many years in all parts of the world. There are many types of necklaces that have different histories originating from the oldest civilizations.
During these times, necklaces were made of locally available materials and those gathered from hunting and gathering trips, such as stones, natural shells, teeth, and bones. During these times, wearing a necklace was symbolic. For instance, some people wore them to protect themselves against evil spirits or for religious, ceremonial, and funerary purposes. Over time, such materials aren't common and have since been replaced by other materials such as gold, steel, platinum, titanium, glass, and silver, among others. As more people continue to embrace necklaces, manufacturers are also coming up with new necklace designs to counter the growing demand for fashionable jewelry.
Today, you'll find different necklace designs in the market made for different occasions. Some are versatile, meaning they can do well on multiple occasions. In this case, you only need a single versatile necklace, and you'll be good to go. One common challenge most people face is selecting the best necklace that suits their style and occasion. The choice even gets difficult when choosing one to give someone else as a gift.
Below are some things to consider when selecting a necklace:
1. Style
This is probably the first thing you must consider when selecting a necklace. There are many necklace styles in the market today, which can make a choice a bit challenging. The necklace style you want will depend on your budget and preference. Typically, the most common necklace styles include gold bar, freshwater pearl, paper link, and personalized keepsake styles. These styles are suitable for different occasions and moods. Current statistics show that there's a very huge demand for layered necklaces due to their unique style and versatility. Again, women, in particular, are going for necklaces with minimalistic styles which are cost-effective and elegant. It's essential to ensure you get the right size. Remember, its size will affect your overall appearance depending on the outfit you choose to wear.
2. Face shape
Apart from necklaces being accessories, they also play a significant role in framing the wearer's face. When you choose a necklace with the right, be sure that your facial features will be emphasized. Additionally, it'll avoid altering how your face is perceived. Below is how to go about selecting a necklace depending on the shape of your face:
- Round-shaped face
If you've got a round face, regardless of your gender, it's advisable to select a necklace with a long length. Such a necklace gives a flattering v shape. You can also consider selecting pendant styled necklaces or chokers since they over-accentuate and add depth to more rounded faces.
- Long shaped face
Those with long shaped faces should consider selecting necklaces with shorter lengths. The most common designs that work well with such faces are rounder pendant designs. These are popular choices for most people with slightly longer faces.
- Oval shaped face
People with oval shaped faces have an added advantage when it comes to selecting necklaces. They can choose necklaces with any chain length without any stress or looking funny. Typically, long, short, or chokers styled necklaces are ideal for people with oval shaped faces. Some people go for boho styled charm necklaces due to their stylish and elegant designs.
3. Neck size
When selecting a necklace, it's essential to determine your neck's circumference. This will help you buy a proper fitting necklace that's not too tight or loose. Specifically, people who want very short chains such as choker or collar will want to measure their neck. You can measure your neck's circumference using a measuring tape. Hold one end of the tape close to your neck and wrap it around. Record the measurement you've got. You can also ask someone else to read the measurement on your behalf for accuracy purposes. If your goal is to buy chokers, you must add 2 inches to the result of your measurement for the purpose of comfort. On the other hand, if you want other average necklaces such as pendants, you should add 4 inches to the results to create a V-effect. Besides measuring your neck, it's also essential to consider its length and width.
4. Occasion
Different necklaces are suitable for varied occasions. Therefore, it's important to keep in mind the kind of occasion or event you're attending before you invest in any particular necklace. Generally, you won't look nice if you wear a casual necklace at an official meeting or event. Therefore, if you want to attend a fancy event, consider selecting a necklace that's not too shouting or extravagantly showy. For instance, a thin chained pendant necklace won't be an ideal match if you've decided to wear a beaded dress for the event. Such jewels are mostly suitable for walking around town and costume parties. Avoid these necklace types for extravagant occasions since they look cheap. Select understated necklaces if you want to attend casual occasions. After all, you're not in a contest where you'll want to stand out.
5. Height
It's essential to consider your height when selecting a suitable necklace. Short people below 5'4'' in height should select necklaces lengths ranging from 16-20 inches. On the other hand, people with average height, i.e., 5'4''-5'7'' have the advantage over both short and tall people since they can easily wear necklaces of any length. Lastly, tall people who are 5'7'' in height or more should select longer chains to accentuate their height.
6. Clothing colors
Most stylish people want to match their clothing to jewelry, including necklaces. Depending on the event you're attending, you can consider what clothes you'll wear and find a necklace that matches them. Even if you're attending a casual event, you won't feel good wearing jewelry that totally crashes the colors of your clothing. This isn't the case for everyone. Some people might want to mix colors. You can get color help from the color wheel if you feel confused about the kind of necklace to select to bring the best look ever. The role of a color wheel is to show various colors and the effect of combining them with others.
7. Other jewelry
If you're a jewelry enthusiast, you're highly likely to wear different jewelry ranging from necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, brooches, cufflinks, etc. In this case, if you want to wear a necklace and pair it with other jewelry, you'll want them to complement each other. This doesn't mean that they should be necessarily similar. The whole idea is to strike a balance between your jewelry. If you already have other types of jewelry, you can consider selecting necklaces that match them so that it becomes easier to decide what you'll be wearing for various occasions. For instance, if you've got other silver earrings, you can select a silver necklace to complement each other. However, this doesn't mean you can't choose necklaces made of other materials such as gold or diamond.
8. Body type
Your body type will influence the kind of necklace you choose. The rule of thumb is to ensure that you get the right sized necklace to bring out your best features. Most necklaces emphasize body areas they fall. Therefore, to avoid drawing attention to these areas, it's essential to select necklaces that don't end in the specific area. People with fuller figures should consider selecting shorter necklaces to avoid drawing attention to the collarbone. In this case, longer necklaces won't hang properly. Generally, if you've got a fuller figure, your main objective should be to get a necklace that matches your body. Thin and tall people should choose long chained necklaces to accentuate their waists better.
9. Color and sparkle
Necklaces come in varied colors and sparkle. You can select your favorite color depending on your preference and the color of your clothing and other jewelry. Some necklaces are multicolored, meaning you don't have to choose single-colored ones. In fact, the multicolored ones add a sense of style to one's outfit, especially when wearing mixed and matched colors.
10. Shirt’s cut
Different tops and blouses have varied cuts and necklines. The kind of necklace you choose should complement the neckline of your top or blouse. For instance, if you're wearing a turtleneck style shirt, it'll be wildly unreasonable to select choker style necklaces. Such necklaces are suitable for tops or blouses with sweetheart necklines that don't have elaborate edging or laces. On the other hand, if you've got a crew neck or scoop neck styled top, consider selecting matching necklaces that follow the top's neckline.
In conclusion, these are some top things to consider when selecting a necklace. You can also consider your budget, price and read online reviews to see what other people say about the different necklaces.