Lots of people steer clear of jewellery, myself included most of the time, but worn in the right ways, it can be a great detail for accentuating an outfit. Here are a few ideas for items of jewellery and how to wear them.
Watches
Wristwatches are technically jewellery. Most people nowadays don’t wear watches to tell the time given that mobile phones have digital clocks, making them largely a fashion accessory. That said, they still are a symbol of being organised and time-efficient and they can be great accessories to wear a job interview for this reason. People traditionally wore their watch on the left hand, but nowadays fewer people pay attention to this rule.
Bracelets
Bracelets can be a great accessory. They can be worn with a watch, although usually you probably shouldn’t wear anything too chunky on the same wrist as a watch. A single thin metal bracelet is the best option for a formal setting, although it may be pointless if your wrists are covered up by sleeves. When it comes to a more informal setting, material bracelets are a good option. You can even layer up multiple bracelets – many people wear layered string and rope cords for a slightly hippy-ish look.
Necklaces
You can also wear necklaces. A single thin chain necklace is usually the safest bet for most people, and can match all levels of formality. Pendants such as dog tags and crosses are cute, or gems if you’re feeling more spiritual. Chunky chain necklaces are a different mood – I personally quite like these as a statement with a bare chest.
Piercing jewellery
If you’ve got piercings, you may already be aware of the vast range of piercing jewellery out there available. When it comes to earrings alone, there are multiple styles ranging from studs to hoops to barbells to threads. Piercing jewellery isn’t always suitable for all occasions – some archaic workplaces may forbid it either for health and safety reasons or because they don’t feel it fits with the company image. Attitudes to piercings have changed a lot in the last few decades and you may find that you can still get away with studs in some formal settings. I personally have both my ears pieces and love the little plus sign detail.
Rings
Rings can be a great way to accessorise the hands and tend to have a different symbolism depending on the finger you place them on. In most cultures, the ring finger is reserved for wedding rings, kinda old fashioned – so feel free to rebel against this, obviously. The middle finger is the most common choice for casual, stylish rings. When it comes to formal rings with crests on, these are traditionally worn on the index finger. The thumb and little finger meanwhile are less common but can be used for statement rings. It’s possible to wear multiple rings on one hand, but you probably don’t want a ring on each finger as this will look overcrowded and affect movement.
This is a contributed post, edited by Nik.