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The Classic Jewelry Wardrobe

Regardless of your personal style and taste, there are a few things every well-dressed woman should have in her wardrobe to accent her outfits. The classic jewelry wardrobe, like any good wardrobe, consists of several great pieces that work with many outfits and for many occasions.

Earrings

Diamond Studs 

The sparkling classic  is always a good bet. Small studs are great for the office while larger ones add just the right amount of sparkle to a little black dress.  The rule of thumb is, "Don't overdo it." Just a quarter carat in each ear is plenty of sparkle for daytime. Don't worry about what Holly Golightly says; diamonds of reasonable size look great on anyone.

Pearl Studs 

Pearl studs  are a little less attention-grabbing than diamonds; they announce themselves with quiet elegance. Great for office, evening parties, or with your favorite sweater and jeans. Any color will look great, but if you have a pearl necklace consider getting a matched set for more formal occasions. Just like with diamonds, save the really big ones for dressing up and wear smaller ones during the day.

Hoop Earrings 

The versatile, (relatively) inexpensive, goes-with-anything hoop earring  is a must-have in several sizes and colors. Unlike pearls and diamonds, smaller is the key for formal occasions; large hoops are fun but are usually considered more casual. A series of hoops decreasing in size is a great way to dress up an ear with multiple piercings. Gold,  white gold,  and silver are all great choices; platinum  is more expensive and probably not necessary since white gold will give you the same look.

Birthstone Earrings 

... or any colorful earring, really. Every woman should have something that adds a splash of color to her outfit. Sapphire,  ruby,  garnet,  emerald,  topaz  and amythest  all add color and glitter, while amber,  turquoise,  opal,  onyx  and lapis lazuli  are more subtle, opaque stones. Get your birthstone or just your favorite color and break them out when you need a little more excitement than your usual diamonds or gold hoops. 

Bracelets

Chain Bracelets 

Never underestimate the power of a simple chain bracelet  to add just the right amount of glitz to an outfit.  You can choose the absolute basic, but consider a chain with a little pizazz like the one pictured here. Silver  is great for everyday wear but is prone to tarnishing; gold  can stay on all the time and looks a little dressier. At least one of each is always a good bet!

The Heart Bracelet 

This is a more difficult question than a chain bracelet; some women absolutely love this look and some can't stand anything with hearts. If you're in the former category, wear this with pride and joy; heart bracelets  are very popular right now. If you're in the latter category, don't worry; there are so many fantastic bracelets out there that you aren't going to miss much.

Cuffs  and Bangles 

A solid bracelet, either a cuff  or a bangle,  is a great way to punch up an outfit. Cuff bracelets are eye-catching, particularly when they have an interesting texture or shape. Bangles are a little more subdued on their own, but when you pile on three or four you'll be sure to be noticed. Because of their size, cuffs don't need to be heavily ornamented -- their mass alone gets noticed. Bangles have a little more pizazz. Look for sterling silver bangles  for a pleasant chiming sound as they bounce together on your wrist.

Diamond Bracelet 

Tennis bracelets  are often given as gifts, especially for anniversaries or graduation. They are definitely not for everyday wear; save this for cocktail parties and pair it with your little black dress. 

There are also less expensive bracelets that feature diamonds, like a chain bracelet with diamonds  or a bangle with diamonds. 

Necklaces

Pearls 

Pearls are the ultimate classy necklace. Less showy and more feminine than diamonds, pearls make any woman more ladylike. Dress them up with a little black dress a la Breakfast at Tiffany's,  or pair them with skinny jeans and a v-neck shirt for weekend cool. You have a wide variety of color choices, although cream  or white  are the classics. Black pearls  (which can be a variety of shades of grey) are a little more edgy; golden-hued pearls  are glitzier than most; and pinkish pearls  are the ultimate in feminine luxury.

Diamond Solitaire 

The solitaire  is another timeless classic. This look works with anything from a v-neck sweater  to your best evening gown.  Unless you're Liz Taylor, stay away from the giant stones -- you don't want a big boulder to weigh down your style. Consider getting a slightly larger stone than you would for earings, but anything more than about one carat is probably too much. Either white metal  or yellow gold  will look great, but if you're getting a very good quality diamond the white metal will highlight its best features.

Chain Necklaces 

Chain necklaces  can refer to anything from a light, thin rope  to a heavy chain  that would make Mr. T proud. For a chain that you intend to wear on its own (as opposed to with a pendant ), look for something on the medium-heavy side with an interesting texture. While you really only need one string of pearls, a few chains of different lengths and thicknesses are a great supplement to your wardrobe.

External Links

  • About.com: About.com's guide to jewelry essentials is clear and easy to read.
  • FreeBeautyTips.com: Scroll to the bottom for advice on what jewelry you need for the office environment.