Building a Jewelry Wardrobe: A Woman’s Guide to Seven Jewelry Must-Haves

Just as every woman needs a pair—or twenty—of jeans, a few pairs of black shoes (at the very least: ballet flats, thongs, kitten heels and stilettos), a cocktail dress, a few basic skirts, a chic business suit, a cardigan sweater…I could go on but you get my point. Just as every woman needs these fashion staples, she needs a few jewelry basics—seven actually—with which to accessorize her outfits. Like a custom paint job on a sleek Harley, accessories personalize your style and tell the world that you care enough to go the extra mile for appearance’s sake. And we all know that appearance counts. Within the first three seconds of taking you in, people make judgments about you that you usually cannot reverse. So why not make a good first impression with a look that is polished, put together, and says that you pay attention to style and detail? Still with me? Good. Here are seven jewelry staples no well-dressed woman should be without. Choose any one of them to accessorize in a snap, and to ensure that snap judgments made about you reflect who you really are. Diamond studs Anyone can pull off this classic accessory. Diamond studs are elegant, timeless and simple enough to be worn with other jewelry and any style of hair or dress. Look for clear, sparkling gems with at least ½ carat total weight, set in white gold or platinum (not yellow gold) to show off their colorlessness. As for shape, round studs will always be in style, but princess cut styles are popular—and classic too. Look for screw backs to help ensure that you won’t lose your investment, and make sure the setting is secure (I prefer four prongs to three). Be warned that quality diamond studs can be pricey. Blue Nile.com has a beautiful pair of ½ carat tw diamond studs with screw backs for $600; Tiffany & Co. sells a beautiful pair of .22 total carat weight diamonds set it platinum for $875. Can’t afford these beauties? My sparkly CZ look-alikes get the job done, and cost under $40. And I don’t have to worry about losing—or insuring them. Pearl studs Like diamond studs, pearl studs can be worn with every style of dress, and with all types of jewelry. Unlike diamond studs, pearl studs are surprisingly affordable, especially when you choose freshwater pearls, which today can rival the beauty of their saltwater cousins. Look for round white gems that are well-matched; these are classics and won’t go out of style. Beware of purchasing button-shaped (flattened) pearls when you think you’re getting round. Choose a back that is comfortable, secure and comprised of a metal your skin can tolerate, such as white gold, yellow gold or platinum. When wearing pearls, keep in mind that the gems are typically associated with a demure, ladylike reputation, so they’re perfect for a job interview, wedding or other formal setting. Of course, classic pearls are perfect for daytime and casual events as well, and give the wearer a timeless, feminine look that is very polished. When buying pearl studs, choose akoya cultured pearls or their far more affordable freshwater counterparts, which are just as beautiful. For the best look, choose pearls that are 6mm or greater in size. JR Dunn sells Mikimoto akoya cultured pearls in 6mm round white for $340; MoonRiverPearls.com sells round white freshwater cultured pearls in 7mm for $38. Dangle earrings I love dangles for their drama, and because their typical hook backs make them easy to get on and off. But many dangles aren’t for everyday; they’ll look out of place with shorts and a tank, for example. If you’re going a bit more formal, though, you have many options with this earring style. Keep in mind that if you want your dangle earrings to become a jewelry staple, look for a classic, elegant design in a neutral color, such as an all metal style or one that ends in a cultured pearl, for example. For your staple piece, don’t choose anything trendy or cute; steer clear of hearts, stars, zodiac signs and skulls. (If you want to go trendy that’s fine, just buy something inexpensive.) As for what to choose, I prefer a dangle that hangs an inch or two below the earlobe to really make a statement. White gold and yellow gold bars, chains or chandeliers are timeless favorites. Of course, hairstyle and wardrobe will play a role here too. If your hair is very long you can get away with more dramatic—and longer—styles. Remember, though, if you wear a dramatic earring it’s best to skip the necklace and let the earrings speak for themselves. Silver or gold hoop earrings Several styles of hoop earrings can be considered jewelry staples, from small diamond-encrusted loops to gargantuan, J.Lo-style hoops. It all depends on what you like, so choose hoops that fit your personality. Keep in mind, though, that oversize hoops can overpower short hair, an updo, or a face with small features, so take in the overall picture before you step out. Small gold, silver, diamond, pearl or CZ hoops go with everything and are always in style. Look for hoop earrings with a back that’s easy to fasten and won’t readily bend or fall out. And don’t wear gigantic hoops to a job interview or other professional setting, unless you work at Vogue. Diamond solitaire pendant There’s not enough room here to write about the five Cs of diamond quality, but, if you’re interested, there are a ton of sites out there where you can read about how to choose a diamond. As for the pendant, a single bezel set diamond on a white gold chain looks amazing, crisp and classic. Choose an 18-inch length with a secure clasp (I prefer lobster claw here) and make sure the chain is sturdy, yet thin and unobtrusive. It’s the diamond that you want to showcase here, not the chain. As with studs, you can get a gorgeous solitaire pendant made...

If you are a true lover of the periodic jewelry, the style and miniature art of art deco jewelry will definitely take your heart away. Originated in Paris, art deco jewelry is a rare combination of aristocratic preferences with a modern touch that enhances the individuality of its wearers. Historically, the golden era of art deco jewelry was in 1920’s to 1930’s when most of the creative work was done. Due to world war one it had to see a rough phase but it never ended since then. Started as costume jewelry, art deco jewelry has been taken well in fine jewelry that is now comparable to modern bridal jewelry. Thus, it has a great style and pattern that shows true commitment and dedication transforming in different attractive ornaments such as rings, necklaces, brooches, bracelets for you. Normally, art deco jewelry comes in many metals. You can find stylist and beautiful jewels in gold, both in yellow and white and platinum that look radiant and stunning. Especially, platinum is popular among its wearers as it is a new metal that has an unending shine and glow. Also, its combination with different colored stones gives a mesmerizing glaze in jewelries. That’s why; art deco jewelry in platinum is highly in demand these days. One of the interesting feature of the art deco jewelry is its contrasting stones and color combination that’s make it really different from rest of the jewel. Mainly, a central gem is surrounded with other different stones to get an overstated appearance that is simply marvelous. Diamond surrounded by corals, emeralds, rubies and onyx are the perfect example of that extravagant look. This skill of art deco is also engraved into leaf, flower and other shapes as well. Based on geometrical designs, art deco jewelry comes in different cuts such as princess, marquise, emeralds and heart that produce fancy as well as intricate jewelry. Despite being traditional and periodic in looks, art deco jewelry has a modern touch that increases and enhances its overall appearance. Sleek and elegant designs in different geometric designs reveal sophistication and aspirations of modern life. Nowadays, new cuts and shapes are also included in art deco jewelry in order to give it a new meaning and life. Due to its complicated patterns and periodic resemblance, art deco jewelry can be expensive sometimes but its uniqueness and sophistication is really out of this world so, treat yourself with a classic art deco jewelry with a...