Accessorizing by your face shape

Last week we talked about how to pick the length of your necklace depending on the occasion.

In the 'How to...' category today we will talk about picking your accessories based on your face shape. You'd want your jewelry to accent your best features and complement your face, right?

Let's start with the face shapes - there are 8 different ones:

Oval face: the face is slightly longer than wider, the jawline is slightly rounded, the face is wider at the cheekbones. With equal distances from jawline to cheekbone to forehead, this is often referred as 'the perfect' face - which means anything goes with this type of face! Lucky you! You can wear any length of necklace, any type of earrings. Play with your other features: if you have a long neck you want to emphasize - wear a multi-strand collar; if you want to soften it - wear a collar necklace.

Oblong face: the face is slightly longer than wider, the jawline is slightly rounded, the face has the same width at the jawbones, cheekbones, forehead. Choose jewelry that will reduce the length of the face, and add width - a full choker will do both, and princess necklaces with a bold wide focal will break the length and widen your face. In earring look for short and wide: studs or short bold dangles. Avoid accessories that will lengthen the face even more.

Rectangular face: the face is slightly longer than wider, the jawline is straight & square, the face has the same width at the jawbones, cheekbones, forehead. The same rules as in oblong will apply - just make sure you add rounder shapes, to soften the straightness of the jawline. A good necklace option is one that will keep the round shape, like necklaces built on memory wire. For the rectangular face - choose round / disc beads.

Diamond face: the face is slightly longer than wider, the jawline is long and pointed, the face is wider at the cheekbones. Almost as perfect as the oval shaped face, with a diamond face you can wear almost anything. You can either accent the dramatic line of the cheekbone or soften the angular lines a little bit: for the former use bold modern styles, for the later choose the more classic softly shaped princess or collar necklaces. In earrings - accent the other features of the face: for a more narrower face use earrings that will give width in the upper area (like a modern going-upwards style); if you'd like to add width to a more pointier chin wear dangling earrings that are wider at the bottom (like a marquise cut, or chandelier). If you'd like to accent the straight lines of the face - wear crystals (or diamonds); while if you'd like to soften the angular lines - wear round shapes (hoops) and beads.

Triangular face: the face is slightly longer than wider, the jawline broad, the face is wider at the jawline. With a triangular shape you want to lengthen the face and give it the feeling of being oval. In necklaces - add length by using longer (princess and matinee) ones, and by using lower focal beads that will draw attention away from the face. Use rounder shapes (and beads) to soften the angular lines. In earrings - complement the shape of the face by inverting the shape of the earrings, and wear longer earrings that are wider at the top than the bottom (think grape clusters).

Heart-shaped face: the face is slightly longer than wider, the jawline is long and pointed, the face is wider at forehead. For necklace choose a short length (choker, princess) with larger round beads (discs are ideal) - they will break the vertical line and add softness to the pointed chin. If you prefer longer lengths - try a multi-strand necklace with multiple strands around the neck and a longer one. In earrings - avoid anything that adds length and width at the cheekbone and use earrings that are wider at the bottom than the top like teardrops and triangles.

Square face: the face is almost as wide as it is long, the jawline is straight & square, the face has the same width at the jawbones, cheekbones, forehead. With a square face you want to add length and soften the right angles. Wear long necklaces: princess, matinee, opera & rope. Like with the triangular face, a large focal will draw attention from the face and add length. The earrings should focus attention on length - wear long oval hoops, or long drops, but avoid too-long earrings, as they may highlight the width of the face. Wear soft round cuts in beads / gemstones.

Round face: the face is almost as wide as it is long, the jawline is softly rounded, the face is wider at the cheekbones. Accessories for a round face needs to add the illusion of length and angular lines to counter-balance the softness of the shape. Like with the square face, your necklaces should be long and have a focal that will draw attention. The focal should be more angular than round (triangles, rectangles, diamond shapes). Long earrings are best for this shape - use more angular lines than with a square face: long narrow rectangles, and cut crystals.

Now we know how to pick our jewelry based on the occasion and our face shape. What should we talk about next in our 'How to...' articles? Please leave your suggestions!