Not every man is comfortable when wearing jewellery. Though jewellery are now part of men’s fashion accessories, wearing them can still be intimidating and uncomfortable to some. But a man need not limit himself to wearing just a wedding band and a wristwatch. Picking the most appropriate accessories can go a long way to boost an overall look and bolster his confidence in his style. Here are some styling tips for the stylish man when pairing an outfit with jewellery.
Pairing colours:
Gold and silver tones are the most common colour profiles in men’s jewellery. Yellow metals, notably yellow gold, provide a warm colour that goes well with earthy and deep-coloured tones, such as brown, purple and dark green. Silver, white gold and platinum, on the other hand, are more neutral which can blend easily with any outfit and they pair well will sharp colours. Copper and bronze have a more orange tint which can clash with bold colours but they stand when matched with pale shades.
Tip: Jewellery are meant to be accessories and they accentuate a person’s features and outfit, not to overpower them. Keeping things simple is not only safe as it also serves as a great way to style with accessories. Stick to one metallic tone at a time to avoid clashes of colours.
Matching jewellery with skin tone:
An essential factor that is often left out when selecting accessories is the skin tone of a person. Men’s jewellery are typically made with metal, such as gold, silver and platinum. Light metals, such as white gold, platinum or silver, best suit cool skin tones, while yellow metals, such as yellow gold, rose gold and brass blend better with warmer skin tones. Neutral skin tones, however, are best highlighted with white and yellow metals.
Tip: The easiest way to define a skin tone is by looking at the inner part of the wrist. While a cool skin tone will show blue or purple veins; green veins will be more visible under a warm skin tone. A neutral skin tone will show veins with a little of both blue and green which can look either blue-green or purple.
Dress for the occasion
Dressing for appropriately for an occasion is an essential point to consider when using jewellery as accessories, especially when you are dressing up for work, funerals and formal events. Wearing something that is ostentatious can be misconstrued as disrespectful, while earrings at an office environment are inappropriate. Jewellery that are more appropriate for office and formal occasions comprise a shirt and suit accessories, such as cufflinks and tie clips, though you can get away with a silver or titanium bracelet. These jewelleries are small but will elevate a typically uniform outfit.
Tip: Customise a shirt with marbled, patterned or coloured cufflinks and buttons made with premium materials. These will give your otherwise plain outfit a stronger look that fits your style and taste more.
Choosing a jewellery:
It’s been said that jewellery are the last items that one puts on, but they are among the first that are seen. Thus, wearing a set that reflects your style, personality and values is essential to accessorising an outfit. Jewelleries are a subtle representation of a person’s values, commitments and fashion sense, and though limited in range, men’s accessories can go beyond watches and wedding bands.
Religious pieces and heirlooms represent culture and status, and are great conversation starters, while ornamental jewelleries, such as titanium bangles, coloured stone rings, as well as silver and gold chain necklaces, have been gaining popularity in men’s fashion. An important point to factor in when dressing up with jewelleries is to keep things simple and avoid flashy blings. Accessories are meant to add colour and character to an outfit, not distract from them.
Rings
It’s not uncommon to wear more than a couple of rings, but it’s best not to overdo it, especially when wearing coloured stones. Keep things simple, and minimise mixing too many colours together. Also, it’s better to avoid big, chunky rings on slender fingers, though styling bigger hands with accessories that are too thin are easy to go unnoticed.
Bracelets
Bracelets are a great alternative to watches. If a shirt sleeve is too short, you can fill the space with a bracelet or a few. In contrast to women’s bracelets, a more masculine look would be to fashion a single bangle or a double-wrapped leather bracelet. It’s better to avoid charms, pendants and accents that are oversized and chunky.
Cufflinks, shirt studs and tie pins
Cufflinks and shirt studs are accessories that dress up a shirt where buttons would normally be. They can be customised with patterned, coloured or even rare materials. Tie pins, on the other hand, are worn to keep the tie tidily in place. Customise the outfit with cufflinks, shirt studs and tie pins. They serve as functional accessories that add some personality and style to the usual boring office or formal look.
Necklaces
Necklaces can be either decorative, religious or even functional. Either way, they can be great accessories that accentuate an outfit and are easy to hide, when needed. Style one to two necklaces together with similar to the same colour tones and leave the length six to eight inches above the navel to avoid looking gaudy.
Earring
They are a very common form of jewellery for the modern man. There are a variety of options for various face types. For instance, round earrings suit oblong-shaped faces, while heart-shaped faces can pull off a straight earring better than other types. Square faces highlight round or curved earrings nicely. On the other hand, square earrings look better on round faces.