How long does it take you to prepare for work? For a night out with the girls? For a first date? I guess if you’re like most women, you take at least half an hour to decide what to wear. Then you have to shower, comb your hair, nails and makeup and decide on shoes. A couple of hours later, you admire the result in the mirror and frown in puzzlement; all that work and yet something is missing. Oh! The bright! You forgot to put on your favorite jewelry. How long does it take you to decide what jewelry to wear? It’s amazing how many women will grab the first thing they put their hands on or just the necklace and bracelet they wear every day. Even after spending hours putting together the perfect outfit. There is fashion in jewelry as in clothing.

If you look back through the ages, you’ll see that some years chunky, colorful things are all the rage and other times simple diamond earrings are all you need. jewelry is as personal as your wardrobe. It is a statement about who you are. It can also be a statement about your financial status. If you’re wearing a Chanel suit, you’d hardly think to wear a $15 necklace with it. You would find an elegant gold or diamond necklace in a simple and classic design. Some pieces of jewelry, while not very expensive, are timeless and versatile and can be worn with just about anything. A pearl necklace, for example, can be worn with just about anything. They look great under an open white shirt or low cut cashmere cardigan. A gold necklace with a diamond pendant will complement any black top or dress, even a cocktail or evening dress. In the ’70s, chokers were all the rage. Black velvet with a silver or gold pendant on the front. You need a long, thin neck to get away with wearing a choker.

However, keep in mind that chokers are considered attention getters, so if you’re trying to keep a low profile, avoid the choker. The rule used to say that if you select a metal and stick with it. So if you wear silver earrings, you also wear a silver necklace and bracelet. This no longer seems to be the case and, especially with the advent of Pandora bracelets, people seem to mix and match silver, yellow gold, and white gold with abandon. In short, the rules are pretty simple these days; select jewelry that complements what you wear with style and class. Give your jewelry the same attention you give the rest of your outfit and make sure that no matter what you wear, the clothes and/or the jewelry, you are comfortable with the result. And remember that people will judge you by your jewelry as much or more than by your clothes.