How to Accessorize with Jewelry

Discovering your own personal style and creating outfits that you feel comfortable and stylish in can be hugely rewarding and a lot of fun, but why stop at clothing? Jewelry can add a little added flair to your fit, but if you’re not sure which pieces suit you. Below, our jewellry guide is here to help you accessorize in style. 

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To start, let’s focus on body typing. You may be familiar with “fruit-based” body typing such as apple and pear body shapes, but one of the most popular forms making a recent comeback is Kibbe body typing. 

Created in the 1980s, the Kibbe system focuses on five basic categories (often branching off into more detailed subcategories) which also split into yin (softer, rounded, typically “feminine” characteristics) and “yang” (more angular, typically masculine features). Here is a quick guide to each of them and the most flattering jewelry for each shape.

• Romantic: Rounded, soft and slightly broad shapes look best in jewelry that mirrors the overall line with some delicate touches. Theatrical romantics suit soft, delicate and narrow pieces with extra detail, such as a diamond pendant necklace with a little ornate detail.

• Natural: A combination of blunt and broad lines in the body can be beautifully reflected in jewelry with a handmade, organic feel such as metals or tumbled crystals in unusual or irregular shapes. 

• Gamine: A delicate mix of yin and yang, gamines suit fine pieces with a little eccentric charm to them, such as a set of layered delicate necklaces in a quirky, original style.

• Classic: Falling somewhere between yin and yang, this body type looks best in equally balanced pieces that are minimal, symmetrical and classic, such as a pair of simple hoop earrings.

• Dramatic: Leaning more towards yang, dramatics suit equally sharp, angular pieces such as geometric or avant garde shapes in bright metals.

Other Kibbe body types might be described as “soft” (more yin) or “flamboyant”(more yang) versions of the above. Soft body types tend to suit round shapes, while flamboyant types typically suit more angular, geometric pieces. A third subtype is “theatrical”, which is romantic with a slightly dramatic yang undertone. Theatrical types suit sparkling, elegant pieces and high-shine metals.

Seasonal Colors

One of the best ways to assess which colors of jewelry suit you is to look at seasonal color typing, which can be split into two main categories: cool or warm (there is also “neutral” which falls somewhere in between).

Those with cooler-toned skin look best in silver jewelry, while warmer toned skins glow with gold and bronze (rose gold is a pretty universal color that can be worn by most people). To find out which one you are, simply look at the veins on the inside of your forearm: if they are blue or purple, you are likely to be cool-toned, whereas if they are green it’s possible you’re more of a warm skin tone.

In terms of color palettes, these tend to reflect the seasons themselves: winter types suit high contrast pieces (think of trees against a snowy background) or gems in festive, jewel-toned hues. Spring and summer tend to include softer palettes in more pastel tones, while the colors for fall are more earthy.

A Few Extra Details

Other factors to consider include the use of jewelry to balance out certain facial and body features. Overall, more detail on the top (such as earrings and necklaces) draws attention to the top half of your body, while pieces like rings and bangles draw the eye down.

For necklaces, those with larger busts tend to suit shorter chains, while those with longer necks suit chokers for a balanced look. When choosing earrings, you can choose curved, wider styles that add softness to angular features, or visually lengthen your face with longer drop earrings.

When accessorizing with jewelry, it’s important to accentuate your outfit, rather than overwhelm it. An exception to the “less is more” rule applies to layering, where necklaces and bracelets are strategically placed on top of another. 

Personal Style

Another key factor to consider is your own personal aesthetic. While this might have a lot to do with your Kibbe type (some types such as gamines look great in tailored outfits, while others suit more of a bohemian look), it’s also more subjective.

Ask yourself what types of clothes make you feel great when you wear them? Do you have any pieces that you tend to wear a lot? Are there any celebrities or particular designers you look to for fashion inspiration?

Putting a moodboard together of your favorite ideas can help you get a better picture of this. Once you have this in front of you, decide which pieces of jewelry would best suit your personal style. Are you sporty, elegant or minimalist, or do you lean more towards a more edgy look? Experiment with different looks; you can even mix and match them if you like. Most of all, have fun experimenting with your look!

Last Updated on May 23, 2023 by ritukhare