Neckwear
Do you have a long, graceful neck that could be described as gazelle-like? Or perhaps a shorter neck that's perfectly suited to your shoulders and face? This area is a hard part of the body to dress, and your look will depend largely on your hair style, the line of your shirt, your other
accessories
, and of course, the shape of your neck. Fortunately, adornments break down into two very simple categories: necklaces and scarves.
Necklace Designs
The necklace is the first thing that comes to mind in discussions of neckwear; they're wardrobe staples, with designs that can add to any look and appeal to any sense of personal style. No matter what your dress sense, there's a necklace
out there for you, waiting to add the perfect touch to your style
.
One important factor when it comes to these accessories is length:
- Chokers
: These sit high on your neck, say from 35 to 60 cm, and are best for long necks and low collars.
- Opera necklace
: These are 75 to 90 cm long and sit at the breastbone. They suit most faces and styles, depending on the details; pearls aren't so great with a t-shirt.
- Princess necklaces
: Typically 45 to 50 cm long, these are not as tight as the choker. They are of medium length and can complement virtually any ensemble.
- Sautoir
or Rope necklaces
: Longer than the opera length, these add elegance to your neckline, and are a surprisingly good fit for high necklines.
And that's just dealing with strand length! The look of an opera necklace changes when it's composed of a heavy chain
instead of pearls. Charms and pendants
also have different effects, from sophisticated to cute and sweet. Material and arrangement can really change the feel of your outfit: consider the bib necklace
, which has a short but ornate arrangement of pearls, versus the simpler arrangement of pearls in a uniform necklace
. Basically, it doesn't hurt to have a few different of these baubles hanging around.
As with scarves, you may also want to consider draping
and layering. Longer styles can be worn around the neck in multiple layers
, which can add texture while making a long necklace less bothersome -- long strings of anything tend to get in the way. With this look, you can add sparkle to very simple styles
. That said, outfits that already have a great deal
of embellishment
don't need the extra detail, so accessorise sparingly. Remember, short or ornate pieces go better with an up-do.
Scarves
The only thing required to pull off a scarf is attitude! A diagonal fold
that forms a triangle helps create a very rugged
,Western style
that contrasts well with frillier items
. This fold
, known as the desert fold, is good for most faces and hairdos. Scarves can also be knotted loosely or worn as cravats
: this often suits a narrower face. You could also skip the knot altogether and go for some very loose draping, with a long scarf
wrapped once or twice around the neck. Remember to keep the fabric seasonally appropriate; it's not so much about looking foolish as it about comfort.
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