From movie stars to athletes, wearing jewelry as a man is now a check for style and polish and it’s an amazing way to stand out as dandy. Have you ever heard the line – “Real men don’t wear jewelry”? Well, I hear it all the time but Jewelries were not only made for the female folk because stylish men can also wear jewelries. In recent times, jewelries have not been mainstream for men’s fashion as it has primarily been adapted into women’s fashion. Many men love to wear jewelry but the thought of it being a girly thing or the thought of being scared of looking silly or ridiculous in it has been the discouraging factor but things are changing now as more men are rediscovering their jewelry style and accepting it as part of their everyday style embracing and loving it. But choosing and styling jewelries can be a bit tricky as a lot of men tend to make mistakes with their choice of jewelry but there is a right way to do it with confidence. So, should men wear jewelries? Yes of course! Everyone deserves to adorn their bodies regardless of their gender. Jewelries are accessories and like every other accessory, they magnify your looks and exude class. The only problem with men using jewelries is when they make several jewelry mistakes and if you are one of these men, that wouldn’t be a problem anymore as here are some common jewelry mistakes and how to fix them.
1. Wearing inappropriate pieces for occasions
Your environment is key when determining the right jewelry to put on. It is of utmost importance to consider the occasion and pay attention to the rules or general conventions to ensure the jewelries you wear for such events are situationally appropriate. In this regard, there is a lot to learn from the opposite gender as they tend to have the appropriate piece of jewelry for every occasion. For example:
Funerals – funeral outfits are not to be worn to get attention. So avoid anything flashy or attention-grabbing for funerals or similar gathering. Go for jewelries that are subtle and convey respect.
Job interviews or other business meetings – minimalism is key when choosing jewelries for work. Imagine turning up for work wearing a jewel-encrusted necklace instead of a tie – you will definitely be looking odd because everyone else will be wearing a tie. Be sure to consult the dress code of your work place and look out for guidelines to follow when choosing work jewelries and stick to it. Keeping your jewelry modest is your safest bet as you don’t want to come across as unprofessional and proud especially in an interview.
Parties and social events – bold skull rings are best worn for parties, gigs and other casual events. Same goes for men’s earrings and large chain necklaces with large pendant.
It is greatly about balancing and maintaining an equilibrium of sorts accessorizing to fit the occasion which will intimate you on either keeping it subtle or experimenting as you desire.
2. Wearing too many jewelry
You should be able to tell how much jewelry is too much. If your wrist feels weighed down by several bracelets, it may be wise to take some off. Wearing layers of chains and lots of rings and perhaps an ear full of studs will not in any way improve your appearance nor makes you look stylish. You should remember that when it comes to jewelry, less is always more! The key here is to keep it simple. Jewelry should accentuate your outfit and style not overpower it! Be sure to tastefully accessorize with your outfit. Avoid pairing heavy bling necklaces with heavy bracelets instead keep other pieces minimal unless you are about to hit the stage. Comfort is always paramount in style perhaps; you can follow the old principle of taking one piece of jewelry off before you step out. This always works when you must have over-accessorized without knowing. Your accessories should never overpower your outfit – never forget!
3. Wearing unbalanced jewelry
Unbalanced jewelry is synonymous to over-accessorizing as it can draw too much attention to one side or part of your body. Your jewelry should complement your outfit and not try to take all the attention so, try to always strike a balance. A perfect example is stacking on multiple necklaces. This throws off the entire look because the eyes will be focused on the jewelry instead of the whole outfit amidst crowding your neckline. Another example is wearing smaller wristwatches on one hand with bulky bracelets on the other- this will make you look lopsided and uneven and again, diverting attention from your entire look. The important thing is to ensure that all accessories maintain an equilibrium of sorts.
4. Not wearing jewelries that are proportional to your body
It is important to wear the size of jewelry that fits your body. Wearing a thin piece won’t pair well if you have a larger or more masculine body type. Also, men with smaller arms or wrists should avoid overly large wrist watches and bracelets as this will look disproportionate. There is really no hard and fast rule to apply but here are some general guidelines:
- Wide neck requires longer necklace
- Leaner guys can have smaller pieces of jewelry
- Wide wrist or big hands can fit on larger wristwatches or bigger bracelets
- Large hands or fingers look good wearing bigger rings as small rings might get lost on the fingers.
5. Not choosing jewelry that matches your skin tone
When choosing jewelry it is important to not only match it with what you are wearing but also to your skin tone. Everyone has an undertone that looks great with certain textiles and metals and the best way to determine your skin tone is to view your skin in natural light and find a spot where your veins are visible:
– Blue or purple veins = cool skin tone
– Green veins = warm skin tone
– Blue, green and purple veins = neutral skin tone
Once you have determined your undertone, it is relatively easy to match the proper metal with your skin using this general tip:
- Cool skin tones look great in light metals like white gold, platinum or silver
- Warm skin tone works great with yellow metals like yellow gold, rose gold or brass
- Neutral skin tone works great with both white and yellow metals.
6. Mixing metals
A common mistake is mixing multiple shades and kinds of metal together. They could clash and bring imbalance to your outfit. Try as much as possible to keep them the same. If you are wearing a two-toned bracelet watch, highlight the dominant metal with your other jewelries. Gold matches well with earth tones as well as deep colors, silver don’t clash too much with anything. When wearing multiple pieces of jewelries just make sure their shade matches.
Jewelry is an enhancement to a man’s outfit and not wearing them is like having a steak without seasoning. The steak can still taste great but the flavor is enhanced when the right amount and type of seasoning is added and the same applies to jewelries. With the right guidelines, any man can wear jewelries with style and class but just remember to stick to your personal style and be confident in whatever you choose to wear.