How to Choose the Right Necklace for Your Neckline
With so many necklace styles, designs and lengths to choose from, sometimes it can be difficult to know which looks best. You may find yourself constantly wearing the same necklace to avoid the hassle of trying to decide which necklace is best suited. No need to worry though, we’re here to help you find out which necklace to wear depending on the type of neckline.
So, how do you choose the right necklace for your neckline? The most important rule when deciding which necklace to wear is to follow your neckline. As the neckline determines a specific outline or shape, it helps you determine which necklace to pair with your outfit.
Keep reading to find out which necklace to pair with each neckline, plus other factors to consider when choosing your necklace.
How to Wear Necklaces for Different Necklines
When choosing a necklace to match your neckline, your first job is to ask yourself these 3 key questions:
What do you want your neckline to do for you?
Necklaces are never merely decorative items, they are there to spotlight your unique style. That’s why it's so important to decide what you want your necklace to do whilst wearing it. From highlighting your best features to emphasising your outfit - it’s totally up to you!
Where do you want to create a focal point?
Necklace length is very important. The key thing to remember is that eyes will naturally fall where your necklace falls.
What shape is your neckline?
If you’re unhappy with the way your necklace looks and are unsure why, it may be because the type of necklace does not fit your neckline.
Top Neckline Guidelines
When thinking about your neckline, the length, width and shape are all key factors you want to bear in mind. Here are some top tips to follow when considering necklines:
- Match the shape of your necklace to the shape of your neckline.
- If your neckline is low, don’t go lower with a necklace.
- Don’t add a statement necklace to a busy neckline.
- Don’t leave empty space between your necklace and neckline.
- Use your necklace shape to narrow a wide neckline, not to widen a narrow neckline.
What Necklace to Wear with What Neckline
Not sure which necklace to wear with what neckline? No need to panic, we’ve got you covered. The general rule of thumb is that you try to match the shape of your necklace to the shape of your neckline. In this section, we’ll outline each type of neckline followed by the necklace you should pair it with.
V-neck
Because your shape is elongated when you wear a V-neck outfit, you should aim to find a necklace that does the same. Find a necklace that creates a shorter ‘V’ shape and falls inside your garment’s V-neckline. You want the necklace and neckline to have one inch of space between them. (Top tip - try not to wear a necklace longer than your V-neck).
Our sea mist heart pendant necklaces are perfect for this type of neckline.
Round neckline
While wearing a round neckline, your necklace should ideally be a round shape. The necklace should be just a little shorter than the neckline. (Top tip - avoid wearing a pointed pendant or V-shaped necklace as they will clash with the round neckline).
For example, a short chain with a small round pendant can look chic. Coin pendants or lockets can give off more of a substantial appearance.
Our bestselling bead shape collection is ideal for this type of neckline.
Crew neck
With crew necklines, the secret is to play with the necklace length, rather than the style. This is because long or short necklaces suit crew necklines, so it is completely up to you. Try to avoid the extremes of very long necklaces or chokers.
Scoop neck
As the scoop neckline places particular emphasis on the collarbone, try to choose a short, round necklace to further enhance it. A scoop neckline is perfect for a statement piece. (Top tip - try not to choose a necklace that is too long because it can create distractingly empty space above)
Check out our Breezy..Beyond the Sea Beach Babe Lentil pendant on a 16” chain for more inspiration!
High neckline
High necklines create an inverted V-look that narrows your shoulders and lengthens your torso. Often, people think that necklaces should never be worn with a high neck dress or top however, this is not the case at all. A long simple pendant necklace can give your high neck dress or top a more professional look whereas a big bold pendant can make your outfit look more sophisticated. (Top tip - Try and choose a long necklace that does not compete with a high collar, a rope or lariat necklace are great choices)
Why not take a look at our Sand & Sea Beach Ball Necklace for more inspiration!
However, there are different types of high necklines that can be worn with different jewellery.
Halter necklines show off your shoulders and make them look slimmer, so try and wear a V-shaped necklace to further accentuate the long, slim outline.
On the other hand, with turtleneck tops, you want to find a necklace that draws attention downwards and away from the neck. (Top tip - the turtleneck shape looks fabulous with long pendants and layered necklaces!)
Sweetheart
For a sweetheart neckline, try and wear a necklace that enhances this lovely heart shape. A medium-length necklace looks best because it attracts the eye to the centre of the neckline. (Tip - try not to wear a necklace with sharp angles because it will cause a blunt disruption that doesn’t hang well!)
Square
As the square neckline creates an angular look, try to choose a necklace with edges. This neckline is brilliant for square or rectangular pendants - basically, any pendant with rigid angles will complement this neckline.
One-shoulder dress/blouse
Garments with shoulder straps leave plenty of space for a stunning statement necklace so this is your chance to go bold! The best choice is a collar-length necklace to create a focal point that stands out.
Our bold red heart pendant necklace is the choice for you if you’re looking for that wow factor!
Cowl neck
A cowl neckline in itself makes a bold statement so your necklace does not need to compete for attention. Try to wear a necklace that falls above the cowl neckline, rather than on top of it. A short pendant on a short chain can be ideal!
Take a look at our sophisticated sparkling sea beach ball necklace for more inspiration.
Strapless dress
With a strapless dress, you can afford to be dramatic in your choice of jewellery. If your dress is a solid colour, an eye-catching statement piece can look stunning whereas if your dress is patterned, a more subtle necklace is preferable. Our intricate Coastal Path Curve Necklace is a brilliant choice!
Other Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Necklace
On top of necklace length and the style of outfit, there are various other factors to consider whilst deciding which necklace to wear with your neckline. Here are a few things to think about:
- The time of day - it's best to stick to simple styles during the daytime and bring out the more elaborate styles for the evening.
- The occasion - The choice of necklace will depend upon the occasion you are attending, whether it is formal or more casual.
- The length of your neck - The length and width of your neck directly affects the style of necklace. If you’re looking to create a more elegant, swan-like appearance, then choose a V-neck necklace. Whereas, if you have a long neck and wish to mask it, wearing a choker can help.
- Matching the necklace to your outfit - Think about the colour and style of your outfit to make sure that your selected jewellery piece matches the vibe you are trying to give off.
Our Luxury Handmade Jewellery at Beach Art Glass
Now that you’re an expert on how to pair the right necklace with different necklines, why not take a look at Beach Art Glass’ luxury handmade jewellery.
Designed by award-winning British glass artist, Julie Fountain, our range of unique necklaces come in a vast variety of colours, patterns and shapes. So, whichever type of necklace you are looking for, we have plenty of options, all inspired by the sea.
Each piece is handmade using artisan sterling silver or gold so it’s guaranteed to last a lifetime. Sign up for one of our exciting glass bead making workshops today or feel free to get in touch with our friendly team if you have any questions.