Fashion Blogs

Historical records reveal that men of old were not shy at all in adorning themselves with precious metals and gemstones. If you take a look at the Egyptian pharaohs depicted in hieroglyphs, you could even say that they probably outdid women in those times when it came to wearing jewelry. Several centuries and cultural shifts later, things have become very different.

Today, when you think of someone wearing jewelry, the person in your mind’s eye would probably be female. It is because the glamor and glitter of gems are usually associated with women rather than men. The lyrics of a famous song declare that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, to which all might agree. For men, however, a more familiar quote is, “A dog is a man’s best friend.” Undoubtedly, dogs can be best friends with anyone, but can you also say with certainty that diamonds, and jewelry in general, is a man’s best friend?

Many men believe that jewelry is too “girly” for them. There are even those who are of the opinion that it subtracts from their masculinity and shouldn’t be worn. Others find accessories too tricky to pull off and don’t bother with them. Simply put, men are not as comfortable with wearing them as much as women are.

This situation is unfortunate, though, because the ability of jewelry to raise a woman’s look a notch higher clearly works for a man as well. Have you ever noticed how a suit looks so much better when paired with a sleek dress watch?

Yes, men can wear jewelry. The fact that you can put on relatively fewer accessories than your wife or girlfriend underlines the importance of wearing them well. Even if you’re not fussy about dressing up, you don’t have to limit the items in your collection to wristwatches, cufflinks, and the wedding band you perpetually have on your finger. You can surely add bracelets, necklaces, and other rings.

Beware of these mistakes

Before spending your hard-earned money on some quality pieces, you have to learn how to make the right choices first. Otherwise, you’ll end up buying something that will stay hidden in your drawer forever. It can be challenging to sort through the numerous, and sometimes conflicting, rules on how you can achieve that perfect look with jewelry. A good starting point is knowing how to avoid the most common mistakes men frequently make when accessorizing.

1. Not adhering to dress codes

As the jewelry wearer, remember that the burden of its appropriateness rests on you. Wearing piercings to a job interview can make you stand out, but it may not be an effective strategy to get hired. If you’re an executive in a multinational corporation that requires employees to maintain a professional appearance, don’t show up with a layer of necklaces around your neck. In formal or corporate settings, a watch, cufflinks, and a tie pin would be sufficient.

2. Being short on confidence

Similar to clothes, jewelry should be worn with confidence. When buying jewelry, pick only pieces that you’re comfortable with. If something makes you uneasy, your discomfort is going to show.

3. Putting on blinding bling

It takes a stratospheric level of confidence and boldness to wear jewelry like rappers and music moguls do. If you don’t possess these qualities, be careful not to overdo it. You won’t look better just because you have four gold chain bracelets stacked on your wrist or have a ring on each of your ten fingers.

Instead, keep things simple, especially if you’re still having doubts on what jewelry works for you and what doesn’t. You can’t go wrong with a classic wristwatch with a leather strap. A sports watch is also an excellent accessory for those casual days. Build from these basics. Once you get a better grasp of your style, you can then add tie pins and cufflinks and move on to more elaborate pieces. If you prefer and have the budget for it, you can personalize your collection by ordering from a jeweler who makes the best custom necklace, ring, or bracelet.

4. Ignoring your skin tone

Believe it or not, your skin color affects how good you will look in gold, silver, and gemstones. Skin undertones can positively highlight a piece of jewelry when matched in the right way.

Discovering your skin tone is a straightforward procedure. Simply examine your wrist under natural light and look at the color of your veins underneath.

• If they are blue or purple, your skin tone is cool. Jewelry made of light-colored metals like silver, platinum, and white gold combines well with the cool type.
• If they are green, your skin tone is warm. Warm skin tones are more suited to the equally warm hues of gold, brass, and rose gold.
• If they’re a mixture of blue and green, your skin tone category is neutral. Consider yourself fortunate if you belong to neutral because you can pull off both yellow and light metals.

5. Not mixing metals the right way

Most of the jewelry pieces suitable for men feature metals and are commonly in shades of silver and gold. If you want to present a well-dressed and stylish image, use only one metal tone at any one time.

• Gold is a warm color; thus, treat it like you would a yellow accent. It looks great when paired with deep shades of green and blue, as well as beige, brown, and other earthy hues. Gold jewelry is available in various tones, so watch out for these when making a purchase. You can’t combine a very light gold jewelry piece with a dark one. Even if they have the same color, the mismatch would still be noticeable.

• Silver gives off a more neutral vibe and doesn’t provide as much contrast. You can combine it with less apprehension; however, it's not as eye-catching as gold. Silver jewelry is ideal for summer when the colors of the clothes you wear lean on the softer side. Also, you can easily achieve a classic ensemble by matching silver with gray or black.

• Bronze and copper jewelry are not typical but will add variety to your jewelry collection. Because they sport bolder colors, you have to exercise a bit of restraint when you wear them. They are appropriate for casual occasions.

• Be a minimalist when it comes to gems. Most men stay away from colored stones because they find it too feminine, so wear them with caution. If possible, limit yourself to a single piece. You can either wear a ring with a stone setting, a stud earring, or a pendant necklace. Adding more will make you appear gaudy.

• Leather jewelry is gaining in popularity these days. Choose pieces that feature natural earthy colors instead of black. Unless you’re a member of a biker gang, never combine leather with big metal studs.

While it may be true that jewelry is traditionally associated with women, you can see more men nowadays wearing them. With the addition of two or three accessories, you can enhance your outfit and express your sense of style at the same time. By being conscious of what works for you and what doesn’t, you can be sure of never crossing that fine line dividing class and crass.