Earrings

Selecting the Perfect Earrings for Your Face Shape

The earrings you wear can affect the way your face looks. Because earrings are worn so close to the face, they can make your face looks slimmer, longer, or fuller. If you want to choose the right earrings in jewelry stores you visit, you have to take your face shape into consideration. Experts recommend different earring shapes for different face shapes:

1) If you have a round face shape, the best earring style for you is long narrow earrings with a bit of a curve. These earrings will add a little bit of angle to your face and will draw the eye downward. Dangling and angular earrings will also work with a round face shape, as will oblong, square, and rectangular earrings. All will slim down and elongate your face. In general, tiny studs, button earrings, hoops, and circular earrings will make your face rounder and fuller, so these are earrings you may wish to avoid.

2) If you have an oval face, you're considered to have the perfect face shape. This is because an oval face is well-balanced and symmetrical and does not need much correction. Many people consider the oval face shape to be the ideal shape. Because of this, just about any sort of earring – from stud earrings to daring shapes -- will go well with someone who has an oval face. Very long earrings, however, can make your face appear much longer and can counteract some of the symmetry of your face. In general however, you can experiment with as many styles and shapes as you like.

3) If you have a heart face, you want to balance your wide forehead and smaller chin. The key to this is to choose drops which are triangular and which point upward. Teardrop and chandelier earrings also work well. Oval and circular earrings that are slightly wider at the top are also good choices. Earrings that taper on their way down and heart-shaped hoops should be avoided.

4) If you have a square or angular face, you have a strong jaw line and forehead. You'll want to add a little bit of length and some softness. The best way to do this is by wearing curved or hoop earrings, drop earrings, long drops, and dangling earrings. Simply avoid anything that has square shapes and harsh angles, and you should be fine.

Of course, when selecting earrings, keep in mind appropriateness as well as you face shape. Even if you look best in long, dangly earrings choose the simplest pair you can find for work. Oversized, brightly-colored earrings are not always appropriate for a professional office, no matter how great they work. The simplest and slimmest type of earring appropriate for your face shape is your best bet. Choose silver, white gold, or yellow gold earrings over man-made materials if you want to project a professional image, as well. Keep your outfit in mind, too: that spiky, dangly earring can mean disaster when paired with an angora sweater.