subject: Prom Jewelry Fit for a Princess by:Sandy Darson [print this page] You have your prom dress, the perfect shoes and a fabulous bag to tuck under your arm. Your prom night look is almost complete, but no look is complete without some glitz and glam for your ears and your neck. You may not have the resources of a red-carpet diva, and you don't need to rent million dollar gems to look fabulous on prom night either. All you need is a good eye for balance, something to guide you in choosing the perfect jewelry to accent your face and your dress. Just follow this simple guide to help you choose just the right finishing accessories for your prom night look.
Your prom gown is center stage. Choose jewelry that accents it without upstaging it. That means choosing a few simply fabulous pieces that accent what you're wearing, not compete with what you're wearing. If your gown is glittered with sequins or beads, keep the jewelry simple and close to your body. A choker style necklace and post earrings with a short drop will add a bit of dazzle around your face without detracting from that perfect prom gown.
If you've chosen a simple style dress, you can always get a bit more daring with the jewelry. Daring doesn't have to mean over the top extravagant. Delicate and feminine is very in for Prom 2009. You can accent a scoop or sweetheart neckline with a pretty beaded necklace that uses crystals and pearls. Add matching earrings to sparkle at your earlobes and peek through your hair.
Bare shoulders and an uncovered neck call for dazzling jewelry at your ears.
If you've chosen an off the shoulder or strapless gown, accent your pretty neck with a pair of crystal chain dangling earrings or some swingy crystal loops that catch the sparkle every time you move your head. When your neck and shoulders are bare, your best choices for neck jewelry are necklaces that hug your throat or fall at the collarbone. Longer ropes or chains will look out of place and elongate your neck a bit too much.
Keep your jewelry in proportion to your prom gown. If you're wearing a prom princess Cinderella ball gown, go all out with the glam. You can get away with wearing a three-strand collar of pearls or a thick diamond and gemstone choker. If your prom gown silhouette is slender, choose finer chains and smaller gems and crystals.
There are exceptions, of course. An A-line halter gown could be absolutely stunning when worn with a swingy strand of pearls that almost hit your waist because they'll echo the slim line of the dress.
Don't forget to dress your wrists as well. This year's prom gowns dare to be bare, and that extends to your arms. There is hardly a sleeve to be seen anywhere, so don't forget to accent those pretty wrists with the right jewelry. Chains, charms and crystals are all in this year. Slim chains and beads are the hottest styles, but if you want a bit more sparkle at the wrist, choose multi-strand bracelets rather than thick bands of metal. For a really unusual wrist fashion look, find an artist to stencil a temporary tattoo around your wrist that matches a color or design from your dress.
It's all about illusion this year. One of the most alluring looks this year is free-floating gems. You don't want to paste them on your skin. Colored crystals and pearls strung on transparent line give the illusion that they were just placed on your skin. This look is there to dazzle the eye without any visible means of suspension. Because there's no bulky chain to distract, you can get away with three or four strands of sparkling gems that curve at your throat. Carry on the illusion to your wrists with crystals strung on transparent and stretchy elasticized string.
Tiaras are another hot item on this year's prom runway fashions. A gold tiara with crystal and rhinestones really sets off those curls and swirls in your updo, but there are many other choices that may suit your style better. Zigzag wire headbands disappear into your hair making it look as if the crystals and pearls are simply set into your hairstyle. Combs and hairpins embellished with crystals, pearls and fabric flowers can be the perfect finishing touch to your prom night glam look.
Make sure that you try on your jewelry with your dress before the big night to be sure that you get the effect you want. In most cases, less is more. There is an old rule that you might want to remember. When accessorizing a dress for a special occasion, put on all the jewelry and accessories you plan on wearing, then take one piece off and you'll have the perfect look.
