| Pulling together your prom look is a lot of | | | | Sleek dresses sans embellishments are like blank |
| fun...you've probably been poring through | | | | canvases. They can carry off funky, diva-inspired |
| magazines and talking with your friends about | | | | jewelry, like a giant cocktail ring, gobstopper-sized |
| prom fashions for months. If you're reading this | | | | mother-of-pearl beads, a wide cuff or chandelier |
| article, good for you! You're one of the few who | | | | earrings. If you love bling, wear a simple dress as |
| truly understands that finding the perfect prom | | | | backdrop and go to town. Conversely, |
| accessories is just as important as finding the | | | | in-your-face dresses speak for themselves. |
| perfect prom dress. Every fashion diva knows | | | | They're a focal point, and prom jewelry shouldn't |
| that accessorizing isn't supposed to be an | | | | compete. Keep accessories simple by choosing |
| afterthought! Accessories can make or break | | | | pearl studs, a pearl pendant or a diamond tennis |
| your look, and prom is like a high school version | | | | bracelet (real or fake). The trick is to pull your |
| of the Oscars®. So before you walk down | | | | look together without overwhelming it. |
| that figurative red carpet, you need to seriously | | | | Remember, though, rules are meant to be |
| think about your entire ensemble. I'm here to | | | | broken. If something works, it works, no matter |
| help... | | | | what the rules say. |
| I've been in the fashion industry for a long time, | | | | 2. Don't be too matchy-matchy. Last year, prom |
| and over the years I've learned a thing or two | | | | gowns were all about metallics and jewel tones. |
| about accessorizing. As a buyer for a leading pearl | | | | Whether you decide to go with one of these |
| jewelry store, I've spent years scouring the globe | | | | gowns this year, or another bold color, don't |
| for new jewelry trends, meeting cutting edge | | | | match your jewelry to your gown. There's |
| jewelry designers, working on new pearl and | | | | nothing more boring than an emerald green dress |
| gemstone jewelry collections, writing a style blog, | | | | with matching emerald jewelry. Trite! Instead, |
| editing countless fashion articles and being | | | | choose pieces in a complementary color. Think |
| interviewed by myriad fashion reporters. By far, | | | | how pretty that green dress will look with yellow |
| my favorite activity is advising brides about bridal | | | | gems...or how fab luminous lavender pearls will |
| jewelry, and the very rules I apply to my bridal | | | | look against a shiny metallic gown. Remember |
| clients work equally well for promgoers. | | | | how fabulously Marcia Cross' huge turquoise |
| Before I spill my rules for accessorizing, I want | | | | earrings set off her white dress at the Emmy's? |
| you to consider the look you're after. It all starts | | | | Cameron Diaz pulls off the trend well too. If |
| with your prom gown. Think of it as the base | | | | you're not sure how to get the look, read fashion |
| upon which you'll layer the rest of your look. | | | | magazines for inspiration. |
| Before you go dress shopping, consider your | | | | 3. You can have too much of a good thing. It's |
| personal style. How would you describe yourself? | | | | one thing to have great accessories. It's quite |
| Are you trendy, sporty, fun, fresh, funky, | | | | another to overwhelm your look with |
| romantic, cutting-edge? Into vintage? High-fashion? | | | | unnecessary bling. Look in the mirror. Do you |
| Whatever your style, think about how you want | | | | notice your accessories first? Your dress? Your |
| to portray that at prom. Got it? Good. Next, think | | | | hair? You should notice YOU. You don't want your |
| about what styles look good on you. Do you have | | | | jewelry, or anything else for that matter, to |
| great calves, a killer clavicle, a swan neck, toned | | | | overpower you. Pick one or two standout |
| arms, luminous baby browns? Think about what | | | | pieces-like chandelier earrings and a cocktail ring, |
| you want to highlight. Your personal style coupled | | | | or earrings and a cuff, but don't do a bold |
| with your personal figure-flattering considerations | | | | necklace and dangle earrings. You don't want to |
| will guide your dress shopping. For example, if | | | | be all about the jewelry. |
| you're cutting-edge and want to highlight your | | | | 4. You get what you pay for. Unlike your beautiful |
| killer calves, choose a bold, short sheath dress. If | | | | prom dress or those gorgeous dyed shoes, |
| you're romantic and want to show off your great | | | | jewelry is something you can wear long after the |
| shoulders, choose a pearl pink strapless gown with | | | | last prom song has faded. If you're going with |
| an empire waist. Lucky for 2008 promgoers, the | | | | classic accessories and you've got a little money |
| choices are endless. This year, the most popular | | | | to spare, it's okay to splurge a bit on, say, a |
| prom dress is short, long, tea-length, full, sleek, | | | | timeless piece like a white pearl necklace. (Try |
| sequined, and simple. It's subtle, jewel-toned, | | | | round freshwater pearls; they're gorgeous and |
| sparkly, muted, romantic, gothic, ghetto and retro. | | | | affordable.) But beware trendy pieces. They're |
| It's sleeveless, strapless, plunging and high-necked. | | | | fun to wear, but have a shelf-life that's shorter |
| In short, anything and everything goes for prom | | | | than Paris Hilton's skirts and are so not worth the |
| 2008. What fun! | | | | investment. Spend enough on trendy pieces so |
| OK, now that you've got your dress, you're | | | | they won't break during the fast songs, but don't |
| ready to add some sparkle. At last, here are my | | | | overspend on something you won't wear again. A |
| rules for flawless prom accessorizing: | | | | big faux emerald cocktail ring probably won't be in |
| 1. Accessories should complement, not compete. | | | | fashion forever, but good quality classic pearl |
| When it comes to fashion, knowing how to | | | | pendant or pair of diamond studs will stand the |
| accessorize is uber-important. If you have a | | | | test of time. |
| gorgeous prom dress but pair it with gaudy | | | | Good luck putting together your unique prom |
| accessories, guess what? You're entire look will fall | | | | style. As you're walking out to your waiting |
| flat. Go too far and you'll just look tacky, scale | | | | stretch limo on the arm of your date, I'll be |
| back too much and hel-lo Plain Jane. How to | | | | thinking about you and how fab you look. You'll be |
| accessorize perfectly? Consider this rule of thumb: | | | | the envy of all your friends. Have fun, Prom |
| Simple dresses carry off bold, statement-making | | | | Queen! |
| jewelry. Busy dresses require subtle jewelry. | | | | |