When you love the look of jewelry, you may be tempted to wear all your favorite pieces every day. Unfortunately, you can definitely have too much of a good thing. Even if every piece in your collection is of top quality, wearing too much at once is a huge fashion faux pas. Unfortunately, if you are a guy who loves to accessorize, it is not always easy to tell when you are going overboard. Before you put on all of your favorite men’s gold plated chains and head out for the day, check out these jewelry styling tips to make sure you’re not overdoing it.
General Guidelines: How Much Is Too Much?
The right accessories are the perfect finishing touch for any look. And, as a man of style, you undoubtedly want to look your best every time you hit the streets. You’ve invested in some pretty dope jewelry, and you want to show it off. We get it. But if you want to step out with some serious swagger and not look like you’re trying way too hard to be cool, you need to know when enough is enough.
For guys, jewelry includes standard accessories like chains, pendants, rings, bracelets, and earrings. It also includes gold grills, tie tacks and chains, tie clips, and cufflinks. Though the latter accessories aren’t always thought of as jewelry in the traditional sense, it’s important to keep them in mind when trying to determine if you’re wearing too much.
As a general rule, you should never wear more than three pieces of the same type of jewelry. That means no more than three rings, three chains, etc. And this should go without saying, but you shouldn’t wear more than one watch. It may be tempting to show off the fact that you own a few Rolex watches, but wearing more than one at a time is not going to impress anyone.
Even with this general rule of three in mind, there are still several things to keep in mind.
Consider the Situation
Make sure the accessories you choose are appropriate for the situation. If you’re spending a night at the club, feel free to rock a few of your boldest, blingiest pieces. But if you are getting ready for a funeral or a job interview, you definitely should maintain a more conservative look.
In situations where subtlety is key, consider wearing no more than one of each jewelry type to ensure that you look classy without being overly flashy.
Balance Your Accessories and Your Outfit
Your accessories should always complement the rest of your outfit, not overpower it. When you’re wearing a streamlined suit, adding a stack of chains won’t enhance your overall look. Instead, doing so will throw off your entire aesthetic.
Also, be sure to balance your jewelry itself. Learn the right way to wear necklaces to avoid drawing too much attention to your neckline and creating an unbalanced look. If you love the look of a bulky watch, balance it out by wearing a thick bracelet on your other wrist. When you look at yourself in the mirror, one side of your body shouldn’t look heavier or bulkier than the other because of your accessories.
Choose the Right Jewelry for Your Skintone
Different metals look better on some people than others. Failing to understand your skin’s undertones and what colors look best on you could leave you looking like you are wearing way too much jewelry simply because it clashes with your skin.
Not sure how to determine your skin tone? We have you covered. Look at the veins in your wrist under natural light. If they appear blue or purple, you have a cool skin tone. Green veins indicate a warm skin tone. If you can see blue, green, and purple veins, your skin tone is neutral.
Light metals like silver, platinum, and white gold look best on people with cool undertones while people with warm undertones look best in yellow gold and rose gold. Even brass looks great with warmer undertones. If you are fortunate enough to have a neutral skin tone, both white and yellow metals are suitable options.
Choose Jewelry That’s Proportionate to Your Body
Selecting jewelry that works with your body is just as important as wearing pieces that complement your outfit. If you’re 6’5″ and 285 pounds, you need a thick chain and a watch with a big bezel. Let’s face it. You’d look pretty ridiculous with a dainty chain that cuts into your neck. If you’re a smaller guy, wearing jewelry that’s too big or wearing too much of it can dwarf your frame and leave you looking a bit too much like a kid who raided their father’s closet.
Finding jewelry that is proportionate to your body type and being mindful of how many pieces you are wearing is crucial. What’s “too much” for one person may be “just right” for someone else.
The Bottom Line: How Much Jewelry Should a Man Wear?
There are several factors to consider when determining how much jewelry to wear. The most important rule, though, is to make sure your accessories aren’t overpowering. If they detract from your outfit rather than enhance it, you probably need to remove a few pieces. The same is true if it looks like your jewelry is weighing you down or covering every exposed inch of skin.
When choosing your jewelry for the day, start with a statement piece and go from there. If you go with a bold watch as a statement piece, wear a simple chain. If you’re wearing a blingy pendant and chain, ditch the big watch. You get the idea. It takes a bit of practice, but when you take the time to mix and match different pieces while looking at yourself in the mirror, you can get a feel for how much jewelry is right for you.
