The first point is to decide what you want your jewellery to do. Is it for a special occasion or for everyday wear? If it is for a special occasion, have you bought your outfit yet? If not that’s the place to start. It’s always better finish off an outfit rather than dress around new jewellery, especially if it’s a necklace.

As with clothing, jewellery must be appropriate to the occasion. A bold attention grabbing necklace may be fantastic for a night out but less than perfect if you are attending a boardroom meeting.

Also if you have your outfit, you can make sure that you have the right necklace length. If you are buying from a Designer, most will allow you to try on the necklace and should be willing to alter it if required. If you are having a necklace made, make sure that you check the size of the clasp. There is nothing more annoying than having to struggle to put on a piece of jewellery and the chances are, that however much you like what you’ve bought, it’ll probably end up at the back of a drawer through sheer frustration! Again, if you are having something made, don’t be frightened to ask for a larger clasp if you need one, not everyone has nimble fingers!

For everyday jewellery then it may be best to err on the more conservative side. Look out for something that will go with more than one outfit and a design that you can ‘throw on’ and forget about.

When thinking about colour, you must remember to not only think about the outfits that you will be wearing but also consider your skin tone. A good example of this is Rose Quartz; this is a beautiful pale pink stone but if you have pale skin, avoid it as it can make you look washed out! Pale skin can be better suited to richer colours.

Take care when buying matching earrings, especially if you are buying a necklace made with semi-precious gemstones. Matching the gemstones only really works if the stones are small. If you are buying a bold design, try matching the silver / gold beads instead. That way, the earrings compliment but don’t take over. Larger earrings can go well with chunky bracelets, depending on your size. The more petite you are, the more likely you are to be swamped.

As a general rule, v-shaped necklaces or lariats can make you look longer and tall women often suit chokers and shorter designs.

Finally, buy what you love and follow your instinct. Quite often the first choice will be the best. The fantastic thing about jewellery is the diversity. You don’t need to spend a fortune unless you want to and like a good hair cut, a fabulous piece can make you feel like a million dollars!

For a few ideas, click here