JEWELLERY AND MEN'S FASHION

A classic watch is undoubtedly a man's single most important fashion accessory. Some more conservative men will go so far as to say that a watch should be the only accessory worn and that anything else is simply superficial and useless.

The modern man, however, can definitely look stylish while wearing a bracelet, chain or ring, as long as he doesn't exaggerate and mimic Dennis Rodman with hundreds of body rings, a dozen chains and a ring on each and every one of his fingers. So what kind of fashion accessories should men wear in order to look stylish, without looking over-decorated and tacky?

Decorate your neck:

Every man needs at least one necklace in his fashion accessory collection. Necklaces should be bold and simple, not multi-colored, clumsy or overweight. Instead, opt for something trendy like a necklace made up of wooden or plain metal beads.

The beads should be plain-colored wood or different shades of natural wood. You can deviate from plain colors by buying color-dyed beads. Most styles of necklaces are offered in various colors. As a general rule, try to limit yourself to neutral colors that match most of your clothes; that way you'll be able to wear your necklace everyday with any piece of clothing you have available.

How to wear it:

These types of necklaces are best worn with t-shirts or plain long-sleeved shirts. It's a great way to upgrade or polish your overall look for dress down Friday, important dates, or even before hitting a trendy nightspot. 

Many celebrities have been seen wearing them, the most known being Latin sensation Enrique Iglesias and actor Brad Pitt. It goes without saying that these necklaces can add a little touch of sex appeal and uniqueness to your personal style when worn with the proper attire.

Gold, silver and platinum chains display a classier and more powerful image than beaded or string necklaces. The chain should be medium-sized because if it's too thin and flimsy, it defies the whole purpose of trying to look stylish... and it might also look effeminate. On the other hand, if it's a very thick chain, it could make you look like a racketeer.

Metal chains

Choose a chain with a medium-sized diameter, made of real metal such as gold, silver or platinum. Avoid fakes because they are pretty obvious and no one likes jewelry with too much luster.

Radiant jewelry is what you may see Liz Taylor wear, or anybody else with a flashy character. Finally, a little tip on how to wear your metal chain: keep it nicely tucked in your shirt. Leaving it hanging outside your shirt is simply tacky and looks childish.

Rings aren't only for weddings:

A ring is also a popular accessory for men. Wearing a simple ring can be very elegant and stylish at the same time. But for a few guys, taking the ring off could get you in big trouble!

Besides the good old ring finger on your left hand, you can wear a ring on your pinky finger, your middle finger, or for you more daring guys, your thumb. These days nobody really cares about which finger you wear a ring on, as long as the ring looks good and fits the rest of your outfit.

Simplicity and elegance should be your main guidelines when choosing a ring. Silver rings always look good whether they're plain, combined with black, or mounted with a stone.

The same applies to white gold or platinum. A yellow gold ring, however, can either look very good or tacky and over-opulent. The ring can't be too big because it'll seem disproportionate with your fingers, and will come across as flashy.

Furthermore, yellow gold doesn't match with many colors. So avoid wearing a yellow gold ring with a red ruby stone and a blue suit — you'll look like a clown. Then again, if you're living a gaudy lifestyle and money is no object, buy yourself the biggest ring you can afford.

A bracelet goes a long way:

Bracelets are less popular with men, but they can actually make you look good. Once again, the trick to choosing a bracelet is to go for simplicity and classic styles since a man should be able to wear his bracelet every day, whether for a formal meeting or for an informal get-together.

Preferably, bracelets should be firmly fitted around your wrist; this will avoid the bracelet from swinging as well as the annoying noise caused from flicking it up and down your arm. Most stylish bracelets are made of valued metals such as gold (white or yellow), silver and platinum.

Woven bracelets, however, are mostly seen on surfer/skater styled teenagers, or on men on the beach enjoying a summer vacation. Basically, these reflect a younger and more outgoing image than the traditional steel bracelet and should only be worn for casual events like a beach vacation, a beach party, or for your Sunday motorcycle drive.

Specific people wear leather or beaded bracelets; like the woven bracelet, these should be worn on non-formal occasions.

Earrings are for:

 We cannot talk about fashion accessories without mentioning earrings. Generally, women, teenagers or rock stars wear earrings. Again, it depends on the type of work you're involved in and what image you want to portray. Any kind of piercing — whether on your lips, nipples or ears might mirror a rebellious and unprofessional image.

I enjoy more unusual and daring trends, but earrings on men are something that never caught my eye. So, for you guys looking to spruce up your style with ear wear, I recommend you think twice about it. Most women find earrings on men unattractive, and unless you're a rock star, they might find it out of place.

Remember, you can wear fashion accessories or jewelry as long as they are simple and classy. Just make sure they match the rest of your ensemble's color and style, and you'll look like a million bucks.

Don't be afraid to try new things and keep on looking good!