After deciding on the perfect outfit, a lot of women find that choosing the right accessories to team with with can be a daunting task.
But help is in hand, as savvy fashion experts have compiled a guide on choosing the perfect necklace for your look that will make accessorising a breeze – and it’s surprisingly simple to navigate.
Experts at Who What Wear have revealed the exact necklace styles and lengths to style with different types of outfits and necklines.
According to the sartorial specialists, a chunky collar necklace is best paired with an open-neck top to balance it out, while a longer ‘opera’ necklace calls for a higher neckline.
Other necklaces that are more versatile include the choker, which the fashion site says will work with any neckline.
Open-neck tops: 14″ ‘collar’ necklace
According to experts at at Who What Wear, these necklines – sometimes called crew necks – are best paired with a 14 inch collar necklace which is chunky and fits tightly on the neck
The chunky collar necklace fits tightly on the neck, and are sometimes called crew necks. They usually range from 12 to 14 inches long and made up of three or more strands of pearls and kundan.
Distinctive in style, these necklaces encircle your collar area and call for an outfit to show them off. They are best worn with open neck tops like boat necks, V-necks, or off-the-shoulder numbers.
Casual and formal outfits: 16″ choker (no polo necks)
A retro choker necklace is usually 16 inches long and can be worn with both casual and formal outfits
The retro choker necklace has had a comeback in recent years with the resurgence of 1990s fashions.
The choker sits tightly against the base of the neck and is usually around 14 to 16 inches long. This style can work well with any outfit and suits either a casual or formal look, but polo and roll necks are best avoided as they will conceal the accessory.
Open neck: 18″ princess necklace
Princess necklaces are the most common necklaces and can be worn with any kind of look
The princess is the most common necklace and is between 17 and 19 inches in length. It is available as both a light and heavy necklace and falls on the collarbone.
As with the choker style, this necklace is versatile and can be worn with most necklines, as long as they are open enough to show off the décolletage.
Strapless: 20″ matinée
The matinée is worn with both casual and formal styles and is usually 20 to 22 inches long
A matinée necklace sits just above the bust and again will suit most styles, be they casual or formal. A strapless top, or ‘boob tube’, is ideal because it shows off the longer necklace style in all its glory.
It falls between the collar and the bust and will particularly compliment a low-cut outfit. The necklace is usually between 20 to 22 inches and is often heavily embellished with beads and gemstones.
High neckline: 24″ opera necklace
The dramatic length of the opera necklace means one should be worn with a high neckline
The long length of the opera necklace makes it an eye-catching piece as it ranges from 24 to 36 inches. It falls against the bust and sometimes much lower thanks to its often extreme length.
The guide advises to wear this necklace with a high neckline, and it would certainly liven up a casual outfit.
Evening attire: 30″ to 34″ rope necklace
Pair a stylish rope necklace with evening attire, experts advise, as it is not a casual look
The rope necklace is a dramatically long style, often brightly coloured, and can be up to 34 inches long. It falls below the bust and makes for a very eye-catching piece for its wearer.
The experts advise that this style be worn with evening attire, as it would be tricky to pull off casually.