Most costume jewelry aficionados have a preference with regards to what types of jewelry appeal to their fashion sense. Some people prefer the look of gold over silver or hoop style earrings over dangling chandelier or demure conservative styles over bold and flashy. Preferences can depend on the wearers mood, outfit or current popular fashion trends. However, to achieve the most flattering looks there are other factors that should be considered.

1. Skin tone: Skin tones are generally described as either cool or warm. People with cool skin tones typically have green, blue, or gray eyes with black, brown or blonde hair. Those with warm skin tones generally have black, brown, or hazel eyes with black, brown, blonde or red hair.

If you aren’t sure which category you fall into take a look at the veins in your wrists and arms. If they appear greenish, you have warm tones. If they appear more blue you have cool tones.

Cool tones look better in silver jewelry and cool colors such as blue, green, pink, or purple. Warm tones look best in gold jewelry and warm colors such as reds, oranges, yellows and browns.

2. Face shape: There are four basic face shapes: oval, round, heart, and triangle. Face shape should be a major factor in determining which style of costume earrings one should wear. Earrings should bring balance to the face, not accentuate what is already pronounced.

People with an oval face should wear hoops and round earrings for balance. Short drop and chandelier earrings are also fine. However, they should avoid long dangling earrings because they tend to elongate the face even more.

Those with round faces can wear long dangling earrings but should avoid very narrow earrings, hoops and round earrings that accentuate the roundness of the face.

Someone with a heart shaped face has pronounced cheeks and a narrow chin. Therefore short dangling, round and pointed earrings should be avoided. Long dangling earrings with a large bottom look best on this face type. Oval earrings also work well. Angular earrings can balance out the fullness of a heart shaped or round face.

If you have a triangular face (wide forehead and narrow chain) oval, small round and long dangling earrings with a wide bottom work well. This face type should  also avoid pointed earrings.

3. Interests, hobbies, or special events: One of the greatest advantages of costume jewelry is its versatility. You can very easily change your style to coincide with any occasion whether it be Sunday morning church service, a formal ball, or dance club.

Costume jewelry comes in a vast variety of different styles and themes. A simple elegant cross charm necklace for church shows your faith without being too ostentatious. A glitzy rhinestone bracelet or necklace can be the perfect fashion accessory at a night club or party. A large, bold, cubic zirconia necklace and earring set can make you stand out at any formal occasion. For informal gatherings, you may want to try a more contemporary style made from odd materials like wood, shell, stone, or the popular murano style jewelry. Love animals, sports, music, cartoons, etc? There are sources for costume jewelry in just about any theme you can imagine.

These tips are intended to help you make the best choices in purchasing costume jewelry. But the most important thing to remember is to just have fun.  The advantage of costume jewelry verses fine jewelry is the affordability that allows us to experiment.