Jewelry can be used to enhance almost any outfit. But some people make the mistake of assuming that any jewelry with a sufficiently high price tag is going to make them look better. This is rarely the case in practice, as less is often more when it comes to jewelry. If you are looking for ways to use jewelry to enhance your look, here’s what you need to know.

Create Layers

Experiment with using rings, bangles, necklaces and other pieces of jewelry in layers. If you just haphazardly slap pieces of jewelry on top of one another, you will likely be disappointed with the results. However, if you take some time to think about it then you can use layering to devastating effect.

If you are going to layer different necklaces on top of one another, make sure that they are all different lengths. Otherwise, you will just end up with a jumble of metal around your neck and you won’t be inspiring anyone.

Know When to Stop

Some people add a piece of jewelry to their outfit and are so taken with the results that they continue to add more and more, assuming that each piece will add to the effect. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case in practice. There is an upper limit to the amount of jewelry that any outfit can support before it ends up looking bad.

The amount of jewelry that you can get away with wearing depends a great deal on the rest of your outfit – some outfits are better at supporting lots of jewelry than others. But even then, most of the time you will find that using a few strategic pieces has a much greater effect than just adding piece after piece without consideration for the effect it’s having.

Expensive Isn’t Always Better

Sure, it might feel great to know that you are wearing a piece of jewelry worth as much as a car or a house, but is it really necessary? You will certainly impress any jewelers (if you’re trying to impress a jeweler though, you’ve made some bad decisions) but most people aren’t going to tell the difference between a $20,000 ring and a $20 ring. That’s not to say that precious and fine jewelry don’t have their place – they clearly do. But if you are just looking for something to enhance your existing fashion choices, there’s no need to break the bank.

Even if you do plan on adding some top quality jewelry to your look, it might be a good idea to first look at some more affordable options that mimic the expensive pieces you are considering. This gives you a realistic way of trying them out without having to spend a huge amount of money. You might even find that you find a piece of jewelry that you adore with a minuscule price tag. You can still buy quality jewelry without having to put a huge dent in your finances.

If you use it the right way, jewelry can turn even the most mundane outfit into something truly special. The trick is to avoid overdoing it and to appreciate the power of subtlety. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to secure a worthwhile addition to your favorite outfit.