So Many Necklace Styles — How Do I Choose the Right One?

A lot of people tell me that they love the style of my jewelry, but with so many different designs to choose from, they end up feeling overwhelmed and have no idea which necklace would suit them best.

So here are a few simple tips.

Based on their visual lines and structure, I divide the necklaces currently available on my website into four main types:

• Draped Chain Necklaces
• Y Necklaces
• Layered Necklaces
• Single-Layer Round Necklaces

When choosing a necklace, don’t start with the color of your clothes. Start by thinking about how the necklace shapes the proportions and lines of your neck, shoulders, and upper body.

1. Draped Chain Necklaces

Especially designs where chains fall down on one side, creating an asymmetric silhouette.

The biggest advantage of this type of necklace isn’t necessarily that it makes you look slimmer. It’s that it breaks up an outfit that might otherwise feel too neat or symmetrical.

For example:

One-shoulder top + one-sided draped chain

This works particularly well because the clothing is already asymmetric, and the necklace continues that sense of imbalance instead of fighting against it.

It also works very well with:

• Strapless tops
• Camisoles
• Simple tank tops
• Off-the-shoulder tops
• Tops with a lot of exposed skin

It usually works less well with:

• Very complicated prints
• Lots of ruching or ties around the chest
• Clothing that already has a lot of decorative details

That’s because this kind of necklace is already drawing lines across the body.

The overall feeling is usually:

fashion-forward / effortless / asymmetric / slightly rebellious

So if regular round necklaces feel a little too neat or predictable to you, this type is a great choice.

2. Y Necklaces

The main function of a Y necklace is simple:

It draws the eye downward from the neck.

In other words, it creates a very clear vertical line.

That’s why it works especially well with:

V-neck + Y necklace

The V-shape of the neckline and the Y-shape of the necklace follow the same direction, so the whole look feels very cohesive.

It also works well with:

• Shirts with two or three buttons undone
• Deep U-necks
• Low-cut tank tops under a blazer
• Strapless tops
• Low-neck dresses

If you have a relatively short upper body, or simply want to create a longer and more elongated silhouette, a Y necklace is usually a very good option.

But there’s one important distinction.

If the necklace itself is chunky, with heavier chains or a more substantial pendant, it stops feeling delicate and sensual and becomes more of a statement Y necklace.

Instead of the traditional soft, feminine Y-necklace look, it creates:

vertical structure + industrial attitude.

In this case, the necklace becomes one of the main structural elements of the outfit.

It works especially well with simple tank tops, open shirts, blazers, leather jackets, and even plain crew-neck tops. The key is to give the necklace enough visual space and let it become the focus.

3. Single-Layer Round Necklaces

This is the most traditional necklace structure:

A relatively complete curve that follows around the neck.

Its biggest advantage is:

stability.

The eye naturally settles around the collarbone and the center of the chest, which makes this type of necklace very effective at creating a clear visual focal point.

For example:

White T-shirt + black trousers + a substantial round necklace

Even if the clothes themselves are extremely simple, the outfit immediately feels more complete.

Round necklaces work especially well with:

• Crew-neck T-shirts
• Strapless tops
• Square necklines
• Simple knitwear
• Basic tank tops
• Shirts

There is, however, one thing to watch out for.

If the necklace follows almost exactly the same line as the neckline, the result can sometimes feel a little flat.

For example:

A crew-neck T-shirt
+
a thin necklace sitting directly along the edge of the neckline

The necklace can easily become just another piece of decoration rather than an intentional part of the styling.

There are usually two easy ways to avoid this:

Either go noticeably shorter.

For example, wear a choker.

Or go noticeably longer.

Just avoid having the necklace sit exactly on the neckline.

4. Layered Necklaces

The main purpose of a layered necklace isn’t to make the body look longer or to create one single focal point.

It’s to:

fill visual space.

If there is a large empty area around the chest, layered necklaces can work especially well.

For example:

Black strapless top + three chains at different lengths

It immediately turns a very simple outfit into a complete look.

Layered necklaces are especially suitable for:

• Strapless tops
• Deep U-necks
• Camisoles
• V-necks
• Wide-neck knitwear
• Very simple solid-colored clothing

But layered necklaces also come with one common problem:

too much visual information.

If the necklace already has several layers, it’s usually better to keep the earrings simple.

The same goes for the clothing.

Ruffles + prints + zippers + a layered necklace all at once can easily make the upper body feel too busy.

Once everything is competing for attention, there is no longer a clear visual focus.

So, in the simplest possible terms:

Single-layer round necklace = creates a focal point

Y necklace = draws the eye downward

Draped necklace = breaks symmetry

Layered necklace = fills visual space

There’s no single “correct” necklace for a certain body type or neckline. These are simply guidelines to help you understand what different shapes and structures do visually.

In the end, the best necklace is the one that creates the effect you want.

And of course, sometimes the best reason to choose a necklace is simply: you put it on, look in the mirror, and it feels like you.