Let's take a minute to think about what makes certain jewelry choices right and wrong. There were certainly a lot of asymmetrical and strapless looks on the Emmy red carpet this past Sunday, and most women made the logical choice and went with showstopping earrings rather than distracting necklaces. This can't be shown better than with Christina Applegate, above, in a Reem Acra gown and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry. She wisely went for a wow factor near her face, and went subtle with the rest of her accessories.
Mariska Hargitay also chose a one-shoulder gown, hers in bright yellow by Carolina Herrera. Her Fred Leighton earrings and bracelet were just the right pops of sparkle to offset the bold color choice.
Unfortunately, not everyone was quite so smart in accessorizing. Jennifer Love Hewitt picked a beautiful Carolina Herrera gown with a busy pattern, and that should have been her clue to back off on everything else. Instead she went with a fussy hairdo and a Y-necklace that broke up her lovely neckline.
Similarly, Elizabeth Mitchell should have known that her metallic gown with a sweetheart neckline provided all the flash she needed. By adding the multi-strand beaded necklace, the beautiful design on the dress just looks overdone.
Necklaces certainly can work with strapless dresses (See America Ferrera yesterday), but it's tricky. To avoid a fashion misstep, the easiest thing to do is to play it safe by choosing attention-grabbing earrings. Here are some of my favorites:
SeidenGang 18k Yellow Gold Pale Citrine Diamond Teardrop Earrings
Gurhan 24k Yellow Gold Blue Chalcedony Limited Edition Candy Splash Drop Earrings
Lauren K 18k White Gold Diamond Green Sapphire Drop Earrings
Images via people.com
