Face Shape and Jewelry Choices
Face Shape and Jewelry Choices
For every face, there is a piece of jewelry to complement it. Knowing how to identify and design for each face type is a useful skill for any jewelry artist.
Identifying the Face Shape
Each person’s overall face shape falls into one of nine general shapes: oval, round, oblong, rectangular, square, heart, inverted triangle, triangle and diamond. The features within the face can be sharp and angular or soft and curved, but it is the general outline that determines the type. It is also important to remember that jewelry should be in proportion to the individual’s face regardless of the shape.
Finding face shape is a simple process:
- Pull hair back from the face with pins or a headband.
- Take a picture of the person facing straight into the camera, with the hairline showing.
- Outline the face with a photo editing app or by printing the image on paper.
- Compare the face shape to the images below and choose the one that matches the closest.
Another technique is to stand about a foot away from a mirror and look straight into it. Trace the reflection directly onto the glass with a dry-erase marker and the mirror can be wiped clean after you’re done.
Oval
The oval face is soft and curved, slightly longer than it is wide. This face shape can wear almost any neckline or jewelry style.
Earrings
Oval faces can wear almost any style of earrings. The only types to avoid are ultra-long styles, as they cause the face to lengthen. To minimize a thin oval face or a longer nose, try designs that creep up the ear or have wings that sweep upward. Echo the contours of the face with hoops, chandeliers and curving elements, like link chain, teardrops and go-gos. You can create contrast with triangle-shaped earrings.
Necklaces
Almost any shape or style of necklace will work. The soft curves of the oval face are accentuated best by gentle shapes, such as pearls, ribbon and chain.
Famous Oval Faces
Cameron Diaz, Julia Roberts, Rihanna, Jamie Lee Curtis, Beyoncé, Carrie Mulligan
Round
The round face is soft and curved, with an equal distance all around, the nose being the center point.
Earrings
The round face is ideal for wearing long, vertical styles, such as dangles, drops, narrow chandeliers and ear threads. Long, vertically angular designs like rectangles and trapezoids work as well.
Necklaces
Longer, looping necklaces and large focal components help to elongate round faces. Avoid choker, collar and princess lengths, since they tend to make the neck appear shorter.
Famous Round Faces
Drew Barrymore, Christina Ricci, Carrie Underwood, Kate Winslet, Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Moss, Chrissy Teigen, Selena Gomez, Mila Kunis
Oblong and Rectangle
Oblong and rectangular faces are longer than they are wide. The width at the forehead, cheekbones and chin are the same or almost the same. An oblong face will be rounded along the jawline and chin, while a rectangular face will be more angular.
Earrings
Large, bold styles are ideal for the oblong/rectangular face, especially post styles and chandeliers full of color, movement and drama. Choose large rounds, curves, crescents and other space-filling elements. This face needs jewelry that adds width and camouflages its length, so any styles that create an illusion of width will be flattering for an oblong/rectangular face.
Necklaces
Short necklaces reduce the appearance of length in the oblong/rectangular face. Choker, collar and princess lengths are ideal (especially if you have a long neck) since they break up the vertical line. Large beads at the base of the neck also help to shorten the look of the face. Circular neckwires and necklaces without heavy or bold focal components are also great options.
Famous Oblong and Rectangular Faces
Sarah Jessica Parker, Sandra Oh, Liv Tyler, Gisele Bundchen, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow
Square
The square face has a strong jawline. The distance from the top of the face to the chin matches the width of the face. The width at the forehead, cheekbones and chin are almost the same.
Earrings
Any style of earring that create an illusion of length will be flattering for the square face shape. Large oval hoops, long drops and slender chandelier earrings are all fantastic choices. Avoid short post and wide chandelier styles.
Necklaces
Princess, matinee, opera and rope lengths are ideal (especially if you have a short neck) since they create a vertical line to lengthen the square face. Large focal components on necklaces draw attention down to give the appearance of a longer face. Choose pendants or focal components with curves and swirls to counter angular jawlines.
Famous Square Faces
Katherine Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Ashley Judd, Mandy Moore, Hilary Swank, Sandra Bullock, Lucy Liu, Angelina Jolie, Keira Knightly
Heart and Inverted Triangle
The heart and inverted triangle shapes both have a wide brow and a narrow chin. The biggest difference between the two is that the heart-shaped face will have a widow’s peak.
Earrings
Opposites are key for this face shape. Choose triangular or fan-shaped dangling earrings--whatever will put the widest part of the earring next to the jawline. To add width at the level of the chin, use horizontal lines of hoops, teardrops, curves, triangles and other dangling space-filling designs. Avoid small posts and any long, narrow earring styles.
Necklaces
Heart-shaped and inverted-triangle faces do well with short, curved necklaces. These reduce the appearance of length in the jawline and soften the sharp point of the chin. Choker, collar and princess lengths are ideal, especially if you have a long neck. Triple-strand chokers or large beads at the base of the throat creates fullness at the neck and balance the area around the eyes and cheekbones. A bold pendant on a short necklace acts as a visual stop directly under the chin, shortening the look of the face. If a longer necklace is desired, try an opera-length strand doubled. Circular neckwires, omega chains and short bib-style necklaces are other options that work well for the heart-shaped/inverted triangle face.
Famous Heart-Shaped and Inverted Triangle Faces
Marilyn Monroe, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Reese Witherspoon, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zendaya, Scarlett Johansson, Ashley Greene, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
Triangle
The triangle face has a narrow brow and wide jawline.
Earrings
Choose whatever will put the narrowest part of the earring next to the jawline. Ear cuffs and climbers that curve up the ears create width at the cheekbones, while small post styles with a few long narrow dangles create length.
Necklaces
Triangle-shaped faces do well with short necklaces with a slight curve. Princess and matinee lengths are ideal since they put a gentle curve under the jawline and lengthen the look of the face. Large focal components on necklaces forming a deep V draw attention below the neck to give the appearance of a longer face. Choose rounded pendants or focal components to complement the strong angles of the jaw.
Famous Triangle Faces
Victoria Beckham, Geena Davis, Minnie Driver, Lucy Hale, Kelly Osbourne, Mariska Hargitay
Diamond
The diamond-shaped face is balanced, angular and dramatic, being widest at the cheekbones and equally narrow at the forehead and the jawline. Often considered a more dramatic or angular version of the oval face shape, the diamond-shaped face is slightly longer than it is wide and can wear almost any neckline or jewelry style. Pick styles and fashions that highlight the dramatic cheekbones of the diamond-shaped face.
Earrings
Diamond-shaped faces can wear almost any shape or style of earring, except for shoulder-duster styles, as they will lengthen the face. To widen the look of the forehead, try styles that sweep upward. To balance a pointy chin, use dangling earrings with drops. For a dramatic look, echo the shape of the face with angular styles like triangles and cut crystal. And to soften the look, go for hoops.
Necklaces
Almost any shape or style of necklace will work. When choosing a necklace, consider whether you want to downplay the angles of the face with curving designs, such as a collar or princess necklaces, or if you want to accentuate with angular, modern styles.
Famous Diamond-Shaped Faces
Sophia Loren, Linda Evangelista, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, Serena Williams, Megan Fox
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