Jewelry for an evening dress — and how to dress up a daytime look

You don't choose evening jewelry separately from the dress — you choose it around what the dress is already doing. If the dress has a striking neckline, a print or some sparkle, the jewelry is no longer the star.

What the dress has already decided

• A plunging neckline. The space is free, so the necklace becomes the focal point and the earrings stay quiet.
• A high or closed neckline. The neck is covered, so the focus moves to the earrings.
• A patterned or sparkly dress. Keep the jewelry smooth and simple, otherwise the two compete.
• A plain, smooth dress in a single color. The only case where the jewelry can be bold.

One focal point, not three

With an evening look, the mistake is almost always the same: one piece too many. Earrings, a necklace and a ring cannot all be strong at once — if they are, none of them gets noticed.

A practical test: if the eye doesn't know where to look in a photo, there are too many focal points.

Browse: Evening jewelry, Evening earrings, Evening necklaces, Evening rings.

How to dress up a daytime look

You don't make a look dressier by adding jewelry. You do it by swapping one piece.

• Swap your earrings rather than adding more. Trading studs for drop earrings changes the whole look in one move.
• Take off anything you don't need. In the evening, less jewelry looks more expensive than more.
• Stick to one metal tone. Mixed tones stand out more in the evening than during the day.

What matters on the night

Evening jewelry is worn for only a few hours, but those are the hours of photos, hugs and handshakes. So two things matter: a clasp that won't come undone and a weight that stays comfortable.

Which clasps hold securely is covered in our chain guide: chain weaves and clasps. After the evening, wipe your jewelry down — powder and perfume leave a residue: jewelry care.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a matching set for the evening?

No. A set works, but it always looks like a set. Two separate pieces in the same tone look more deliberate.

What jewelry goes with a black dress?

A black dress competes with nothing, so almost anything works — which is exactly why it is so easy to overdo the jewelry with one.

Is gold-plated jewelry right for the evening?

Yes. Under evening lighting a gold tone looks warmer than it does by day, and that is exactly what makes it work.