First of all, while we all have our own sense of style and taste, we also come in different sizes and shapes. A general rule is to buy a necklace that is in proportion to the person who will be wearing it. For example a petite person could look overwhelmed wearing some of the larger chunky style beaded necklaces and may feel uncomfortable with the weight. A smaller beaded, more delicate piece of jewelry would flatter a petite person better. On the other hand a taller person could easily carry off wearing larger sized jewelry.

Necklaces

A factor to consider in choosing a necklace is how long you want the necklace to be and again is affected by body size and where the necklace will sit on the body.  The right style necklace or pendant will be the perfect finishing touch to any outfit that you will be wearing.  Also buying a necklace as a gift for your wife or girlfriend gives you the opportunity to perform the romantic gesture of putting it around her neck for the first time.

Here are some common necklace lengths:

Choker: 15 to 16 inches depending on neck size, the choker sits in the hollow of the neck..  A choker is very versatile as it can go with any neckline of the outfit you are wearing.

Princess: 17-18 inches, rests at the collar bone.  This length is best suited for crew and high necklines.  It looks great with v-necks or blouses for everyday, works perfectly with a business suit, and can also complement a deeper neckline.

Matinee: 20 to 24 inches, a few inches below the collar bone.  This is a great length for casual or business wear. It is long enough to make a statement at formal events but also looks great worn everyday over turtlenecks or high-neck dresses.

Opera: 28 to 30 inches. The Opera is a long strand that falls below the bust. Dressier than shorter necklaces, it can look amazing with plunging necklines, but can also be worn over a chunky turtleneck sweater every day. Many women like to knot a long necklace just at the bust to create a vintage look while others double it up to create a double stranded choker.

Bracelets

The length of a bracelet to buy is determined by the size of the wearer's wrist and size of the beads in the bracelet. Larger beads mean that the bracelet should be longer to fit comfortably on the wrist. The average, traditional bracelet is 7 1/2 inches long. Bracelets with very large beads may be 8 or 9 inches long.

Here are wrist sizes for bracelets:

small: 6 inches

medium: 6 1/2 to 7 inches

large: 7 1/2 inches

If you love a bracelet or necklace but it isn't the right length you can always check with the seller to see if it can be resized to fit you or the intended wearer.