How to Wear Bracelets

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 1, 2023

The right bracelet can make any outfit look a little more polished, stylish, and fun. If you’ve ever gone shopping for jewelry, though, you’ll know that all the available options can be overwhelming! To narrow down your search, first determine your skin tone to see which metals and colors look best on you. Then, pair set them against simple outfits for a minimal style, or stack them creatively to go for a bold, all-out look!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Choosing Your Bracelet

1
Go for wide bracelets if you want to slim down your wrists. Bracelets that are about 2 inches (5.1 cm) wide can work to minimize your wrists and elongate your arms at the same time. Try a well-fitted cuff bracelet, or something thicker and more chunky. You can also see the same effect by stacking bracelets to the same width.
2
Determine your skin tone. Since your bracelets will sit right against your skin, it’s important to look for a metal that makes your coloring pop! Skin tones tend to fall into 3 categories: warm, cool, and neutral.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- People with warm skin tones have yellow, peachy or golden undertones and tend to tan more easily. The veins on their inner arms appear green.
- Those with cooler skin tones have pink, red or blue undertones and usually burn under the sun. Their veins appear bluish under their skin.
- Neutral skin tones have a mix of warm and cool undertones, and will sometimes burn before they tan. If you can’t tell whether your veins look green or blue, you may have a neutral skin tone.
Advertisement
3
Look for gold bracelets if you have a warm skin tone. Any type of gold jewelry can make warm-toned skin glow. Classic gold is always a good bet, and you should try other shades too, like rose gold and white gold. Bronze can also look striking against warm-toned skin.^{[2]
X
Research source}
4
Choose colored bracelets in shades of yellow for a warm skin tone. When you’re deciding on woven or leather bracelets, look for colors that complement the warm undertones in your skin, like peach, olive green, yellow-gold, and dark red. These colors will look great against your skin and will match nicely with gold or bronze metal bracelets, if you decide to mix and match.^{[3]
X
Research source}
5
Wear silver bracelets if your skin tone is cool. Silver jewelry looks fresh against paler, cooler skin tones. You can also look for thin, pale gold bracelets in the 9-14 karat range, or even a white gold to make pale skin look radiant.^{[4]
X
Research source}
6
Try green and blue colored bracelets for a cool skin tone. Try colors like teal, royal blue, burgundy, and Kelly green in woven and leather bracelets. You can also go for colors like pink and purple to add a colorful pop to your wrist.^{[5]
X
Research source}
7
Experiment with metals and colors if your skin tone is neutral. Neutral-skinned people can look great in both silver and gold bracelets and a variety of colors. Choose bracelets on a piece by piece basis, holding each one up to your skin to see which particular shades look great against your skin.^{[6]
X
Research source}
8
Mix metals and patterns regardless of your skin tone. Mixing and matching metals and colors can look good on any skin tone--simply try it and see what looks good! Try to make sure that the dominant metal or color in the look is the one that best accents your skin tone.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Adding Bracelets to a Minimalist Look

1
Wear small, functional bracelets for everyday styles. You don’t want to overwhelm an outfit at work or school with loud, bright, or distracting bracelets. Instead, stick to 1 or 2 thin, classic bracelets, like a thin bangle or a chain with a gemstone if you want to be a bit dressier.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- You can pair an understated bracelet with just about anything. Try it with a conservative office or school outfit to add a little style to a simple look.
2
Go with understated glamour for a date night. A nice date outfit deserves a bit more glamor than your usual looks! Amp up the shine with 2-3 sparkly, jeweled bracelets on either arm, or even an edgy, twisting cuff. If your date is more laidback, you can still add a bit of flash with a thin diamond bracelet, or a charm bracelet or 2.^{[8]
X
Research source}
3
Try a bold statement bracelet for a special event. When you’re heading to a nice event, like a wedding or fancy company dinner, try something out of the ordinary. Go with a thick cuff with a large gemstone, or a string of pearls twisted around your wrist and fingers. Evening fabrics, such as velvet, satin, and silk, also pair beautifully with filigree styles and burnished metals.^{[9]
X
Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Stacking Bracelets for a Bold Style

1
Stack textured and woven bracelets to create a bohemian vibe. Look for bracelets with bright, geometrical beads, unusual designs, hammered metal, and atypical materials, like wood. Stack these different bracelets and pair them with a flowy, draped dress or a patterned shirt with frayed jean shorts or bell bottoms.
2
Layer metal cuffs and studded bracelets for an edgy style. Stick with silvers and dark metals, anchoring your style with a wide, studded cuff. Don’t be afraid to go for spikes and tougher styles, and try materials like leather as well. Pair your statement bracelets with a pair of torn jeans and a band T-shirt, or a grungy dress and boots.
3
Try a feminine look with dainty, shiny pieces. Go for lots of jewels (fake ones are fine!) and light hues, like white gold and rose gold. A thin, shiny bracelet is an obvious must, but to nail the stacked look, try pairing it with a rose gold gemstone bracelet and a white wrap bracelet. You could even play around with patterns like cheetah print or pink plaid for a flirtatious pop of color.
- Set your bracelets against a lacey white dress or shirt, or a simple pastel sweater.
4
Go with classy, bold bracelets for a preppy style. Stick to thick gold or silver metal bracelets for your main pieces. Add a subtle pop of color with a thin beaded or leather bracelet, and incorporate understated nautical pieces, like hooked or striped bracelets. Look for a monogrammed bracelet with your initials to complete the preppy look!
- Wear a blazer and sleek, fitted pants in khaki or navy to embrace this classic East Coast style.