I'm guessing that most of you gals enjoy keeping up with the latest red carpet fashions. Since I can never seem to arrange my calendar to catch it in person, I've taken to revisiting style.com year to see what trends were popular that season. I have to be honest with you ladies and say that I was not too impressed this year. However, the necklaces did catch my eye and seemed to have a timeless quality about them.

Usually, either little diamond pendants or massive display necklaces predominate, but not this year. A lengthy necklace is a must-have accessory this season. This look has been popular for centuries, yet fashion naturally comes and goes in cycles. The thing I like best about this is that it demonstrates how easily a casual piece can be transformed into one with an antique feel.

There are a few famous products used by celebrities that are a wonderful inspiration for this look, especially when we start thinking about layering necklaces. Given the variety of designs available, I believe that any woman may find a necklace that suits her personal taste. Animals, chains, pearls, and even simple stones like turquoise that were clearly inspired by antiques have all been on display.

How would you style it, then?

Pick a long layered necklace that complements your "go-to style" and stick to that theme. Something lightweight that stands out against a long top or tunic yet isn't too cumbersome to wear all day.

Put some groove into it. Combining lengthy chains and pearls with a tailored white button-down is a great way to add some edge to your work attire. The necklaces should be worn outside the collar for a "Devil Wears Prada" vibe.

Keep the rest of it basic. The rule of thumb is to go for understated earrings if you're wearing a statement necklace (think studs). Don't go around looking like a gypsy with a lot of "crazy" going on because people may start to treat you differently.

Remember ladies that the look can drastically alter based upon what kind of long necklace you buy and how you wear it. You may experiment with other combinations in the store to find what works best for you, and since this style is versatile enough to be worn during the day or at night, you needn't be scared to wear the same necklace on the weekend as well.

Freshwater Pearl Necklace - The Ideal Gift for Women

You can't go wrong with a freshwater pearl necklace for the woman you hold dearest in your life; it's a gorgeous, meaningful, and thoughtful present. A freshwater pearl necklace is a thoughtful gift for any woman in your life, whether your spouse, mother, or sister.

Freshwater pearls are described as what?

It is essential that you understand what freshwater pearls are and how to tell them apart from other types of pearls before we move on to the specifics of how to go about purchasing a freshwater pearl necklace.

In contrast to saltwater pearls, which are collected from the ocean and sea, freshwater pearls are grown in freshwater environments or have been discovered naturally. Natural or human-assisted processing of freshwater pearls is possible. In the absence of human intervention, divers seeking pearls will have to scour the ocean floor for mollusks or oysters in which a foreign object has become covered in layers of nacre, the substance primarily responsible for pearls' distinctive brilliance.

With human assistance, pearl divers will inject organ tissue material into another snail to generate nacre production. The pearls' growth will be meticulously monitored so that the final result is of the highest quality and shape.

Choose the Right Freshwater Pearl Necklace for You!

Even though the most well-known freshwater pearls come from Japan and China, they are actually produced all over the world. If you're trying to save money, it may be wise to shop for freshwater pearl necklaces from less well-known pearl makers rather than directly from the source.

The larger the gem or pearl in this case, the higher it's worth. This is true of all types of jewelry. Naturally, bigger pearls don't always mean they're the best present. Think about the wearer of the necklace before deciding on the size of the freshwater pearls to utilize.

The wearer of a necklace strung with enormous freshwater pearls is someone who enjoys being the center of attention. However, if she values understated elegance more, she may like a necklace with freshwater pearls that are between 5-8 mm in size.

Form - Many pearls have an unconventional shape since they were allowed to develop naturally. Saltwater mollusks are also more likely to generate uniformly shaped pearls than their freshwater counterparts. Freshwater farmed pearls are your best bet if you want flawless, uniformly shaped freshwater pearls.

Compare the shine of different freshwater pearl necklaces by looking at them in different lighting. In some lighting conditions, freshwater pearls can shine brightly while in others, they will appear noticeably dimmer. However, the finest pearls will radiate their beauty under any illumination. The higher quality of the freshwater pearl, the more it is worth.

Facets - The quality of the freshwater pearl necklace should be taken into account just as seriously as that of any other precious stone. Is there anything obviously wrong with it? Getting flawless freshwater pearls may be difficult because of how easily they may be damaged.

Last but not least, think about the color and pick one that goes well with the recipient's skin tone.

Those who give gifts should put them in attractive packaging

Almost as significant as the gift itself is how it's presented, as this demonstrates your thoughtfulness. Asking a friend or even a professional to wrap the gift for you is an option if you lack the necessary abilities (and most men do not, so there's no shame in admitting the same thing).

You can choose from a wide variety of jewelry box designs, and some of them are so lovely to look at that wrapping paper is usually unneeded. A bow made of gift ribbon would be a lovely touch.

Yes, even if you choose a plain jewelry box, you'll still need to wrap it on paper. Since freshwater pearl necklaces are not your average present, the wrapping should reflect that. Go for something luxurious like silk or glossy paper.

In the end, when selecting a freshwater pearl necklace as a present, it is important to consider both your budget and the recipient's apparent tastes and preferences.