There's a bit of a barrier for men to get over regarding any sort of jewelry, and necklaces are considered one of the hardest items to wear.

But take your cue from the professionals — men can and do look great wearing necklaces.

It just takes a little know-how.

Necklaces & Men's Style

A Necklace for a Guy is a little bit different than one for a woman.

For one thing, men are never going to wear anything that could be considered “costume jewelry” — the big, chunky stuff with rows of jewels that you'll see accompanying evening gowns. That's strictly a woman's fashion.



There's also much less of an idea among designers that the jewelry should be the centerpiece of an outfit. Men's jewelry is meant to complement, not to overwhelm.

That means necklaces that are a little more rugged and rough around the edges. Good jewelry for men should look natural — like you've been wearing it for years, after it was given to you by your grandfather, who wore it for years before you.

You'll see some brighter, shinier stuff, of course, and even the massive “bling” of urban caricature. And there'll be some very light and fragile designs here and there too, but at either extreme you're talking about exceptions to the rule. They catch people's attention precisely because they're so outlandish.

Most men who wear necklaces well won't be noticeable for their jewelry. You'll just see them as “stylish,” and then notice the accents over time.

Worth a quick mention are the various necklaces that denote religious affiliation or are tied to faith.

Some of these are required/encouraged by specific faiths or sects, while others are merely personal displays of belief.

Most will be of the pendant style. Christian crosses, Stars of David, scapulars, and other symbols can all be made into dangling ornaments easily enough.

In most cases, these are worn under the shirt, against the body on a chain long enough that the ornament falls below the neckline.

My opinion is that these pieces should be understated and simple — fine to share with people in situations where you're taking your shirt off, but you don't want it to be the first thing someone notices about you in a crowded bar.

That doesn't mean there aren't large, metallic or jeweled Diamond Cross Pendants and things like that out there, of course. They're just not going to be the sort of quiet, stylish accent piece that a man's jewelry ideally should be.