Face Shapes and Jewelry Choices - Heart Shape

The heart-shaped face has a wide brow and narrow chin. In addition, width of the face at the forehead and cheekbones is greater than the width at the chin. The features within the face can be sharp and angular or soft and curved, but the overall face shape will be a heart or inverted triangle. The top part of the face is usually soft and curved at the edges, with a sharp or angular chin. The objective for the heart-shaped/inverted triangle face is to rebalance the face, creating the appearance that the forehead is narrower, and widening the jaw line.

Necklines
Heart-shaped faces need strong horizontal clothing lines, making the face appear wider and more oval. This face shape is often accompanied by a variety of body styles, so choose necklines that work best with each individual's body style.  Ideal necklines: Boatneck/bateau neckline, crew, Sabrina neckline, portrait/off-the-shoulder neckline, turtleneck, mock-turtleneck.   Avoid: V-neck, collared shirt unless buttoned up, sweetheart neckline, Queen Anne neckline, scoop neckline, strapless, other plunging necklines

Necklaces
Heart-shaped faces need short necklaces with curves to reduce the appearance of length in the jawline and diminishes the sharp point of the chin. Choker, collar and princess lengths are ideal (especially if you have a long neck), since they break up the vertical line that occurs with a heart-shaped/inverted triangle face. Triple-strand chokers or large beads at the base of the throat creates fullness at the neck and balances the wider area around the eyes and cheekbones. A bold pendant on a short necklace creates a visual stop directly under the chin, shortening the look of the face. If a longer necklace is desired, try the opera-length strand and circle it around the neck once or twice before letting the length hang. Circular neckwires, omega chains and short bib-style necklaces are another option for the heart-shaped/inverted triangle face.

Earrings
Keep in mind that opposites attract for the heart-shaped/inverted triangle face and choose triangular or fan-shaped dangling earrings -- whatever will put the widest part of the earring next to the jaw line. This face needs jewelry that adds width at the level of the chin, so use horizontal lines of hoops, teardrops, curves, triangles and other dangling space-filling designs. Avoid small post (button) and any long narrow earring styles. One of the techniques used to rebalance the heart-shaped face is hairstyles which cover the ears and cheekbones, so earrings may sometimes not be in order for this face shape.

Eyewear
The objective for this face shape is to narrow the brow and move the eyes away from the lower part of the face by accenting the eye area. Soften the strong angles of the lower face by choosing styles such as cat's eye or metal frames with rimless bottoms.

Bridal Tips
The heart-shaped/inverted triangle face needs a strong horizontal focus for the eye to follow. High necklines with gentle curves, accompanied by the shorter necklace lengths and teardrop earring styles, will balance the wide forehead and cheekbone area of the heart-shaped face. Keep in mind the size of the bride, her coloring and the simplicity (or ornateness) of her gown -- a more ornate gown can support more ornate jewelry. Matching the patterns, designs, textures and qualities of her gown completes the presentation.  Veils that hang to the chin help widen the appearance of the jaw line. Also consider the wide-ribbon choker necklace for the heart-shaped face.

Famous Faces: Heart-Shaped (or Inverted Triangle)
Celebrity faces offered as examples. Mischa Barton, Naomi Campbell, Carmen Electra, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Avrill Lavigne, Eva Longoria, Lisa Kudrow, Christina Milian, Mary Kate Olsen, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jamie Lynn Sigler