Striking the balance

We already know that the neckline on our clothes matters - we don't want to show too much cleavage, and we want to choose the right shape to compliment our faces. But your neckline and your jewelry can also highlight another feature: your balance points, or the "magic" focal points below your chin that are most flattering for your particular face shape. It's a concept that's a bit difficult to explain, but easy to illustrate.

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn gave us a great example last week:

The pendant of her necklace draws our eye directly to her first balance point: it falls at the same distance from the bottom of her chin as the distance from her hairline to her chin (i.e. the length of her face). Would anyone ever look at her and realize that's why it looks good? No, of course not. But you know it looks good, don't you? Now you know the secret. Try it out in the mirror.