If there is a particular jewelry shape that suits your style, collect it. If you're shorter than 5-foot-4 and like pins, collect small ones so you can wear them together without appearing to be overpowered by them. One chic petite woman I know collects insect pins that she scatters on the lapel and shoulder of her jackets. The effect is charming.

If you have beautiful wrists and hands, collect bracelets. You can mix and match them to go with different outfits.

If you have a short neck, collect graduated strands of beads that fall an inch or two below the base of your neck to elongate it. For fun, wear two or three together.

EARRINGS
Earrings are the most important jewelry you'll buy. The right ones bring light to your face and enhance your image. The wrong ones can overpower your look, drag on your earlobes, and if too fussy, add years to your appearance.

The best buys are classic shapes: studs, circles, squares hoops and drops. Consider three things before you buy: the shape of your face, the size of your earlobe and the length of your neck.

If your face is round, consider a drop, a square or a shape that follows the line of your ear. If your lobes are big, avoid small studs, which will make them look even bigger. If your neck is long, look for drops that balance the space between your neck and collar.

Stay with substances that will never go out of style: pearls, semiprecious stones, colored glass, bone or wood.

For a formal evening, rhinestones are a must ion studs or drops. If you can afford it, consider synthetic diamonds. Many today have the glitter of the real thing.

Necklaces
The best necklaces are chains of varying sizes, pearls (fake or real), semiprecious stones (coral, turquoise or onyx) and any of the many types of glass beads

Lengths are strictly a matter of proportion. If you have a long neck, you can wear thicker beads or stones piled high at the throat. If your neck is thick, you'll do better with graduated stones worn at a longer length.

Remember, jewelry is similar to ready-to- wear clothing. You can layer it, adding more for special effects. Try experimenting; often the most unusual combinations look the best.

Bracelets
A basic wardrobe should include gold and silver bracelets along with wooden and ivory-colored plastic bangles. You can collect bracelets in the accent colors of your wardrobe.

Cuffs are another good investment, goldtoned cuffs can dress up sweaters faster than anything else.