A Natural Beauty: Bold Tribal Designs and Animal Motifs
• Tiger stripes, zebra patterns, and leopard spots all look at home in their natural setting. But on pale women, these motifs can look garish and tacky. They are too bold for a pale complexion and draw too much attention in an unnatural way.

• But on a dark-skinned woman, they act as a vibrant accent, never over-the-top. Bold designs look at home on women of color.

• Bangles that imitate natural materials such as bone or shell look fabulous against darker skin. Browns and ivory look rich and elegant on the wrist and provide a gorgeous glimpse of color or pattern.

Jewel Tones: Bright, Saturated Tones Glow Against Dark Skin

• No one can wear jewel tones as well as the darker-skinned woman. Bangle bracelets in these hues seem to come alive, with a flash of color every time the hands are moved.

• Vivid colors never look "clownish" on dark skinned women. Instead, they look rich and glowing. The effect is one of understated brilliance. Choose bright greens, purples, reds, blues and yellows for a bold but graceful effect.

• Pick jewel tones that flatter the underlying color of the skin – skin has either a blue undertone or a yellow undertone. Turquoise looks fabulous against darker skin with a yellow undertone, while electric blue is stunning against skin with a blue undertone. Likewise, scarlet red – with its touch of orange combined with the red – looks remarkable on yellow-undertone skin, while a pinkish red, such as cherry red, simply glows against skin with a blue undertone.

All That Glitters: Stepping Up the Glamour with Metallics

• Bangles in silver, gold, copper or bronze are tailor-made for women with darker skin. The metal accents flash and shine with every movement, contrasting yet coordinating with the lovely dark tones of the skin. Yet the overall effect is graceful, never overdone.

• Choose silver tones for when a higher contrast is desired, or a light, airy feeling is needed, such as when wearing white or pastels.

• Choose gold or bronze tones when an earthier feel is desired. These tones add a rich, elegant feel to an outfit.

• Choose copper or "pink gold" hues when a bit of fire is needed. Copper, with its touch of red, is a very versatile color and is flattering to both red and yellow-based shades.

• Stack tri-color bracelets with solid-color bracelets for a fresh, go-with-anything look.

The Warmth of Wood

• Wood is one of the oldest, most treasured materials for jewelry, especially for bracelets. It is lightweight, sturdy, and natural. It picks up the warmth from the skin and can be polished to a beautiful shine. The more it is worn, the more beautiful and mellow it becomes. No wonder wood is so popular in bangles.

• Look for studded wood for a daring fashion touch.

• Inlaid wood styles look elegant and sophisticated and have both the natural beauty of wood combined with a touch of shine or accent color.

• Try natural wood in a trio of different hues.

Sizing Up Bangle Fashion

Bangles come in many widths. Thin bangles, such as laser-cut metal bangles, are often worn in multiples. They make a pleasing sound as they clink together, and the interplay of colors and designs is lively and eye-catching.

• Wider bangles are often worn singly or with a thinner bangle or two. They have the advantage of being bolder, for when a woman wants to make a definite fashion statement that won't be overlooked. Many women wear a wider bangle with a thinner bangle above and below it.

• Stretch bangles are extra-comfortable and can be pushed up to fit higher on the forearm. Some of the widest bangles of all are stretch bangles.

Conclusion One:
Bangles are so easy to wear – just slide them onto and off of the arm. There's no way to make a "mistake" when wearing bangle bracelets. Women should just choose the look they love, whether bold or understated, and wear it with confidence, knowing that against darker skin, every choice looks rich and flattering.

Conclusion Two:
Women of color have so many choices when it comes to choosing bangles to wear. Jewel tones, tribal motifs, bright colors and metallics all look flattering against darker skin. Whether choosing a single wide bangle or a stack of thin, glittering diamond-cut bangles, darker skinned women can add that perfect finishing touch to any outfit, and wear them with confidence, knowing that their skin is a gorgeous backdrop for any style or color.