Labor Day might be the last chance to wear your favorite summer accessories, so prepare for the holiday weekend accordingly. Though the holiday is all about fun, hopefully in the sun, there are still some things to look out for. Here’s our style guide for any holiday occasion or activity.

Occassion: The Beach
If you are headed to the beach this Labor Day weekend, you will need to take many precautions if you plan to bring your favorite jewelry. There are so many different elements that can cause harm to your jewels, including salt, sweat and sand. When deciding what you want to bring, start with what you definitely cannot bring. The salt from the seawater will corrode copper, so do not bring anything copper or rose gold, since rose gold is a gold and copper alloy. Any sweat contact can cause sterling silver to turn black, so try to avoid anything with silver. Finally, sand is abrasive and may scratch metals and stones, so avoid soft materials. Your best choice is yellow gold or platinum, but be sure to remove these pieces if you plan to go swimming!

Occassion: Family
A family get-together on a holiday weekend calls for a festive look. Labor Day was officially recognized by the US Congress in 1894, making this holiday over 100 years old. The day is to celebrate the contributions of the American worker to the strength and success of the U.S. Celebrate your family and loved ones over the weekend and have fun! Try festive and colorful jewelry in patriotic shades or motifs like stars. Unless your family is planning something formal, Labor Day festivities are typically casual events, so costume jewelry is probably the best choice for the occasion.

Occassion: Friends
This might be the most casual get together for the holiday. If you plan on a casual weekend with your closest friends, then your accessories should stay as simple as your weekend. This is truly a chance to accessorize as you please, whether it’s simple pieces like a pendant necklace and charm bracelet, or a bold statement piece you’ve been dying to wear. If you are feeling festive but want to keep things casual, consider wearing a piece from an American jewelry company like David Yurman, Lagos, Judith Ripka or Tiffany & Co.

Occassion: The City
If you are spending the day in the city, perhaps in a more formal celebration, then you have the chance to wear your nicer jewelry pieces — a glittering statement necklace or gemstone ring wouldn’t be out of place. This is also a great time to try out a new trend or a summer style you missed out on. Labor Day is often thought of as the unofficial end of summer, so take this as as the last opportunity to wear your favorite summer statement pieces.