There are few accessories more amazing than cocktail rings. At first glance one might argue that they are gaudy or impractical. Those aren’t bad arguments, but I suggest that you disregard them.

If worn properly, the cocktail ring is absolutely not gaudy. You should never wear more than one cocktail ring at once. The cocktail ring should not be overshadowed by a plethora of loud bangles or a dramatic necklace. Keep it simple people.

As for the impractical argument — fashion doesn’t need to be practical.

Cocktail rings well accessorize any little black dress, adding a touch of glamour and flare. It will draw a stranger’s eye right to your hand, and, if said stranger has any fashion sense (or reads this), he will know you are a fashion savvy, glamorous individual.

Buying your first (or second or third) cocktail ring is an exciting endeavor.

Because cocktail rings are costume jewelry they can be found for a wide range of prices, perfect for any struggling part-time college student (and full-time fashion fiend).

Dannijo makes a fairly expensive cocktail ring at $160 called the Coco Pearl Flower. The large flower has large gold petals and displays a pearl as the flower bud. Very elegant.

For some mid-priced rings, look no further than Urban Outfitters $24 Poison Oval ring or Juicy Couture’s $88 Bloom Stacking rings.

For super cheap rings, Forever 21 has a wide selection of rings, all under ten dollars. Some of my favorites? The Brighton Rhinestone in purple, the Metallic Jewel in turquoise, and the Studded Stone with black stones.

All are guaranteed to inexpensively glam up your outfit and look much more expensive than the steals Forever 21 offers.

A few more tips to mastering the art of the cocktail ring:

Do not let cocktail rings be your signature accessory on a daily basis nor should you wear them to class.

Trust me, trying to type your notes up while balancing one of these baubles is not easy. It will just make you look like a fool.

When wearing a coat for a short amount of time turn the ring inwards so that when you take off your coat, the ring will not snag. You do not want to learn this the hard way.

Finally, wear your ring with class. If it looks way too fake to you, it will look way too fake to everyone. No one expects you to be wearing a massive diamond on your hand just yet, so stick to darker colors which don’t look so fake.