Sure, real pearls are nice -- really, really nice. But that doesn't mean that you should ignore the pleasures of going fake. Nice girls wear real pearls, but FABULOUS girls wear fakes!

1. Cost
Real pearls are costly: Fake ones, less so. In case you haven't noticed, we're in a recession. Very few of us can afford the real thing right now -- but there's no need to sweat it. Maybe in a few years!

2. Fun
There's no way around it: Fakes, like blondes, are more fun. You can find fake pearls tied up with dainty ribbons, mixed in with shiny baubles, embedded into delightfully tacky pendants -- try finding that at Tiffany's.

3. Wearability
We love our real pearls, but we're always so nervous when we wear them. They're delicate, so we just can't relax when we wear them anywhere you would normally wear jeans. If you love the look of pearls and jeans (and who doesn't? It's so luxe!) going with fakes is the way to go.

4. Selection
You can find faux pearls anywhere, in any color and size imaginable.

5. Pile-ability
Nothing beats a pile of pearls for glamour (think Audrey Hepburn) -- when it comes to pearls, more is more, darling!