By Irene Feeney Steele
In the words of Anna Dello Russo…”accessories are like vitamins to fashion – as such, you should use them liberally.” Are you a ‘less is more’ or ‘more is more’ person when it comes to accessorizing? Do you follow any particular ‘fashion rules’ when it comes to donning your favourite accessories? And are you more of a glam matchy-matchy gal or simple and dainty?
There are no set rules when it comes to accessories for sure, they can add to an outfit. They are one of the most powerful styling tools and can truly take your outfits to the next level. In fact, curating a stylish wardrobe built on classic basics and investing in affordable accessories is one of the best ways to have the ideal working closet. For example – adding a simple pair of hoop earrings and a necklace to a plain basic tee elevates it into a noteworthy outfit. Pair a simple black pencil skirt and white shirt with a statement clutch bag, layers of gold necklaces and your outfit is Instagram worthy.
In this article I’m going to share with you how to ‘accessorize like a pro!’ I’m personally a big fan of accessories. In fact, I may have earned the nickname ‘accessories queen’ in a former career so you could say I know a thing or two about this essential style practice. Let’s dive right in…
Don’t Worry About Matching And Mix Your Metals
Matchy-matchy is dated. Gone are the days when everything needed to match – your bag and shoes, bag and belt and even jewellery (gold and gold etc.,) Nowadays it’s about showing your personality more, having fun with it and pairing items together that you think may not work. For a fresh look, pair your silver jewellery with your gold and rose gold, your black accessories with brown, clash your colours as much as you like and add pop’s of colour whenever you can.
Balance is Key
A rule I always adhere to when it comes to accessorizing is balance. If you are going to go loud with your outfit choice – crazy clash of bright colours or wild and loud patterns for example – tone your accessories right down. On the flipside, if your outfit is very basic, perhaps more nude tones or all black – elevate your look with accessories, which deserve the attention. The key is to either let your outfit OR accessories do the talking – not both!
Don’t Forget Your Hair
Sometimes it’s easy to forget your hair as an added styling feature to an outfit. Hair accessories including hats can not only transform your outfit but they can hide bad hair days and finish off an otherwise plain look. Pretty and even ‘blingy’ hair clips and hairbands can elevate your outfit and take you from day to night. One rule here though – when wearing a statement hairband or hair slides, keep your earrings small, simple and subtle (remember the three ‘S’s here). Less is more on this occasion – let the party in your hair do all the talking.
Start Simple And Subtle
If you’re still mastering accessorizing and the thoughts of adding another layer to your daily or nighttime look fills you with dread – keep it simple. Invest in a few pieces that suit your style, that you can wear day-in day-out, that will go with everything and that will almost curate your signature style.
Know When To Edit
As Coco Chanel once famously said; “before you leave your house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” In this case, less is more in order to enhance your outfit rather than overwhelm it. For example, if you’ve added a pair of sunglasses, statement earrings, straw hat, belt, necklace, bracelet and rings – removing one or two items takes away the accessorizing overkill.
Time To Watch
Never underestimate the power of a watch in terms of accessorizing and adding to an outfit. I love my Apple Watch and I like it to match my outfits. By changing up the straps (casual and dressy), it keeps things interesting and adds a different vibe to my looks. I also love a boyfriend watch. I find them ‘timeless’ – (pun intended!), classic and a sophisticated touch to a glam outfit.
Belts Are Your Best ‘Enhanced’ Frien
Belts can break up a look and create a smoother silhouette. They are key to enhancing and hugging the body to create a flattering figure. I particularly love wearing a belt over a blazer – it can create a great hourglass silhouette and transform how you wear an oversized jacket.
Remember, accessories are one of the best ways to transform your outfit and giving added confidence. As Yves Saint Laurent once explained “accessories are what, in my opinion, pull the whole look together and make it unique.”