Jumper – Mango (similar sweatshirt at Shopbop) // Blazer – Zara (similar here) // White jeans – Zara (similar here) // Shoes – Payless (also love these pumps at Shopbop // Cross-body bag – Michael Kors (also loving this one) // Statement necklace – lots to choose from at Shopbop
Every fashionista needs a great accessories collection! In building that personal treasure chest, the trick is to narrow down the options to key pieces that fit your style & your wardrobe. Jewellery, scarves, hats, bags & shoes can give a new life to an outfit. Knowing the basics of accessorizing can transform your entire wardrobe, which is why I put together a couple of tips that will assist you in buying accessories and styling your outfits. Remember – accessorizing is an art, so be creative & have fun with it!
Accessories 101 – Picking accessories
1- Start with the basics: It’s easy to get lost when there are so many choices out there. The first step is to analyse your personal style & the contents of your closet. Then you can pick pieces that matches both you & your clothes. The best time to do this is when you’re doing your seasonal closet purge. Take a mental note of what clothes you have & what accessories you already own so that you can build on it. Once you master the basics, then you can try out more daring pieces. I prepared a short list of accessories to start with as well as some bolder choices once you feel more comfortable (P.S. These are examples of items straight out of my collection).
2- Step out of your comfort zone: Basics under your belt, you are now ready to embrace bold accessories! From print scarves to statement bib necklaces – shop around, feel the fabrics, materials, textures….experiment with different colours, patterns & sizes. Simply have funnnn! Try to stray away from what you normally buy & try something different. You may be pleasantly surprised with the outcome, you may fall in love with pieces that you never thought of trying out before. Personally, I was always afraid of statement necklaces, I simply thought I could not pull them off. But I took a leap of faith and now I’m rocking them!
3- Spend your money wisely: Splurge on timeless pieces instead of fashion pieces. Good quality accessories that translate seamlessly from year to year are a great investment, as they never go out of style (case in point: pearl earrings). On the other hand, fashion accessories are fads and will most likely not be on trend next season (case in point: multi-color bracelets). As such they are not worth the money so buy them cheap – make the trends work for you!
Accessories 201 – Styling accessories
1- Less is more: If you are going to wear a bold piece that is attention grabbing, go light on the other accessories. Accessories should not be competing with each other. Here are a few examples: If you’re wearing a big statement necklace, don’t wear earrings. If you’re wearing a structured hat such as a fedora, don’t overpower it with a scarf, sunglasses & big earrings. Simply wear the hat and delicate earrings. If you’re doing a bold scarf, you can do stacked bracelets or ring party.
2- Proper use of bold accessories: Used the right way, bold accessories can give life to an otherwise dull outfit. All colors match neutrals, so dress up a little black dress with a multi-colored floral bib necklace for a night out. You can also take a sporty look and elevate it, just like I did above. I gave my sweatshirt an edgier & classier look by pairing it with white jeans & blazer, and made it pop with a colourful statement necklace – the focal point of the outfit.
3-Mixing & matching colors / patterns: It can be tricky to play with colors & prints but if done right, they add visual interest & makes the outfit unique. When it comes to colors, it’s best not to be too match-y. Instead, if you’re wearing a multi-colored outfit, you can make one of the colors stand out with either a necklace, a pair of earrings or a stack of bracelets. Also don’t forget that not mixing gold and silver is a myth! You can mix gold and silver bracelets or you can wear silver earrings and a gold watch or a bag with gold features. As far as patterns go, my favortie combo is stripes with either floral or leopard – classic. The idea is not to “match” but to put two pieces of clothing that simply go together. To see what I mean, you need to try it! Empty your closet & start trying thing on! Remember that some rules are a thing of the past such as matching shoes with bag – this rule is not only expired but also highly discouraged in the fashion world.
Bottom line, the more creative you are, the more fashionable you become! Personal style is self developed, not learnt!
Hope this was useful! Happy Monday!
Kisses,
WCX
Photos by SebSanches Photography