Accessorizing with Intention!
/One of my absolute favorite things to share with my clients is the confidence to accessorize and add more color into their wardrobe. You are able to bring an outfit to the next level by using accessories… but that sometimes it’s hard to figure out where to start and how to avoid looking like you just raided your grandmother’s attic.
“I like to think of accessories as the glue that holds your outfit together…It pulls everything together to have it make sense.”
Edit the accessories you are wearing. Some make the mistake of piling on all the accessories they own at once. When it comes to accessorizing, less is usually more. If you're wearing jewelry, a tote, a scarf, a bold shoe and sunglasses, not one piece will stand out, and your outfit will end up looking like a hot mess. Choose a few pieces that accent your outfit or highlight the feature you want to play up.
Wearing a whole jewelry suite, complete with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings, can overwhelm your look. Try wearing either earrings or a necklace.
If you you do wear a few accessories, make sure they aren't competing for attention and are streamlined. Match your metals and colors so that your accessories look like they were chosen with intention to ensure you look polished. For example, you could wear big gold hoops, a colorful warm-toned scarf, and a gold watch for a streamlined look.
Pair bold accessories with understated clothes! A basic outfit of a cropped pant and a sweater can be completely transformed when you add a few bold accessories. If your wardrobe has a lot of neutrals like black, white, beige, grey or navy, accessorizing gives you a chance to play with fun colors and give your outfits a pop. The best thing about neutrals is that they look great with most other colors, so you don't have to worry too much about making sure your accessories match your clothes. Here are a few ways to use bold accessories to add some excited to your neutral outfits:
Pair a thin red or hot pink belt with a black or navy dress.
Wear a splashy orange or yellow scarf or shoes with khaki or olive-colored clothing.
Freshen up your white blouse with a multicolored statement necklace or big drop earrings.
Wear items that play up a color in your outfit. If you're wearing a multicolored outfit, accessories can add interest by allowing you to bring out one of the understated colors. For example, if your dress is black with a small flower pattern, you might wear ceramic bangles that match the green of the flower's leaves. Playing up one color makes the outfit look pulled together and elegant.
You can also use accessories to tie together two seemingly mismatched clothing items. Pick an accessory that shares colors with both of the clothing items, like a scarf that picks up the pink in your blouse and the beige in your pants. Now your outfit looks like it each piece was chosen with intention, rather than just thrown together.
Balance the size of your pieces. If you're wearing a pair of large, dangling earrings, don't pair them with an oversized statement accessory. Your look will be more balanced if you wear a smaller necklace (or no necklace at all) so that your face isn't overwhelmed by too much large jewelry. Keep the size of your various accessories in mind when you decide what to wear together.
Accessories can also be used to balance details on your clothes. If you're wearing blouse with interesting embroidery near the collar, you wouldn't want to wear a big scarf to cover it up. Instead, choose a thin chain that will accent but not hide the details you want to show off.
Let one item be the star of your look. If you're excited to wear an new hat you just bought, don't wear your bold new belt at the same time.
Choose items that enhance your features. Accessories give you the opportunity to bring out your best features. Well-chosen accessories can make your eyes look bigger, your neck look slender, or your calves look more defined.
Wear large hoop earrings to accent the slant of your cheekbones.
Wear a pump nude to elongate your legs.
Wear a scarf that matches your eyes to make them look brighter.
Wear a slender chain necklace to draw attention to your collarbones.
As i’ve mentioned… accessorizing is so my jam and I could talk about them until the cows come home… There are no cows where I live… so I will keep on chatting. Please join me if you’d like to know more… by scheduling a chat with me.