Choosing accessories is one of the more fun aspects of shopping. Even if you hate buying clothes, it can be easy to get into accessories.
You don’t have to try anything on unless you want to, and a good accessory will carry you through multiple fluctuations in weight, so the attendant guilt and pressure can be thrown out the window. Accessories are just plain fun, and the purest expression of our personalities.
Even if you don’t like to go crazy with the scarves and jewelry, you can rest assured that one or two good pieces will add an air of sophistication without delving into the domain of the quirky - unless you want it to. There’s an art to accessorizing, but it can be a bit overwhelming at first to figure out precisely what works best for you. Here are a few tips to help you choose the best fashion accessories on your next shopping excursion.
Find Your Style
This part is maybe a bit easier said than done, but it’s a crucial step towards helping you figure out the kind of accessories to invest in. If you are naturally drawn to a vintage aesthetic, and enjoy, say, art deco, then you already have an idea about the sorts of accessories you should look into. Or, if you prefer a chic, French-oriented sort of simplicity, then your approach to accessorizing will be entirely different.
And, in general, your taste will change from day to day, and you may not always gravitate towards the same style, which is fine. It’s more important to coordinate your accessories with the outfit you’d like to wear on a given day.
So, if you’re wearing a little black dress and would like to go for an Audrey Hepburn look circa Breakfast at Tiffany’s, you can try to accessorize with a silk scarf, maybe a small baguette purse, and old-school coin jewelry.
Or, if that’s not really your lane and you’re looking for a downtown New York City vibe circa 1983, then you can pair your simple dress with chunky and colorful jewelry, gold hoop earrings, a big and bright-colored tote bag, etc. Zero in on the eras or fashion icons you like and pinpoint the exact pieces they wear that help make them look unique.
It’s Not All About Luxury Brands
One thing that people tend to obsess over when trying to find the right accessory is whether or not to add their name to the long waitlist for, say, a Birkin bag. Or to spend a couple of hundred dollars on a moderately priced Coach or Fossil purse. While you can definitely do that if you have the means, investing in brand names isn’t necessary to feel fashionable. Be on the lookout for things like color, affordability, style, and quality - it’s easier these days to find well-made pieces at decent price points. For one, you can look for coupon codes or get a discount on Shein, or check out second-hand stores. If you hate having to go through piles and piles of clothes at a thrift shop, you can do a version of this online. There are so many sites from which you can buy gently used clothes and accessories, you’re bound to find the purse or scarf you’ve coveted for ages.
A quick google search will let you know whether or not you can snag a pricier item for a discount, or at least get ideas for fun dupes that don’t come with the high-end label. The short of it is, brand names should be the least of your concerns when trying to find fashionable accessories.
Color
Whether you like bright colors or prefer a simpler canvas, deciding how you want to incorporate different colors into your wardrobe is an important consideration while shopping for accessories. A general rule of thumb to follow is to choose an accessory of a different color than what you’re wearing. Your accessories should match your outfit, but not be the same exact color.
A necklace with chunky black beads would look off on a black dress, for example. Also, you should nail down the basics of primary and secondary colors. Basically, they are analogous to each other and can work in tandem provided that you march them in terms of lightness and darkness.
Think about it this way: most outfits you’ve seen that made you cringe probably had a problem with color and arrangement. Avoiding clashing colors, or conversely, not wearing everything of the same color, are a couple of basic rules to follow, and you can build the rest of your outfit around them.
Think Outside the Box
When we talk about accessories, most people think about purses, scarves, and maybe a necklace or pair of earrings. But there are other accessories you can enjoy, which will add a nice pop of color to any outfit. Brooches have been around forever, but they remain somewhat underutilized these days.
Maybe it’s because they tend to be associated with vintage accessories, but there are lots of contemporary accessory companies that focus solely on brooches and making them fun and wearable for younger people.
You can also look into other types of accessories, like cuffs, or bakelite-based beaded bracelets and necklaces. Thinking outside the box in terms of accessories is a great way to add some fun to your wardrobe, without falling into the common fashion trap of looking like everyone else.
Shoes
Some people love buying shoes; others prefer to stick to the same pair of sneakers till they’re completely worn out. There’s also a common misconception that shoes need to cost a minimum of a thousand dollars and have mile-high heels in order to be considered fashionable. As mentioned earlier, this isn’t true. In terms of footwear, remember that they’re generally something you’d have to wear every day, so comfort is key.
You could do with keeping a few options on hand: sneakers, a nude heel - kitten heels are a good compromise in terms of height - black ballet flats, and a neutral-colored boot. While you can invest in colorful and fun pieces, they’re not necessary. So long as you keep a few comfortable and versatile pieces in your closet, you should be able to get a lot of wear out of them while also looking stylish.
Jewelry
If you love jewelry, then you might as well skip over this small section. If not, then take this as your rallying cry to become more acquainted with sparkle. If you’re the minimalist type, all you need is a small jewelry box with maybe a pretty watch, a simple necklace that is carefully handpicked from Puravida Bracelets collections, thin hoop earrings, and a pair of diamond studs as well as pearls.. These are all items that go with essentially anything and can elevate even the most basic outfit.
If you like jewelry but aren't sure if you have the sort of fashionable pieces that will help elevate your outfit, then in addition to the items mentioned above, you should also consider bangles, statement necklaces, a pair of chandelier earrings, as well as chokers since they’ve made a comeback and have been huge for a while now. When worn well, jewelry can easily help make your outfit shine and take the overall look to the next level.
Seasonal Changes
It’s easy to forget that you would have to invest in different accessories according to the season. While the winter months bring to mind being bundled up and steering clear of fashion statements because that doesn’t seem to be a practical tactic, you can easily add a different interpretation of the cold. Scarves, hats, gloves, and mittens, of course, serve a key function in keeping you warm, but they’re also a great opportunity to add beautiful colors and patterns to your look.
If your coat is a bit more neutral, then it’s a great opportunity to let the accessories do the work for you. Knitwear can come in vibrant colorways, and it’s a great opportunity to beat the winter blues by wearing an accessory that cheers you up a bit.
By that same token, the spring and summer call for a different set of accessories: light, flowy scarves, sunglasses, and maybe a crochet shawl. Each season brings with it a wealth of possibilities, so keep in mind that you don’t need to weigh practicality over fashion. At least, not all the time.
Find a Signature
If all the options out there prove to be overwhelming, then the last bit of advice we can leave you with is to choose one piece and make it your signature. If you have a pair of pearl studs that help to make you feel comfortable or a necklace that means a great deal to you, then stick with that. Make sure these pieces are understated enough to go with a bunch of different outfits, such that it takes much of the guesswork out of putting together an outfit.
When it comes to accessories, it pays to remember that beyond the basic notes outlined here, there aren’t any strict rules about how to wear a particular item. It's really left up to you and how you wish to express yourself. Always bear in mind that investing in fashion accessories doesn’t mean that you need to pay for an arm and a leg.
