Your Signature Style With Accessories

Accessories can make an outfit.

Not everybody is brave enough or excited about accessories though. Which is strange, because they can completely transform an outfit from something basic, into something spectacular. In fact, when you have the right range of accessories, no outfit will ever look the same.

There are some basic fashion accessories that every woman should have, and the more they can easily help you transition from morning to evening, the better.

How Do I Accessorise?

Let’s say you have a very basic black dress. It’s cut is beautiful, and you always feel great in it. That would be your base. Consider now that you are for the most part of the day going to be running a million errands; the best thing to do here is to ensure that you have a cross-body bag which is nice and light and easy to take with you. Some flats, some great sunglasses to protect your eyes and a pair of simple earrings so that they don’t catch on anything.

Now say that you have approximately 15 minutes before you have to leave the house again after only just getting home, except this time you’re heading out for an evening. You don’t have time to change your entire outfit, but you do have time to change your accessories. Here you grab some pantyhose, perhaps heels, and swap that cross-body bag for a clutch. Throw on a statement necklace and swap your simple earrings for something bolder, and you’ve just gone from day to evening by only changing accessories.

More or less?

Now there are two schools of thought; one is to look in the mirror before you leave and add an accessory, and the other is to look in the mirror before you leave and remove one. This really comes down to personality rather than rules. If you believe more is more then add more, if you believe less is more than take something away. Go with what feels right for you, and the day that you have planned.

The Essential Accessories

• A bag is probably the number one accessory. Handbags can often be a status symbol because you can have high-end designer names emblazoned all over your bag. And you can choose to have a structured tote which you can carry your life in or a sporty little boho bag that takes ages to find your keys. It’s a very personal choice as your bag should match the lifestyle you lead.

• Shoes are one of those things where everyone seems to have too many pairs, which is actually helpful. However, some people swing wildly between completely flat, comfortable trainers and extremely high heels. The latter not being that comfortable. Have a look through your shoe closet and make sure you have a few transition heels of two or 3 inches, as they’re great for support, and lengthen the leg like a normal heel except they are a little bit more comfortable.

• Sunglasses cannot be underestimated. They protect the soft, thin, and sensitive skin around the eyes from the harsh sun. Now we are quite lucky with shopping made easy online to grab the perfect pair of oversize sunnies. They hide a multitude of sins and also go with pretty much every outfit.

• A scarf is incredibly versatile. It’s light enough to wrap around your neck when it gets too hot, and you want to protect your neck from sunburn. It can also be wrapped around your head if it gets too warm, and double as a wrap for late evenings. In the hotter months, you are quite likely to see people use these as headbands too. But for this don’t go for a neutral tone. If you typically wear black, white, or navy, go for a pop of colour with your scarf. Scarves are an accessory where playfulness and boldness pay off.

• Hats aren’t everybody’s cup of tea as some people say they don’t have the face or the hair for hats. However, there are so many different styles and colours and options available, anyone can wear a hat for various reasons including to protect their face from the sun, to keep their head warm in the cold or to elevate an outfit. A good hat, is invaluable in terms of accessorizing.

• One of the most essential accessories is probably the most simple. A belt can be like a little bit of magic. They can cinch dresses in at the waist, they can have detailing sparkle, they can add a whole personality in seconds.

Play around with accessories until you find the ones that make you happy, and of course, the ones that make you feel the most confident.