Accessories are the chocolate chips to your pancake. You can have pancakes plain, but the chocolate makes them that much better.
Accessories are the details in life that you don’t want to admit you pay attention to, but you do anyway.
Accessories are the little dashes of vitality that enhance your outfit from cute to chic.
Fashion is a form of expression. The clothes you wear can be an indication of your personality, ideologies, or emotions. It is often that you find people wearing clothes that follow a certain trend. Clothes go in and out of fashion quickly, and they rarely can be worn for years on end due to personal growth, taste, or style. However, accessories are items that you own forever. Although new styles of accessories may appear, the old ones you have never really go out of style. I’ll ask you this: have you ever thrown out a belt because it was out of style? Have you ever given your earrings or rings away to Goodwill? Accessories don’t have to be worn to satisfy a certain trend; they can be worn because you want to wear them. Therefore, they are a greater indication of a person’s individuality than any other piece of fashion. In addition, a lot of accessories are meaningful or memorable in some way. Many people carry family heirlooms, which for a lot of the time are a piece of jewelry such as a ring or necklace. I said it once and I will say it again. You can never over-accessorize! Love to feel the weight of your ring-laden fingers as you attempt to type on the keyboard! An accessorized outfit embodies the meaning of creativity. Experiment! I dare you!
As you guessed, this post will be dedicated to the oh so lovely abundance of accessories!
Let’s start with some belts. Brown belts are the perfect staple to any wardrobe. If you’re wearing a loose dress or flowy blouse, cinch a skinny belt around the waste to transform your upper half from baggy and unflattering to “hour-glass” and waist-enhancing. If you’re wearing a pair of trendy high-waisted shorts with the top tucked in, add a belt to give your outfit some sophistication.
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| BDG Classic Skinny Belt; Urban Outfitters; $20 |
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| Finely Braided Belt; Anthropologie; $28 |
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| Urban Renewal Narrow Leather Belt; Urban Outfitters; $18 |
Next we’ll take a look at some purses. Handbags are valuable because they can be used as both a utility and a fashion accessory. It’s worth it to spend your money on a good handbag because you will use it every day and it will last you forever.
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| Style Alliance Bag; Modcloth.com; $99.99 |
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| Cooperative Turnlock Tote; Urban Outfitters; $69 |
Let’s finish with some jewelry. Jewelry is probably my favorite accessory you can purchase. They’re not too expensive (well, most of the time…) and add noticeable drama to your outfit. You can call a piece of jewelry the cherry to top off your ice cream sundae.
Necklaces can either be bold or simple. For a plain outfit, add a bold necklace as a statement piece. Your necklace will be the focal point of your outfit. If you’d rather go for something a little more subtle, try a necklace with a single chain and small attachment. Simple necklaces add a fine touch to your outfit without overbearing it.
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| On The Ropes Necklace; Madewell; $48 |
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| Soaring Bird Necklace; Forever 21; $1.50 |
Earrings follow the same routine. Loud earrings draw attention to your face. Although they may seem over-the-top, they make an outfit pop. If you’re feeling confident one day, opt for a pair of exaggerated earrings. If you want to look refined and pretty, stay classic with a pair of diamond studs.
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| Scalloped Citrus Earrings; Anthropologie; $198 |
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| Glass Firework Stone Earring; Urban Outfitters; $19 |
Finally, we end with bracelets and rings. In my personal opinion, any style of bracelet or ring works with any outfit. These are the pieces that truly stay with you as you age. They are the pieces of flare that don’t have to correspond to the color of your outfit or the other accessories you’re wearing that day. Put a bracelet or ring on any day for an expressive touch of individuality.
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| Oval Bead Ring; Forever 21; $3.80 |
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| Jessa Stone Cuff; Free People; $28 |
Okay, so maybe accessories don’t evoke the same feeling you would get from finding a surprise chocolate chip in your pancake. However, once you start to get the hang of accessorizing, you’ll notice the thrill of putting on an outfit change from that of anxiety to a wonderfully intriguing process.
All images courtesy of Urbanoutfitters.com, Anthropologie.com, Modcloth.com, Madewell.com, Forever21.com, Freepeople.com
I definitely agree with you that accessories very rarely go out of style. Unlike some trendy fashion purchases that you can maybe only wear for a season or two, accessories can definitely last a lifetime. Loved your post, as usual!
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of earrings- I just always find myself forgetting to put them on and I must have like 1000. I've been obsessed with belts lately, I think they always can tie together an outfit as simple as a tshirt and jeans.
ReplyDeleteAs for rings, I'm a huge fan of turquoise. Turquoise is I think one of the most timeless stones out there- and one of the more affordable. Looking for it in vintage stores is like a little game for me. They have a couple really awesome ones at Rag n Bone downtown on Calder. Check it out.