Back to Basics – How to Accessorize Your Wardrobe
Whether you are a city slicker, suburbanite, or county dweller one
thing remains constant: it’s hot, humid and sticky outside! It’s that
time of year where keeping cool and looking stylish is not an easy task
to pull off. While it is very fashionable to layer garments in the fall
and winter seasons, you often find yourself stripping down to the bare
essentials in order to keep cool through the summer months. The good
news is that there is a way to stay both cool and stylish through summer
and it doesn’t involve nudity. Accessories can play an important role
in your summer wardrobe when used correctly. Whether you want to spice
up a top tank or maximize the potential of your summer work wardrobe,
accessories are a great way to stay chic.
Fashionable accessories can add many different ingredients to your
outfit including color, shape, personality, and creativity. Belts,
jewelry, shoes, handbags, and hats are all accessories that play an
important role in your wardrobe. With all the different shapes,
textures, colors and styles available, such accessories can help create a
fresh summer look without breaking the bank on new clothes. By using
these items you can wear a single outfit in a multitude of different
ways. For example:
- Shoes can instantly transform a garment into sexy or casual. Adding
a pump, peep toe, or stiletto to any outfit will instantly sex it up
for an evening out on the town. Platforms, sandals, and flip-flops will
automatically shift your ensemble into casual mode.
- Colored glass beads and fashion necklaces provide added color to any
basic top or dress. Big chunky necklaces are a great way to reinvent a
basic tank top, print, or T-shirt.
- Handbags add character to a basic outfit. Whether it is a large
oversized tote or a signature novelty bag, one should never overlook the
importance of a remarkable bag! Using a large handbag instead of a
clutch can transform your dress from classy to casual.
-
Colored belts will transform any basic top and bottom combination. For
example, take a black top tucked into a pair of black pants and throw a
green, yellow, or red belt into your belt hoops. It will instantly add
an accent color that you can base your other accessories around. This
will work with most basic and neutral combinations.
-
Accessories can also be used to transition an outfit from one occasion
to another. You can take a day look, for instance, add the right
accessories and reinvent it into an evening look. If you have a dress
that is inappropriate for work, throw a button cardigan overtop or a
fitted blazer. Paired with a trendy or staple handbag and a comfortable
pump or flat, you are office ready in no time!
-
Once you experiment with various accessories and find the ones that suit
you best, the possibilities to keep each outfit stylish are endless.
Here are some ways to use accessories to compliment your casual,
business, and dressy summer wardrobe.
CASUAL –
Style is often sacrificed when finding a casual outfit to wear during a
hot summer day. Luckily, accessories can add a number of stylish
components to your casual summer wear. An easy way to spruce up any
solid-colored or basic fitted tee, tank, tube or halter top, is to wear a
neckpiece that adds embellishment. The length of the necklace can be
used to elongate the shape of the torso. A necklace that sits between
the belly button and chest is a fail-proof length that will help create
the illusion of a more slenderized figure. To add a fashionable touch,
find a necklace that is colorful and stands out against your shirt.
Play around with different styles, thicknesses and materials when
choosing a neckpiece. If you are top heavy, thinner styles will work
better. If you are petite try shorter and thicker styles.
Since it is common to go sleeveless or short sleeved in the summer,
accessorize your arms to jazz up your look. Chunky bracelets, bangles
and watches add presence and style. Don’t get crazy and add too much
but certainly try to mix and match. If you have a few silver bangles
try adding them all together on one wrist. If you have some beaded
bracelets in different colors try combining a few together. Stacking
wooden bracelets is a great way to achieve a bohemian or earthy look,
whereas stacking colorful bracelets can look youthful and fun.
Belts are a great accessory to take your daily look from boring to
bright. Denim shorts paired with a basic white tank top becomes a
totally different outfit by throwing on a wide colorful belt with a
large buckle. There are many options for belts, such as high-waist
belts that sit under the bust, mid-section belts that cinch you in at
the waist and low-waist belts that elongate your torso. Belts are
adjustable and comfortable, making them a must-have accessory for
everyday!
There is plenty of stylish and comfortable footwear available that
you can factor into your look. For example, summer footwear such as
wedges, platforms or ballerina-style flats that are embellished with
jewels and hardware can visually enhance any basic outfit. Not only are
fashionable flats easily available, but they can be found at affordable
prices and are the most comfortable. Heavy shoes for summer are simply
unacceptable. There is no need to wear big heavy sneakers, clogs,
mules, crocs, or hiking sandals in the midst of summer. Your feet
should be housed in something light, feminine, and airy!
A definite splurge item to have for the summer is a fashionable pair
of sunglasses. Just as gloves are a key style accessory for the winter
season, sunglasses are a summer must have. Designer shades are a good
investment if you plan to wear them for multiple summers. Otherwise,
you can find many fashionable styles at affordable price points. Shades
are an accessory that can be used to show your personality, so
experiment with the different shapes, colors, sizes, frames and details
to find the pair that best suits you! Ultimately, sunglasses should sit
higher than your eyebrow and should fall below your cheek bone.
OFFICE -
Depending on your working environment, what’s acceptable office attire
will vary based on the individual and office dress code. If you are
limited to two piece suits or separates, then you can still add some
personality to your career wardrobe. By incorporating the right
accessories, you can add excitement to any basic corporate look.
Using an accessory like a thin belt will make your office attire
appear very chic and stylish. It will help tie in your separates and
add a subtle shot of color around your waist. If you wear a dress to
the office, try adding a thicker belt with stretch just under the bust
area around your high waist. This is the smallest area on any woman’s
body. Emphasizing this area is a slimming way to accessorize an
otherwise indistinctive dress. Try to avoid belts that are too wide and
too busy, as they are not professional or suitable for the work
environment. In a more business casual environment, add belts with
different textures and rich colors to your attire, but keep them
tasteful and simple.
Jewelry worn in the workplace should add to the overall quality of
your look. Pieces should be thin, subtle and fine to accent a
well-polished look. Avoid flashy colors, distracting prints or
cheap-looking materials. Even for the business casual environment,
avoid jewelry that is too flashy or bright. Instead, choose muted color
tones such as silver, gold, or materials such as fine stones and
antique beads. Also, fashion watches are a great way to add some flare
to your work outfits. Be sure to avoid wearing too many bangles or
bracelets on one arm as they can be noisy and distracting to
colleagues.
Despite the summer heat, avoid open toe or strappy shoes. Casual
Friday does not mean flip flops and halter tops. Save them for the
beach! Just make sure your shoes are not worn-out or over-embellished.
With neutral work outfits, suits, or suit separates try adding a colored
pump to your ensemble. If you wear black or grey bottoms everyday to
work, this will help you look more current. Go through the work tops in
your closet and find a consistent color theme. Select a colored pump
that will match most of your tops when paired with a dark bottom! If
your bottom is a knee length skirt or a dress pant, you should always
wear a closed-toe shoe. The length of the heel should not exceed 3
inches, as it can be inappropriate for the work environment. In a
business casual setting, it is a great idea to wear flat shoes that are
clean and presentable. They can be worn barefoot or with comfortable
ped socks. Avoid heavier hosiery that will add heat and sweat. It is
never a good idea to wear skirts or dresses above the knee in the
office.
The basic rule of thumb is “more is less”. Over accessorizing can
kill your outfit and distract people around you. Accessories should be
used to accent your outfit and should not be the focus of your outfit.
By adding the right ones, you can create a more tasteful and subtle
appearance.
EVENING -
Evening affairs are a great occasion to make a memorable fashion
statement. Accessories play a key role in spicing up your style while
keeping you cool for those warm summer soirees! Add a prominent
neckpiece that sits on your chest when wearing a strapless top or
dress. Not only will this fill up the area that bares a lot of skin,
but it will also accent your outfit and draw attention to your facial
features. The same can be done to tops or dresses with straps and
deeper necklines such as scoop and V-necks. If the top-half of your
outfit is a solid color absent from any busy prints, embellishments or
details, then add a longer necklace to jazz up that area.
If you choose to keep your neck simple or bare, then add signature
earrings. If you have a loud or busy necklace, keep your earrings as
simple as possible. If you want to stay cool by wearing your hair pulled
back, a note-worthy earring is the key accessory to enhance your look.
To elongate your face and neck, wear a lengthier earring or one that
dangles.
Jewelry is available in various styles, so it is important to select
pieces according to a particular evening occasion. When attending a
fancy event, choose a fine necklace, a thin bracelet and a pair of
subtle earrings to add an elegant sparkle to your look. In contrast, a
colorful neckpiece with some chunky bangles and playful earrings will
create a trendy look for date night.
A great pair of high heels is a must-have summer item. By putting on
heels, you instantly appear slimmer, taller and sexier. It is easy to
make heels the focal point of your outfit when sporting a simple look,
as they are available in many interesting prints, colors, fabrics, and
styles. The heel is a powerful accessory because it often dictates how
other accessories will be tied into an outfit. For example, if you are
wearing a zebra-print heel with a simple white outfit, you can
coordinate the look with silver jewelry and a black clutch to emphasize
the zebra print. Not only does a great pair of heels upgrade your
outfit, it also heightens your confidence! Just make sure you choose a
heel height that is comfortable enough to walk in without wobbling!
Where to buy -
Many retail stores carry fashion accessories. If there is a store that
you frequent regularly for clothing pieces, then next time you are
shopping for a garment see what jewelry options they have.
Source: http://www.myimageexpert.com/how_to_accessorize.html
