Styling with Accessories
This week I’m talking about my most FUN way to style and that is with accessories!!! I am generally a pretty simple girl at heart when it comes to styling - I don’t like to over complicate or make this difficult when it comes to looking my best. I want getting ready to be EASY and that is what I love about the power of accessories. You can take something as simple as a t-shirt and jeans and create a WHOLE new look using accessories. They are super fun and also such a cost-conscious way to really expand a wardrobe and today I’m going to show you HOW! Yay!
Today, we are going to take a simple t-shirt and jeans and we are going to show you HOW to create fun, different looks using accessories. Are you ready??
Okay - today’s basic foundation is a cute white tee, with a little lacy detail. I’ve had this for YEARS and love it as a bottom layer for so many things as we move into fall. I’ve paired with some basic distressed jeans here which remain in season this fall as well. I chose this as our foundation because I think every single woman out there can look into her closet and pull out the basic white tee and distressed jeans, am I right?! It’s a great foundational palette to start with and create from. I also love that you can create SO many different looks from these two pieces. There are SO many possibilities!
Okay - a few things about accessories. Just for the purpose of this exercise, I focus mainly on a necklace piece, jacket/outer layer (which I totally consider to be an accessory!) and a bag: mainly because I’m using a mannequin for this blog, yet when you add in earrings, bracelets, hair accessories, etc. - the possibilities for different looks you can create are ENDLESS! So while I don’t cover that today, keep that in mind as you build different looks. Also - there are some ‘STRATEGIES to keep in mind with accessories:
1) Think BALANCE - the key to accessorizing is that you don’t want to wear to ‘little’ accessories or they will get lost, and you also don’t want to wear ‘too many’ or they will overpower your outfit and look in general. Also - when you choose a bold necklace, go a little smaller on the earrings and vice versa. You want to choose one statement piece and choose other accessories that compliment that.
2) Use accessories to create FLOW - this is a fun one. Accessories can help to draw the eyes to where you want the focal point to be. For example, a chunky bold necklace at the neckline draws the eyes up. This is a great strategy for a ‘D’ body type that tends to carry a little extra thickness in the hips and can help to create balance. Whereas a longer necklace helps to draw the eyes downward, which is a great strategy for an ‘O’ or ‘B’ shape where there is a little extra weight in the bust or mid section, and can help to elongate the torso.
3) Use accessories as a TOOL to communicate your style - this is my absolute favorite. I LOVE choosing accessories that align with my Style Mission Statement. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, be sure to check out the blog I wrote on the Style Mission Statement HERE. Accessories can be used as a tool to help us show the world WHO we are and who God has called us to be. It’s a persona we step into and accessories can help us to create that look.
Okay, with keeping those strategies in mind, I’m super excited to share a few sample looks with you! I’d love for you to comment below which looks you like best!
Look #1 - The Vibrant Creative
For me, there is just something down to earth yet artsy about a jean jacket. It’s my absolutely favorite topper piece (I share more HERE on why I love this as a closet staple) and I especially LOVE this one from Lucky Brand because it’s got a great fit and a hint of stretch to it. AND when it’s paired with fun, vibrant colors such as this coral necklace called ‘Summer Chic’ from Premier Designs (and it’s on SALE right now!) and this cute mustard yellow sachel bag I snagged for $5 from Walmart at the beginning of the season, it makes it even better!
Additionally, I would pair the Gold ‘Social’ Hoops from Premier Designs along with the ‘Canal’ Bracelet (my absolute FAVORITE piece from Premier - also a very artsy, creative look) to finish off the perfect Vibrant Creative look here.
Look #2 - Edgy Chic
I love this look for SO many reasons! First and foremost, there is just something so fun about dressing with an edge and this leather bomber does just that. I makes me feel so powerful and badass! I don’t choose this look often, but when I do, it’s like I have a ZAP in my confidence level and who doesn’t love THAT?!!! This leather bomber is one I snagged from my local thrift shop (my secret style weapon is my local thrift shop!! I wrote about how to thrift shop like a boss on the blog, which you can find HERE) yet I’ve also linked to another very economical version from Shein HERE. I chose the ‘Red my Mind’ necklace from Premier Designs as my pair here to add a POP of color. If you wanted to stay with a more edgy piece, I would also recommend the ‘Olivia’ necklace which is badass with a hint of GLAM ;-)
look #3 - effortlessly classic
LOVE this typical every day look and it’s so PERFECT for the Effortlessly Classic style type. The combination of brown and turquoise is my absolute FAVORITE and works so well for the Warm Color Code type, yet is really versatile for the Light and Soft Color Codes as well. Unfortunately, this brown cardigan from INC is years old, but I linked to a more updated one HERE and this turquoise necklace from Premier Designs is also a discontinued piece yet this Dream Team necklace is from the new fall line (I can’t wait to get this one myself!!) and will work really really well also! I chose this snakeskin camel brown bag to finish off this classic look and love the wooden handle detail too!
BONUS TIP - when you match your bag (and shoes) to your hair, you create a ‘head to toe’ polished look! This bag would be perfect for an auburn or redhead!
look #4 - sporty chic
This FUN sporty chic look is the cutest! I adore the details here and how they all come together in this stylish ensemble! This mustard cargo vest was one of the cute fall styles from Tallie Row - the boutique I owned with my daughter for the past few years. We were both sad when we gave it up in January of this year (it was so fun to do it together and we absolutely LOVED our small but mightly VIP client base) but it was time for both of us to move on to focus on other things. I paired the vest with the cutest, most versatle necklace from Premier Designs, called the ‘Meg’ necklace. Meg is like your most beloved BFF, who is always there in a pinch, when you need her. This necklace includes 3 separate necklaces of different lengths that can be word in so many different ways, mixing and matching the lengths to create so many different looks! It’s the piece from my collection that I wear the most! Here I paired the cafe mocha bag from Timberland that my bestie gave me (her hubs worked there for many years) that they no longer carry, but I linked to something similar HERE. Timberland is super HIGH quality and their style is perfect for the sporty chic!
look #5 - Grunge Chic
I’m not sure ‘Grunge Chic’ is an actual thing but I love the essence of that combination! I’m a little bit ‘grunge’ (I love me some Nirvana) and a little bit ‘cutesy chic’ (and I love the Jonas Brothers too!). Can’t you picture it? ;-) We are ALL multi-dimensional and I love that about fashion and style too! We don’t just have a style that is one way! I’m a big fan of flannel and love Old Navy for their flannel pieces. They wash and wear really well! This mustard one is from a year or two ago, but I’ve linked to their most recent fall flannel HERE. I have paired the flannel with this BELIEVE necklace from The Giving Keys. I adore this company and the mission they serve. They employ homeless men and women in the Los Angeles greater area to make all of their jewelry. Every single piece helps to keep people off the streets of LA which I can totally get behind.
Friend - I hope you have found one of these looks that you can relate too and hopefully picked up a few tips on how to utilize accessories to bring clarity to your style and message, while also stretching your budget! I’d love to know which is your favorite!!
In Style & Grace,