Bring On The Bling

From Blissfully Domestic
(My additions in purple after the article)

"Shoes, handbags, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, scarves. Seriously, I have a teeny bit of an obsession when it comes to the peripheral portion of my closet.

Mainly, because I am cheap. And the thrifty fashionistas secret weapon is understanding that the most frugal way to stay "current" is to let your accessories do all the work. Remember this:

Buy classic clothes that flatter and pair them with trendy accessories for a look that is always in style.

The End."

Unfortunately, while accessories are the easiest way to keep up with the latest fashion trends, they can also be the most overwhelming to figure out. As one mom noted in the Blissfully Domestic forums last week, it can be difficult to determine how much is too much, which colors "go" and which ones don't have to.

Everything You Need To Know About Adding Accessories To Your Wardrobe

1. Make A Statement - but just one.

Photo Source

Our grandmothers used to call them "signature pieces". Of course, they usually meant the strand of pearls you never left home without. In today's style world we've moved beyond the classic strand and you now have a wide range of Statement Pieces to choose from.

Experiment with a large attention getting bracelet or a brightly colored necklace. Maybe you'll finally put on those leopard print shoes or chandelier earrings (that I am not giving up no matter what is supposed to be "in").

Whether you're an accessory hog or just learning to be more brave with your style, it's always smart to let one bold piece have center stage.

2. It doesn't have to match - it just has to "go".

Fans of the show What Not To Wear will have heard Stacey London use this phrase over and over again. Because it's true. You aren't limited to your shirt and pants when it comes to picking out colors for your accessories. In fact introducing a new color can be a great way to create a pulled together look.

I find that the easiest way to do this is to start with a fairly neutral outfit. An all black dress or a mainly solid top paired with denim provides the perfect blank canvas for your more colorful shoes or jewelery.

How do you know which colors "go"? Think in terms of color palettes. For visual tips (and new ideas!) you can use an online tool like this one at COLOURlovers.

3. Accentuate The Positives That No One Notices

The most timeless way to use accessories is to pull out a color that is already somewhere in your wardrobe. A slight cautionary note here: this is only a good idea if you are already wearing quite a few colors! A black dress with black shoes, black bag and black jewelry is only appropriate for a funeral. If you're the widow.

A better way to draw from your existing color palette is to match your jewelry (or shoes, or bag or scarf or whatever) to a color that isn't otherwise understated in your outfit. I have a pair of yellow shoes that I absolutely love with what is mostly a burnt orange top. The yellow in the shirt is barely noticeable, but adding the Cannot Be Ignored shoes creates an overall look that is both warm and striking.

As a rule, you don't have to use colors that are exactly the same when you're picking up on details. Keeping it in the family is usually your best bet to make this style tip work.

And that's it.

No - really. That is truly everything you need to know to start playing around in the accessory aisle with confidence. As with almost everything in life, the key is to relax and keep it simple."

I was thinking about this article and the similarities between interior design and fashion are amazing. I am in complete agreement about buying classic and adding the bling. By accessorizing with fun items in both your home and your wardrobe you can really step it up and make your look more unique.

I have a real thing about not having everything match. Matchy ~Matchy is very boring. Too much sameness is ho-hum. Asking yourself if it goes together is a better criterion to use in making your determination if something works, than asking does it match. To me one of the things that makes something striking is a little element of surprise or whimsy. Change it up a little and you can have a lot of fun, stay relatively current and create your own signature style.

Like the article says, one reason to think this way is that accessories are the least expensive way to decorate anything~your home or yourself! When you make an effort to look your best~you tend to feel better about yourself too. I like Fly Lady's thing about getting up and getting ready for the day the first thing in the morning. If not, the day tends to slip away from you. When I do that, I feel crummy and out of sync all day long.

Just like your home, the way you dress yourself affects how you feel and how you feel affects just about everything in your life. You don't have to be beautiful, or thin, or rich, or exotic looking or young to look good. You just have to make an effort and put some thought into it. Being your best self is an important and fun thing to do.

Be reasonable though, OK?

You don't want to be ticketed by
the Fashionista Police!

Believe me they are out there,
Jen & Laura usta be one!

Wait, I think they still are~with me anyway!