Wearing jewelry, belts, scarves or other items as accessories can make an ordinary look extraordinary. Try on a plain black dress and then add a spiked metal necklace and shiny high heels, and lo and behold, you've gone from the mundane to the bold modern style. Replace those metal necklaces and high heels with pearl necklaces and pretty flats and you're ready for a professional luncheon. Learning some basic rules for wearing accessories can help bring out the best in your outfit.
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Method 1 of 3: Dos and Don'ts
Step 1. Wear only a few accessories at a time, but choose the type wisely
Many people make the mistake of wearing many accessories in a row. In terms of accessories, less is better. If you wear jewelry, watches, scarves, hats and dark glasses, none of these accessories will stand out, and your overall appearance will look messy. Choose carefully just a few accessories that will accent the clothes you wear, or emphasize the impression you want to show.
- Wearing a set of jewelry at once: earrings, necklace, bracelet and ring, can make you look too much. Try wearing only earrings or necklaces, not both at once, and limit the number of rings you can wear at the same time.
- If you wear a variety of different accessories, make sure that they don't collide with each other in terms of attracting attention. Match materials and colors to make your accessories look like they were chosen and worn that way. For example, you can wear large gold hoop earrings, a scarf in several colors that seem warm, and a gold watch for a luxurious look.
Step 2. Pair bold accessories with simple outfits
Neutral outfits can really change with the addition of a few bold accessories. If your closet is full of neutral colors like black, beige, dark green or dark blue, wearing accessories gives you the opportunity to play with fun colors and make your outfit look cooler. The best thing about neutral colors is that they work well with most other colors, so you don't have to worry too much about color matching. Here are a few ways to wear bold accessories to bring a neutral-toned look to life:
- Pair a light red or pink belt with a black or dark blue dress.
- Wear a bright orange or yellow scarf with dark green or pale brown shoes.
- Refresh the look of a white top with a bold colorful necklace or large pendant earrings.
Step 3. Avoid wearing everything the same color
You might be tempted to combine a round blue dress with blue earrings, a boru necklace and blue shoes. However, this way of matching colors will actually look old-fashioned and childish. Wearing accessories that are slightly different but look perfect will actually show your creativity and add to the appeal of your appearance.
- Use the Color Wheel to help you find interesting color combinations that make beautiful accents. For example, if you're wearing a purple shirt, try pairing it with accessories that are bright yellow or dark yellow. Don't try to find accessories that are the exact same purple color. This combination will attract others to your appearance, because yellow and purple are located opposite each other on the color wheel.
- Wear black and white combined with other colors. If you're wearing a black and white floral floral top, you can add a medium-sized light blue beaded necklace and small blue earrings as well.
- Too many objects of the same color usually don't look good, but sometimes they can be really fun if you do it on purpose. Wearing red pants, a red top, red sunglasses and a red scarf can create a classy classic look. The one-color style is sure to wow people.
Step 4. Wear accessories that play with the color of your outfit
If you're wearing a colorful outfit, accessories can add to the appeal by bringing out certain colors in clothes that previously seemed less prominent. For example, if your dress is black with a floral print, you might want to wear a thick, ceramic bracelet in a green like petal green on your dress. Playing with certain colors can make the whole look unified and look elegant.
You can also use accessories to bring together two things that don't seem right at first. Choose accessories that are the same color as one of the colors on each item, such as a pink and cream scarf (pink goes with your top and beige goes with your pants). Now your whole look seems to come together and every part of it looks like it was deliberately chosen that way, not haphazardly
Step 5. Balance the size of the things you wear
If you are wearing a large pair of earrings, don't mix them with other accessories that are too large. Your look will look more balanced with a smaller necklace (or even no necklace at all), so your face isn't drowned out by too much jewelry. First consider the size of each accessory when you are thinking about the combination of accessories to wear.
- Accessories can be used to balance the parts of your outfit. If you are wearing a top with embroidery accents near the collar, do not wear a scarf that covers the embroidery accents. Instead, choose a light chain link that will add extra accent but doesn't cover the area you want to highlight.
- Make one object the star of your entire look. If you're super excited about wearing your new hat, don't wear your thick, boldly accented belt at the same time.
Step 6. Choose items that will reinforce your personality
Accessories give you the opportunity to highlight the best parts of your face and body. Smartly chosen accessories will make your eyes look more beautiful, your neck longer, or your calves slimmer. For example,
- Wear large round earrings to accentuate your exotic cheekbones.
- Wear shoes with medium heels to make your legs look longer.
- Wear a scarf in a color that matches your eye color to make it look shinier.
- Wear a medium chain necklace to add charm to your neck.
Step 7. Use bold makeup as a form of accessory
If you're wearing bright red lipstick, or you're wearing an eye pencil to draw the classic cat eye style, you probably don't need too many extra accessories to complete your look. Let the makeup be an accessory on its own, but make sure that the color complements the colors in your outfit and makes them look one-of-a-kind. Here are some other things you can actually use as accessories:
- Nail polish
- False eyelashes
- Tattoo
- Colored glasses and contact lenses
- Wig
Method 2 of 3: Selecting Accessories
Step 1. Match the accessories to your style signature
The options are truly limitless, and limiting the options can be a bit tricky. If you're just getting started with collecting accessories, start with a few items that match your current style. Once you get used to wearing accessories, you can begin to broaden the scope of your style and experiment with different styles than usual. Here are some basic accessories that you may need to buy initially:
- Earrings: gold or silver hoop earrings, studs with precious stones, and a few pairs of fun stud earrings.
- Necklaces: gold or silver chain necklaces with a luxurious look, pearl necklaces, and bold necklaces make a bold impression.
- Scarf: a neutral scarf that goes well with all colors and some bold scarves that highlight your personality.
- Belts: classic leather belts, bold belts that look bold and elegant thin belts.
- Hair accessories: some casual hats, a headband or two, and if you like wearing a hat, a beach hat and a beret.
Step 2. Look for inspiration from magazines and blogs on the Internet
Before deciding which accessory you want to buy, first browse the Internet and browse magazines for cool ideas. Find inspiration from people who have tastes that are similar to yours and whose style of dress is not much different from yours.
- Pay attention to the mix of styles of various accessories. How do the colors and textures match?
- Most magazines and blogs on the Internet provide information on where to buy each accessory, so you can buy it yourself.
Step 3. Check out thrift stores and laundry shows for cool accessories
Looking for accessories in places is a lot of fun, because you can try on this and that without your wallet draining. If you find an accessory you like, there is usually a similar version that costs less. You don't have to save a lot of money to buy an accessory that is expensive but won't be trendy anymore after a while. Just buy a similar version which is cheaper.
Step 4. Be willing to pay a premium for classic accessories
There are several types of classic accessories that are worth buying and owning, even though they may be expensive. If you are absolutely sure that you will be wearing the accessory often, buying a superior quality version can be a worthwhile investment. For example, a pair of diamond studs will likely be worn frequently, and buying real diamonds is an investment worth making. Before deciding whether an accessory is worth buying at a high price or not, ask yourself these questions:
- Will this thing always be trendy, or just "stale" after a while?
- Does this item match most of my outfits, or do I have to struggle to find one that goes well with it?
- Is this item made of good quality material (eg 14 karat gold or real silver) or is it expensive just because of the brand?
Step 5. Choose accessories that match your skin tone
Your accessory will look best when it reinforces your true color, whether you have light or medium or dark skin, hair and eyes. If your skin tone tends to be “warm”, earthy tones and various gold tones will work well. If your skin tone tends to be “cool”, choose colors of precious stones and silver instead of gold.
- To determine if you have a “warm” or “cool” skin tone, try wearing a silver bracelet on one wrist and a gold bracelet on the other, or holding gold and silver jewelry close to your eyes. Which one looks more radiant on your skin or makes your eyes more radiant? If the answer is gold, it means that your skin tone tends to be "warm". If the answer is silver, it means that your skin tone tends to be “cool”.
- Whatever your skin tone, accessories are a fun way to play with colors you wouldn't normally wear. If you never wear peach around your face because it usually looks pale, try wearing flat shoes or a peach belt. This way, you can enjoy a variety of colors, including those that don't seem to match your skin tone.
Step 6. Consider accessories beyond the usual
Anything you can wear on your body can be an accessory. An umbrella can be used as an accessory that completes your appearance. So are tattooed sleeves, feather scarves, pins, veils, keychains dangling from your archery ring belt, and necklaces with colorful stones like candy. Be creative freely!
Method 3 of 3: Trying Different Styles
Step 1. Use accessories to create a fun yet work-friendly look
If you work in an office, you may want to show off your personality while remaining professional. Accessories are the perfect way to show off your classy taste as well as perfect for an office setting. Add these accessories to a neutral work attire:
- Earrings. As long as the shape doesn't hang too long, any type of earrings is suitable for wearing in the office. If you're going to an important meeting, you may want to opt for earrings in silver or gold or diamond-studded ones with a classic look. But for everyday style, just mix your appearance with a variety of unusual styles and colors.
- Beautiful glasses. Black-rimmed or tortoiseshell-patterned glasses will make you look smart and stylish at the office.
- Flat shoes or short heels with colorful motifs.
Step 2. Give a special touch to your everyday clothes
With the right accessories, you can turn a standard sweater into a rock star classy look. In fact, the contrast between these two display styles is very interesting and exciting. To add style to your sweater or top, wear the following accessories:
- Jewelry made of various types of metal. Try wearing a bunch of gold and silver bracelets at the same time.
- Jewelry with nails. Wearing jewelry with metal nails or small spikes shows that you are serious and not kidding.
- Strict make-up. Use a black eye pencil and create a spooky style to pair with gothic jewelry.
- Boots for motorcycles. These boots go well with dresses or jeans.
Step 3. Create a relaxed, bohemian look
Your residence may be located in a densely populated area with buildings, but this doesn't mean you can't display a relaxed style like relaxing on the beach. Try wearing the following accessories for a casual look:
- Colorful stone necklace or earrings.
- A thin scarf with a pale color that you can use to cover the hot sun or withstand strong winds.
- Cool sunglasses.
- Ring inlaid with natural stone.
Step 4. Dress for a classy evening event
If you are going to an award ceremony, formal dinner or any other event where you want to look your best, keep the accessories you wear elegant and not too “crowded”. The following accessories will go well with a formal dress or evening gown:
- A necklace of pearls, diamonds or other precious stones.
- Small stud earrings or small studs to match your necklace.
- Sleek simple bracelet or chain.
Tips
- Choose clothes that will bring out the best in your body.
- If you no longer want to wear certain accessories like shoes or hats, don't let them pile up in your closet forever. Donate to charities that receive them, such as certain charitable foundations. Of course there will be others who are happy to receive and wear it!
- If you want your accessories to stand out from the crowd, wear silver earrings and red necklaces and bracelets. But if you want to look alike and blend in with others, wear silver dangling earrings or blue earrings with silver or blue bracelets as well.
- Try making your jewelry an accent to your outfit. For example, if you're wearing blue jeans and a purple-striped shirt, you can add purple accents.
- You don't have to spend a fortune to buy good jewelry! Try buying used jewelry.
- Try the opposite style! For example, if you're wearing a green top and black skinny jeans, don't be afraid to wear green casual shoes and a black hat! Feel free to mix=match various things!
