Accessorizing is a way to spice up your outfits by incorporating smaller pieces, like jewelry and shoes, into your look. Fashion accessories are pieces that, although they can serve practical functions, are chosen to complement the rest of an outfit—the finishing touches. Accessorizing allows you to interest to your wardrobe basics. These wardrobe basics are blank canvases you can project your mood, your favorite trend, or your aesthetic of the moment onto. The most basic outfits can be totally transformed with the help of a few key accessories.
For many of us it’s not uncommon to find our wardrobe is suddenly a combination of varying shades of black, grey, navy and white: a somewhat sad selection of neutrals that are lacking a bit of life. It’s easy to shy away from the bright yellow dress in favour of a quieter navy, and this can easily become the default.
But if you’re a woman who loves a little flare, why not add some pieces into your wardrobe that match the bolder and brighter elements of your personality? If you’re not yet ready to embrace the rainbow through your clothes, look to your jewellery and accessories instead. It’s easy to create different looks with your more neutral clothing by changing up your accessories.
It’s so easy to change up your accessory colours to change the feel of your outfit. Accessories are a great way to add a pop of color to a simple outfit. Bright colors and animal prints can be difficult to work into your wardrobe, but vibrant, fun accessories like shoes, a belt, or a scarf can elevate your look.
You can use your accessories to create different colours schemes
The trick to remember is that you need to match the intensity of the colours when combining different colours.
Further Reading
Do You Need Interesting Basics or Understated Staple Garments in Your Wardrobe?
Back to Basics – The Top 6 Essential Supporting Acts for Your Wardrobe
Do You Need Interesting Basics or Understated Staple Garments in Your Wardrobe?
Please let me ask about intensity of colour when it comes to neutrals. The last set above includes a reddish dress with bright accessories, but is that red a. meant to be a neutral, b. that bright even?! I know bright colours suit me better than muted and when it comes to neutrals like white (I prefer bright white to off white) or black (be definition bright) I have no problem, but most other neutrals, e.g. navy or teal or light grey- seem rather muted to me, as opposed to bright. But they are still OK with my other brighter clothes/accessories?!
The red isn’t a neutral. I think of neutrals, apart from navy blue, as colours that don’t appear on the colour wheel.
Some neutrals are bright or more saturated. Others are more muted or soft. Choose the more saturated versions to go with your saturated colours
Hi Imogen,
Great post as usual!
I was wondering if I could ask for advice on scarves. Scarves are my favourite accessory – an important reason being that necklaces feel too heavy. But scarves tend to move around during the day. Is there a good way to fix a scarf in place?
Safety pin is tempting – but does not look good:)
Hi Elena,
How about a pretty brooch, or a tie-pin? I agree that a safety pin isn’t the best look!
I love your turquoise accessories! I also love the way you have used different accessories to change the look of all your outfits.
My latest post is about monochromatic colours, which I found very hard. I just wanted to add some colourful accessories to liven up the look!