Accessories are like desserts: they top off the entire ensemble, sweetening the entire package. But like desserts, they can make or break the experience (your outfit) if presented carelessly and haphazardly.
Choosing the right ones can transform an outfit from just a dull dress-and-shoe ensemble to a thing of beauty. Your jewels, handbag, footwear, head dress, scarves, and similar accessories can work towards giving your getup a bit more flair:
Handbags
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Handbags are both an accessory and a tool: they add to your outfit, and carry your personal items.
Choosing a good handbag comes with a few guidelines. First, see to it that it is the perfect size: not too big, not too small (however, tiny ones can look good if you are wearing a plain, sleek dress).
Remember to carry handbags which are not too heavy – doing so might not only top off your getup with a stark eyesore, but give you more than a bit of trouble when carrying it around. Keep in mind that clumsy is not always cute.
Handbags can be decorative, but watch the limit. Otherwise, aside from being too cluttered (see: messy), it could result in more than a few snags on the dress that it should be complementing in the first place.
Click here for a guide on choosing the perfect handbag.
Necklaces
Necklaces play a significant, almost influential part in any woman’s attire; this gives you an idea of how crucial it is to pick the right one for your look.
Wear plain or subtle chains when wearing a heavily-printed dress, and a long, more elaborate chain with a plain dress.
You can also opt to go for heavy and decorative pieces during special occasions, if they complement your dress. Elaborate necklaces also go well with off-shoulder dresses. Necklaces made of pearls, gold or diamonds are excellent additions to any kind of dress.
Another more off-beat option are inexpensive junk necklaces, which are more casual and can be worn as a part of your daily attire.
Click here for tips in choosing the ideal necklace length
Rings
Photos by Athena’s Pix, FlynutAA & Rudresh_Calls under the CC by 3.0
Rings, chunky or small, silver or gold, wooden or plastic, are a basic piece in the fashion guru’s trinket box. Like other accessories, these small finger pieces say a lot about who we are.
Cocktail rings or the large rings look best on pointer and middle fingers. Smaller rings are more meant to be worn on ring fingers.
Whether you have small, slim or chubby fingers, also be mindful of your attire for that day. When you’re going out sporting a suit, try to wear simple golden or silver rings because aside for the formal look of the attire fashion suits does not push for too much froufrou.
Click here for tips on caring for your diamond ring
Earrings
From the ancient times to the present day, earrings are among the oldest jewelry worn by women to illuminate beauty. As the name suggests, earrings are worn using ear piercings; today, there exist magnetic and clip-on earrings that allow any woman to adorn their ears without punching holes in them.
Colorful, stud and dangle earrings are everywhere these days. Although earrings are for everyone, know that not every earring is best for you. Like clothes, they should be chosen with perfect care, to avoid wearing a pair that looks unflattering on your face. In choosing a design, be sure to consider the shape of your face and the occasion that you’re wearing it for.
Photos by gemteck1 & vuokki under the CC by 3.0
Ladies with longer necks and small faces can enjoy the privilege of putting on large earrings to add emphasis on their faces. Round-faced women can go for smaller earrings or studs to make their faces appear smaller.
Occasions should also be given consideration. Formal events entail earrings dotted with precious stones and preferably made from platinum or gold. During casual gatherings, ladies have the freedom to wear big dangle and fancy earrings. The more formal occasions call for the more subdued stud earrings. Dangling ones can be good as well, as long as they have the right stones to complement your dress, and the setting. Pearls and diamonds will never steer you wrong.
Click here for beauty tips in finding the best earrings
Bangles
With the advent of chunky rings comes the colorful fab new accessory of the fashion industry – bangles. Brought into the limelight by runway models and celebrities alike, bangles to date are some of the cheapest accessories of the season.
Photo by EraPhernalia Vintage under the CC by 3.0/a>
If you’d like to glam yourself up for every event that you want to go to, wearing a bangle or two is the key. Wear it with anything from your acid washed jeans to short skirts and business dresses. The colorful ones go well for casual and party events, while a couple of gold or sterling silver bangles sizzle up your everyday corporate suit. Deck ‘em or stack ‘em all you want, for when it come to bangles — the more the swankier.
Click here for tips on designing your own bangles
Bracelets
Versatile and stylish, a bracelet addition to your ensemble can make you go from classic and elegant to chic and contempo. In you have long and trim wrists and arms, stocky bracelets are in for you. But if you’re, blessed with big bones, then dainty wired styles will help you slim down your wrists and arms.
Photo by NATALIA PHOTOS & Chrissy Olson under the CC by 3.0
In some cases, it might be best to prioritize comfort over glamor. If you’re the type who works with the use of your hands then it is advisable to just wear tight and elastic bracelets. But if you’re off to a gala or a ball then you may opt to wear lose and charm adorned bracelets to add statement to your attire.
Click here for a bracelet buying guide
For info on other accessories, read on to Part 2.
