Putting together a good outfit can take a lot of trial and error. Once you have your clothes all picked out; now you have to think about accessories – an entirely new problem. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when trying to pair accessories to your outfit so that you look amazing every time.
What’s Non-Negotiable?
It can be useful to work backward in order to choose accessories that best match your overall look. Start with pieces you simply can’t do without, such as footwear. Think about how your shoes will impact your actions during the day and what you need them for. There’s no point choosing sandals when the weather calls for boots. The same goes for outerwear. Hats, scarves, and gloves can make your summer outfit more interesting if chosen well. Consider whether there are any accessories you can’t forget, and then use these as a fashion element.
What’s Practical?
You can also work backward by thinking about how your accessories could assist your needs for the day. Will you walk everywhere, or could you get away with sporting high heels? Should you bring a backpack or a handbag? If you are heading out to a party, you’ll want a smaller, more glamorous bag like those by www.judithleiber.com. You don’t always need to compromise practicality for style. Use practicality to inspire your accessory choices. This is yet another way to create a more cohesive and comfortable outfit.
What’s the Mood?
Some days you might wake up feeling like you only care about being comfortable and lazy. On other days, you might want to put in maximum effort just to go grocery shopping. Use your mood to inspire your choice of accessories. This is especially great for when you have little choice about your main outfit, such as a uniform or office attire. Accessories can elevate your clothing and express your mood that day. Are you feeling confident and luxurious or androgynous and brooding?
What’s the Theme?
You may not always be aware of it, but your summer outfits have themes. These will help you find accessories to enhance or contrast that theme, depending on what you’re going for. A good example is athletic or gym clothing. You could contrast the practicality and simplicity of your workout clothes with bold earrings and a glitzy necklace.
What’s Your Preference?
No matter how many arguments you might read about never wearing brown with black or wearing silver and gold at the same time, there are no rigid rules in fashion. When looking for accessories to enhance your outfit, refer to your preferences before anything else. Coco Chanel is said to have insisted that people ought to remove one accessory before leaving the house, but you should only stick to this rubric if it makes you feel good – especially since there’s a high chance she never said this anyway.
Picking out accessories to make your outfits better is a skill you learn with practice. Use these questions to build your confidence in making improved choices and looking your best more often.
