Accessorizing can be the most fun or most stressful part of planning an ensemble. Sometimes, it's both. Accessories open up doors for expression, and the right accessory creates the perfect finish for any outfit.
Today, we're going to talk about tips for both men and women, exploring accessories for all occasions. When you have a plan of attack, you can find the perfect accessories, dazzling everyone around you.
Accessory Tips for Ladies
Let's talk about the ladies first. Accessories come in every shape, size, and function. Here are a handful of ideas to think about, just to name a few:
- Footwear
- Jewelry
- Belts
- Headwear
- Scarves
And, those are large categories. You have endless choices when it comes to your accessories, so how do you really choose?
It comes down to the setting. When you let the setting guide your accessories, you narrow your options into something a lot more manageable.
So, let's spend a few minutes looking at accessories for professional, formal, seasonal, and casual moments.
Professional Accessories
With professional accessories, less is usually more. This doesn't mean you need to skip the accessories. Instead, focus on minimalist choices.
A classic watch, small earrings, or a structured bag (like a briefcase) allows you to put a little expression and individuality into your ensemble without breaking the air of professionalism.
Naturally, this partially depends on the job at hand. If you're working a birthday party as a clown, you can be loud and overstated with your accessories. But, if you're trying to create a professional air, understated accessories tend to work best.
Along those same lines, think about colors with your accessories. Neutral colors tend to dominate professional settings, and while your accessories can complement those colors, avoid anything too bold.
Formal Wear
Formal events are where you get to break out the statement jewelry. Show off your most lavish accessories. This is the time for chandelier earrings, bold necklaces, and dazzling tennis bracelets.
While you go bold with your jewelry, not all accessories need to shine as a centerpiece in the outfit. Sleat clutches and scarves reinforce formal aesthetics while helping to accent your best jewelry. Pair it with classic pumps or your best heels, and you're set.
Seasonal
There's an accessory for every season, and a season for every accessory. Start by thinking about holiday colors (red and green for Christmas, etc.). Focus on accessories that match the season. Winter is great for scarves and warm hats. Summer lets you bring out sunglasses and sun hats.
While you accessorize for the season, don't ignore texture. Your scruffiest scarf might not be ideal in the workplace. Meanwhile, you shouldn't pair your sleekest belt with an ugly Christmas sweater.
Casual
Casual accessories get plenty of moments too. These settings present opportunities to wear your favorite bags. You can work with casual sunglasses, simple watches, and casual hats.
Best of all, casual wear lets you wear your most comfortable footwear. Whether it's your favorite sandals in the summer or simple tennies.
Even though you're dressing casually, the foundational rules still apply. Try to keep colors and textures appropriate, but there's a lot more flexibility. Have fun with your accessories and remember that they're a form of expression. More than anything else, you should wear what makes you happy.
Accessory Tips for Gentlemen
Women are not the only ones who get to have fun with accessories. Gentlemen also get their turn, and a good accessory can complete an outfit.
The most common accessories for guys include the following:
- Watches
- Rings
- Glasses
- Wallets
- Hats
- Ties and Bowties
- Cufflinks
- Pocket Squares
As you can see, some are more formal for suits and tuxedos while others are more casual, and you get to play with your accessories in every setting.
Simplicity Is King
Traditionally, guys wear fewer accessories than women. That won't always be the case, but in many settings, you can focus on simplicity.
Sure, a formal event will steer you towards ties, vests, cufflinks, and all of that jazz, but most accessories aren't for formal wear.
Try to stick with the accessories that give you the most. For instance, a nice leather wallet goes with a wide range of outfits. Same with a classic watch.
Don't Go Overboard With Colors
While you're choosing ensembles and accessories, you want to think carefully about colors. In some cases, you can go wild, but for the most part, try not to emphasize more than three colors. Two tones and three tones can both look great when you plan it out, but more colors tend to get noisy.
This applies even to accessories that are not always visible. Your wallet or pocket watch might hide most of the time, but when it comes out, you want it to complement the outfit.
Thinking about suits and formal wear can help you build a foundation. Typically, a suit will have a color for the pants and jacket with another color for the shirt and/or tie. Pocket squares can match those colors appropriately.
You don't need those exact accessories to go enjoy a ball game, but you can think in terms of clear color palettes to make any outfit look its best.
Consider the Fit
There are two fits to consider. First, make sure your accessories don't create bulges or seams where they shouldn't be. This applies especially to wallets, sunglasses, and other accessories that spend a lot of time in your pocket. It's ok to put accessories in pockets, but it should still look nice.
Second, consider how the accessory fits with your ensemble. For a more extreme example, try to avoid wearing a tie with a t-shirt. For more subtle examples, focus on accessories that steer into your color scheme and match the textures of your clothes.
Most importantly, have fun! Accessorizing should be enjoyable, not a mindless slog to stick to ever-changing rules. Accessories can be understated and beautiful, or they can be conversation pieces, and they can be everything in between.
For both men and women, fashion should be about personalization and expression more than anything else. If you build from there, you'll find your own style, and you can have a great time exploring accessories that fit it.
