Nail the art of accessorising
The finishing touches, the outfit elevators, and ultimate look updaters. Accessories show the world that you know what you are doing, that you know how to pull a look together, and guess what… they are SO easy to wear. They are reliable (if you don’t leave an earring somewhere) always fit Wahoooo) and are the most cost-effective way of updating your wardrobe. What is not to love?!
The sad thing is that they are often hidden away in a cupboard or stashed behind things and forgotten about. When I get to clients houses to do a wardrobe edit I ask where they keep their accessories and they either go on a mad dash around different corners of their house for them or I get a sad and overwhelmed ‘I’m not really sure what to do with them, where to start or cool enough for them’ response which breaks my heart. Accessories should bring you as much joy as your favourite dress.
The 30 seconds it takes to pop on a pair of earrings, pin in a headband or cinch your waist in with a belt makes ALL the difference. If I’m having a bad day and look down and see a bracelet glistening in the sun or a ring catching the light, it immediately puts a smile back on my face.
The great thing about accessories is that there are styles out there for everyone, from minimalistic, to chic and to eccentric. Each season they tend to be tailored towards the latest trends but there are always classic styles available all year round.
If you have a few accessories already, get them out of where they have been in hiding and treat yourself to an inexpensive jewellery organiser (this will also double up as a new decoration for your house) because if you don’t see your accessories, you won’t wear them. I guarantee you will find at least 3 pairs of earrings you have forgotten about. Also do a mini edit on them, if they are looking tired or aren’t your cup of tea anymore, sell them or take them to a charity shop (when we are free of course)
Wondering what on earth you should have accessory wise? Thought so! I recommend the following as a starting guide, feel free to leave out something if you have an aversion to something, I am covering all bases here so don’t feel like you have to buy all of it!
Three or four earrings in varying lengths and colours
Four or five necklaces in different thickness, lengths, colours and styles
Two or three bracelets that work on their own or stacked together
One ring you never take off and perhaps two costume style pieces
Three headbands - try to vary the fabrics and prints, I recommend a metallic too!
Two or three hair clips to update your fave hairstyles
One hair scarf and even a scrunchie if you like that vibe
Four belts, one metallic, one printed, one black and one tan
This season detachable collars and sheer socks are in so if you are super into high fashion – go for it!
Are you a blank canvas ready and waiting for accessories but just need some guidance? If so, do a little happy dance and start with the following tips to point you in the right direction.
Start a Pinterest board and see if there are any similarities in the accessories you save (if not don’t panic – it’s more normal not to!) An example could be that you realise you like lots of triangles, start searching for triangle accessories in varying metals, colours and prints.
Look in your wardrobe and decide what colours would elevate the pieces you own. Then you can decide if you would like to choose colours that work tonally or that compliment (clash) with your clothes. For example, for tonal dressing, three different blues would be beautiful together and for complementary colours, I would choose an orange to clash with the blue. If you have lots of black in your wardrobe, there’s nothing it won’t work with so go as mad as you can!
Make a list of the pieces that will benefit you. For example, get one of each item from my guide below, or begin with the one accessory you are most intrigued by and slowly build up your confidence.
Don’t go completely mad and order loads of things – be considered. Make sure the accessory you fall in love with goes with at least three looks in your wardrobe. If you love a miss-matched look then go all out!
Not thinking your ‘cool’ enough for something is completely out of the question so just get that out of your head
Experiment and watch youtube videos for hair and accessory styling and do not give up!
Promise me you will keep your accessories where you can see them so you don’t forget about them and plan your accessories and outfits so you get the most out of them
Finally, try not to lose them, it’s really quite heartbreaking and I am very experienced in that department!
Earrings are the least scary and easiest accessory to buy. I feel naked if I don’t have a pair on! A simple glimpse of colour can really transform your look. If are a studs kinda gal, play with the shapes, these eye-shaped studs by Ottoman Hands will work with any outfit and I recommend wearing a stud on a more casual day or if you need to keep it slightly toned down for work.
A hoop is a must-have - there is a reason they have been around forever and A short Story London have NAILED the contemporary take on a hoop. Treat metallics as a neutral, they will go with any colour you wear and will instantly add some personality to your outfit, there is nothing a hoop won’t work with, especially an evening with your girls!
Add a pop of colour with a block earring in any variation of shape, on days where you need an effortless boost – this is your go-to! FYI… The Victoria and Albert Museum is my style secret to top costume jewelry
If you have multiple piercings, a super sophisticated look is to have three similar shaped earrings next to one another, these stunning and handcrafted earrings designed by Thirty Pieces Silver are breathtaking and the textured silver finishes the look off perfectly.
Necklaces should become a second skin to you! I know they can be harder to wear for Mummas with mini ones but if you choose a strong chain (also bang on trend this season) they aren’t as long and are much sturdier! Wear them over any collarless top/jumper/dress or fold the chain under a collar of a shirt dress for a smarter look. A simple T with a chain necklace over gives it the update it needs.
If chains aren’t your thing or are a step too far to start with, a delicate necklace with your initial on is a great start to venturing into accessories. You can also wrap it around your wrist twice for a bracelet. There is nothing it won’t work it, you can make them super cool with a boiler suit or keep it simple with a blouse and your fave trousers.
A long necklace is a must-have. Particularly if you are rather busty or have broader shoulders and have a high neck top on. They create length down your torso with breaks up your bust and shoulders. They act like a V neck top and help your top half have a more delicate shape. I adore the stars on this long chain by C.J.M jewellery, it’s the perfect piece to take you from day to night. Wear with jeans and a nice top and over a simple block colour dress (and basically anything in between!)
If you are a necklace lover, this stunning Rosie Odette necklace will be your ultimate outfit transformer. Wear with a lower neckline to show full effect, a trendy asymmetric or puff sleeve top and even your bikini on a beach! This is the definition of simple, striking and head-turning.
Bracelets are perhaps the most forgotten about items! If you can get a few that all work together it can really make a lovely impact with a plainer outfit. I also love the clanging noise that bracelets make when you move! Don’t be afraid to mix metals, whoever said you should wear gold and silver or bronzes together is a doughnut!
Artisan and Fox have the perfect gold bangles, each will work next to each other and you can stack them with others. Mixing widths and shapes of bracelets will add an extra bit of edge to your style too.
This chain bracelet by Mirabell is a more feminine take on the chain trend and its gorgeous. This can be worn all day everyday with dresses and chunky boots or trousers and a vintage blouse. I would also stick it between the Artisan and Fox bracelets.
If you fancy something more delicate, Boden has a range of gorgeous and easy to throw on with anything accessories (also check out their earrings they are INCRED) I’d wear this bracelet with a Breton stripe and dungarees or black high waist jeans.
For an edgier style, choose high contrasting bracelets to make an entrance. Wear with leather trousers/skirt and a T with a strong red lip.
Rings make more of an impact than you realise! Think about how much we use our hands to communicate. We look at hands constantly without taking it in that we are doing so, so why don’t we decorate our hands to utilise this?! There are so many styles of rings out there, I recommend perhaps not buying them online because fit is so tricky (unless you know your ring size of course!)
Try different finishes like this glossy half-sphere ring for some extra detail or funky shapes like this stunning hexagon ring from Orelia. They are very unlikely to date and it just makes your hands that bit cooler. If you like colour you can’t go wrong with any type of gemstone style ring. This one from Topshop s particularly interesting because of its tonal hues (it’s not real but a good inexpensive example) Finally, in case you haven’t realised I love a bit of jewelry stacking and this intricate set from PDPAOLA ticks all the right boxes for me.
Lots of people are nervous about headbands. They are trickier than a pair of earrings to get right due to the type of hair you have. Thick and/or voluminous hair makes them easier to style but there are also options for finer and thinner hair don’t you worry! I love a big pair of earrings with a headband too so don’t be scared to go for the combo!
For the brave and bold, opt straight for a printed and larger headband like this one from War&drobe. I have mentioned them in most of my blogs and I can not recommend them more highly. The fabulous thing about a printed headband is that they can dress up denim, they work with leather or you can clash the prints for a more eccentric look.
I would also like to introduce to you ladies at The colourful Edit, they also hand make each of their pieces. These Ruby headbands come in a wonderful range of colours and can also we worn as a necklace… double whammy right here!
If you are new to headbands but ready to go for it, start with a simpler version like this red one from Arket. You can style it with a satin slip dress and denim jacket or a printed logo T and jeans.
For finer hair, try choosing a smaller headband like this pearl one, if pearls aren’t your thing you can get beaded or plain metal versions that will work wonderfully with your hair. Try using a touch of volume spray, Percy and Reed to one I use when I wear my headband.
Hair accessories are a touch on the marmite scale, love them or hate them and no in-between. Hair clips are super feminine and can touch on ‘girly’, which is not a bad thing but can sometimes make you feel as though you are five years old again.
These tortoiseshell clips from Liberty steer us away from the ‘five-year-old feels’ because they are chic and classic and will work with any hairstyle, hair colour or outfit. Plus, now we haven’t been to the hair dresses in what feels like forever, they can clip back the added length that’s driving us all nuts!
If tortoiseshell isn’t your thing, this star clip is stunning and it is the other answer to a grown-up hair clip. Focus on metals or pearls rather than glitz and animals if you want to avoid feeling too girls (I’m not saying don’t choose glitz if you like it)
Scrunchies took me a while to be OK with if I’m honest BUT when I saw the scrunchie with a tie I immediately came on board. I think it’s a ‘grown-up’ take on a scrunchie and Arket have nailed it.
I’m obsessed with a simple scarf pulled around a ponytail. I don’t think we do it enough. If you want to start adding colour into your wardrobe, I can’t think of a better way to start. You know the colour is there but its not out in front of you for everyone to see, just subtly behind you, cheering you on. Perhaps a LBD with some gold hoops and a colourful hair scarf tied round a pony… cool as! Right?! Plus this one could double up as a neck-scarf…
Belts are the most essential accessory on this planet. For those of you I have had the privilege to help style you know I tell you ‘If in doubt tuck it in’ and once we see how transformational the tuck-in is, we elevate it with a belt. Belts smooth outfits out and show off that gorgeous waist of yours. They can also create a waist if you have a slender, straighter shape.
A metallic belt is my personal preference, I think it’s super contemporary and far more exciting to wear. I do also recommend a black belt; I have this one from Hobbs and adore it. A printed belt is great for denim and plain outfits and I also recommend a textured lighter belt for summer outfits as I think black its too high contrast for pretty summer outfits. Id also choose your fave hue for a block colour belt too.
Finally, I can’t recommend HM home and Oliver Bonas enough (also Anthropologie) for jewelry and accessories organisers. As previously said, if you can’t see your accessories, you won’t wear them so make sure you display the beautiful pieces that you own. There are so many options to choose from, it will be a good change of scenery from accessories shopping!
Have FUN treating yourself to new pieces, remember, they are the most cost-effective and will always fit. Also, whilst we are all at home, you have time to get used to seeing how great a headband or scarf will look and feel on, so by the time lock-down is done and dusted, you will have the confidence to head back to the office wearing them and it is no big deal. Just promise me to eradicate the ‘Im not cool enough’ voice from your head.
Love Sian x