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In a world where originality is vital, yet social media sites have turned all of humanity into clones of reality tv stars there is nothing more worthwhile than re vamping your accessories to make sure you stand out. But before you go on a shopping rampage around your local high-street, take advice from the celebrities to ensure you’re investing in the right pieces and avoiding the clichés.
“I've always thought of accessories as the exclamation point of a woman's outfit.”
- Michael Kors
The fact that the legendary designer Michael Kors speaks so highly of accessories to really make an outfit a statement clearly tells you how careful you should be when selecting them. The make an outfit stand out they are vital and not every neckline or silhouette is going to so suit every item you buy. Start with simple items that can be layered for multiple impact and then expand into more abstract pieces to ensure you’re not just pairing things for the sake of it.
“When I finish dressing before a night out and have put on all the accessories, I usually look at myself in the mirror long and hard and then end up removing something. Whether it's a belt, bracelet or a bauble, less is always more.”
- Joan Collins
Never feel overdressed again with this clever trick to make sure your accessorizing is always tasteful. We’ve all been there, rushing out of the door and throwing on ay accessory that meets the eye and feeling great until we catch a glimpse of ourselves in a shop mirror and we look like a child whose been let loose in Claire’s. Never be a victim of overdressing with this rule. "I'll always have some black in my accessories, but it's also important to have a pop of colour. "
- Coco Rocha
This serves as the perfect reminder to use accessories to brighten up darker outfits, such as a thin red belt or a quirky yellow scarf. By having a few pieces with bright and lively colours, your formal and mundane work outfits can be given a new lease of life with the block colour acting as a feature point and changing the mood of an outfit. However, if you’re looking to invest a significant amount of money on your new buys them there is no better colour to pursue than black. Versatile, classic and elegant, black accessories can be worn with all colours and silhouettes which makes it reasonable to spend a higher amount of money on them. Go for classic staples such as a black patent clutch or heeled suede boots to ensure you can get the most out of your money. "Some say the economy means that you have to persuade people to invest in clothes – to buy less things but more expensive things. I disagree – invest in jewellery, or a house but not in fashion."
- Donatella Versace
Here the queen of fashion Donatella admits to the temporary nature of the fashion world and the constant that is jewellery. By investing in quality jewellery as well as interesting and bold pieces, any outfit, no matter how old and drab can be modernised with unique and exciting jewellery. There is nothing more rewarding In your wardrobe than a varied and vast jewellery collection.
"A woman makes an outfit her own with accessories."
– Oscar del la Renta
This quote just goes to show no matter how generic the outfit there no reason for is you look the same as everyone else. With a few carefully picked accessories any outfit can become an expressive insight of your personal style. Nothing brings a plain white shirt and jeans to like a pair of colourful heels or a few layered chain necklaces. Anything can become a statement if you accessorise.
"My mother knew if you bought a couple of really good architectural outfits and put your money into accessories, you could create a million different looks. She taught that to me, which I think was invaluable."
— Iris Apfel
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to buy hundreds of different accessories for every outfit you own. So many accessories out there are versatile and can be paired with almost all of your outfits. For jewellery, start with your classic gold and silver minimalist pieces which can either be left as they are or layered for a statement impact. Next branch out into new materials and colours, starting with classic reds, blues and greens. For shoes and bags start with a neutral colour palate or alternatively silver and gold tones that will coordinate well with all colour and are timeless and worth the investment
"I've never thought of my jewelry as trophies. I'm here to take care of it and to love it, for we are only temporary custodians of beauty."
- Elizabeth Taylor
Caring for your accessories is vital, especially if they are more delicate chains or easily tarnished materials. We all know the hastle of having to untangle twenty necklaces or finding your favourite silver bracelet stained and greying. Since accessories are bought to last as permanent additions to your wardrobe t is important to store them carefully and to clean them with the correct product for their materials.
"Jewellery should not upstage you. I pick one hot point on my body that I'm going to highlight. Let one area do the singing - you don't want to hear three songs at once."
- Padma Lakshmi
This is a perfect trick to make sure you don’t look messy and cluttered. By overdoing it with jewellery you are distracting from your frame and natural features and sometimes it’s obvious you’re trying to hide yourself behind the stones. If you wear multiple items, you also increase the chance of having mismatched items with different styles which can look cluttered. Remember you’re not a stand for the accessories, you are wearing then to accentuate your features not to hide an distract from them.
"Sometimes simple accessories are all you need when your dress speaks for itself. "
- Jenny Packham
Although accessories are amazing for making an outfit original and interesting they are not always necessary. Some necklines and silhouettes are statement enough and require very little additional extras. If the clothing has a very busy pattern or is fully embellished then add detail as fair away from the item as possible, for example fi you’re wearing a sequined minidress, avoid a necklace and wear only statement earrings to even out the look. Also make sure if you do add a few simple accessories that they match the accent of the pattern or detail of the clothing. If the trousers have a gold thin strip running through them then wear the same gold tone as an accessory. Only mix metals with jewellery, not with metal tones in clothing items.
“For my wardrobe, I like to invest in classic pieces and pair them with more trendy new pieces and accessories each season”
- Liya Kebede
Don’t feel that just because your accessories aren’t fresh off the runway that they can’t be cool and modern, it’s not what you wear its how you wear it. Your classic pieces can be paired and layered with modern designs with unconventional materials to make them more up to date. With handbags and clutches, why not add brooches or scarfs with the latest ‘it’ prints to make them on trend and unique? The combinations are endless if you use your imagination.
*ALL IMAGES FROM GETTY*