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How to match accessories to your outfit – SheKnows

by Martha Adams

10 Essential Rules for Choosing Accessories

Glossy magazines vie with each other to help us learn about all the latest fashion trends, including the latest ideas for combining accessories and clothes. We at Bright Side have been carefully studying this topic, and now we're ready to share all the secrets with you and dispel all the myths. Get ready for a wardrobe revolution!

1. Wear no more than 3-4 large accessories

It's possible to combine large accessories together in one outfit, but there should be no more than 3-4 of them. And of course, they should match each other in terms of color, style, and the material they're made from.

2. Don't hide a large collar underneath a bulky scarf

You don't need to add a large scarf to your outfit if your coat already has a big collar. Instead, wear a light kerchief on your neck and underneath your outer layer.

3. Only use a full set of matching jewelry if the items are small in size

Some people argue that wearing beads, earrings, bracelets, and rings all from one set looks tasteless. This idea is only partly true, for it all depends on how big each accessory is. If they're small in size, wearing all of them together can look elegant.

4. Forget the rule that states your handbag must be the same color as your shoes

Selecting a bag that matches your shoes really isn't compulsory. If your shoes are very bright, it's actually much better to have a handbag in a contrasting light tone.

5. Set your priorities: either bright clothes or eye-catching accessories

When working on our style, we should always try to determine precisely what effect we want to achieve, and then simply apply the right emphasis in our outfit. We can make either our clothes, makeup, or accessories the eye-catching part of our appearance, but we should avoid trying to achieve the same effect through all three simultaneously. Combining a puffy collar on a blouse with enormous diamond earrings just looks absurd.

6. Forget about wearing a watch if you've put on an evening dress

Wristwatches work well for urban, sporty, or business styles. However, combining a watch with an evening gown effectively is virtually impossible.

7. Remember that large rings don't suit everyone

Thick rings don't look good on short fingers, although thin ones can visually increase their length. Remember this when you next buy a ring.

8. Gloves should be the same color as one other feature of your outfit

A quick way to select the right colored gloves: look at the color of your shoes, belt, or lipstick. As a rule, your gloves should combine harmoniously with at least one feature of your outfit.

9. Avoid black footwear if you're wearing pastel tones

Pastel tones in clothing are best supported with footwear of a lighter shade. Dark shoes really don't work here.

10. Combine culturally specific accessories only with neutral-colored clothing

If you wear accessories with lots of threads or beads, tone down the overall effect with neutral-colored clothing.

, cutypaste Preview photo credit us.asos

A Guide to Combining Accessories with Outfits » Trending Us

Fashion isn’t all about clothes, and for a long time we’ve been aware that accessorizing can make or break an outfit. So, how come we still make some unforgivable mistakes when matching our trinkets with our clothing? It’s simple: there are so many clothing styles, a number of different accessories intended for different body parts, and, just to spice things up a bit, there are the colors too. If you count in the trends too, you can get dizzy. Fortunately, there are ways to simplify the “rules of accessorizing”, and reduce them to a simple guideline, that will, later on, help you make your own successful combinations.

Let the Colors Guide You

Color matching is not something we inherently know or don’t know. It’s a skill to be mastered. Here are a few tips that will help you match your accessories to your outfit based on colors:

Stay within the same family (jewels with jewels, pastels with pastels, and so on).

Find complementary (opposite) colors on the color wheel.

Use a lighter or darker shade of the color of your outfit.

Use a printed (patterned) accessory that has the same shade as your clothes.

Break down neutral combination with a strong color.

Think about the Scale Too

The size of your accessories will also impact the final appearance of your outfit. Too large and busy accessories will only go well with simple, monochrome (or in some cases color-blocked) outfits. On the other hand, such pieces would make patterned clothes look tacky and ridiculous. Patterned or embellished outfits are best complemented with understated, small accessories. When choosing some accessories, you should even factor in your height. For example, petit ladies should stay clear of oversized handbags, while tall women look amazing wearing clutches.

There Are Accessories You Can’t Fail With

And if you really don’t feel like banging your head against the wall until you come up with the perfect accessories-outfit combination, you will be happy to know that there are accessory items that go well with just about everything. Here are some of them.

Sunglasses: A timeless eyewear that can be paired up with everything. Bear in mind that not all frames can work with all kinds of lenses. If you are unsure, it’s best to consult an optometrist in Sydney and check.

Gold hoop earrings: They’re large enough to make your ears pop, yet thin enough not to distract from your outfit.

A black leather tote bag: Useful for a quick grocery shopping, but also polished enough for an office setting.

Camel booties: They go well with everything from skinny jeans to flair dress.

One simple gold bracelet: A delicate touch you can always wear.

An everyday long necklace: It can add style to your ordinary white cotton t-shirt and embellish an evening dress.

Matching or Changing the Styles

There are two ways to go with accessories: you can use them to complement the style of your outfit or to completely change an otherwise non-style-specific piece.

Example of situation one: You are wearing ripped jeans, a t-shirt with a band name, leather jacket and Converse shoes. If you want to further enhance this rock ’n’ roll ereHHHstyle, you will add equally rock-accessories, such as leather bracelet, a handbag with rivets and an Axl-Rose-Style headscarf.

Example for situation two: You are in a body-embracing black cotton dress. Do you want to make it elegant? Put on some heels and add a metallic statement necklace. Do you want to make it edgy? Wear ankle boots and choker necklace? Do you want to make it appropriate for the day? Put on a colorful necklace and wear flats of the same/similar color. The possibilities are endless.

These tips should help you up to your accessorizing game. And remember, when you don’t feel like stressing about it, just grab some of the fail-proof pieces.

How to match accessories to your outfit – SheKnows

Accessories can make or break your look. When choosing fashion accessories to match your outfit, consider the color, scale and style of the pieces, and keep the occasion in mind.

Color

When you’re wearing black, white or other neutrals, accessories in any color look stylish and coordinated. If you’re wearing a colorful outfit, though, make sure your fashion accessories don’t clash.

It all goes back to the basics of the color wheel. Primary colors, of course, are red, blue and yellow. Secondary colors are those that result from mixing two primary colors red plus yellow equals orange).

Primary and secondary colors that are side by side on the wheel are analogous to each other. They work very well together when they are matched on the same level of lightness or darkness.

If you want to make a big fashion statement, choose primary and secondary colors that are opposite of each other on the wheel. Pairing these colors is bold and adventurous, and some shades don’t look as good together as others. Avoid partnering red with green, though, unless it’s the holiday season. Experiment to find which colors work best for you. In general, don’t use more than three colors in your whole ensemble.

Scale

The scale of your fashion accessories is important, too. When you’re wearing patterns, simple accessories are the best option. Accessories and jewelry that are too busy will make prints look tacky. The same goes for ruffled, sequined, embroidered or otherwise embellished garments: Wear understated accessories to keep the emphasis on your outfit.

The scale and shape of your handbag is also important. Consider your body type in addition to what you are wearing. Tall, thin women look best with short, slouchy bags such as hobos and clutches. Petite women should avoid oversized satchels; these bags overwhelm their small frames. Short ladies should also steer clear of handbags with long straps. Plus-size and hourglass-shaped women look fabulous with medium-sized structured or boxy handbags to balance out their curves.

Style

Fashion accessories can define your style. A white shirt and jeans or simple black dress can look completely different depending on your choice of handbag, shoes, jewelry and other accessories. Here are some common accessories to consider, depending on your personal style:

Classic accessories — pearl- or diamond-stud earrings, silk scarf, leather clutch and classic black pumps

— pearl- or diamond-stud earrings, silk scarf, leather clutch and classic black pumps Glamorous accessories — chandelier earrings, bib necklace, large cocktail ring, crystal-embellished clutch, oversized sunglasses and sky-high heels

— chandelier earrings, bib necklace, large cocktail ring, crystal-embellished clutch, oversized sunglasses and sky-high heels Playful accessories – – chunky jewelry, hobo bag, headbands, skinny belt and colorful ballet flats

– chunky jewelry, hobo bag, headbands, skinny belt and colorful ballet flats Edgy accessories – – thick cuff bracelet, choker necklace, studded handbag and black leather booties

– thick cuff bracelet, choker necklace, studded handbag and black leather booties Workday accessories — delicate necklace, classic watch, large satchel or shoulder bag and kitten heels

— delicate necklace, classic watch, large satchel or shoulder bag and kitten heels Casual accessories — candy-colored bracelet or watch, Wayfarer sunglasses, crossbody bag, floppy hats and knee-high boots or espadrille sandals

Accessories can take any outfit from drab to fab. They can also help extend your wardrobe because you can achieve multiple looks from one basic dress just by changing your accessories. To look your best, put as much effort into selecting your fashion accessories as you do the main components of your ensemble.

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