How to choose an accessory. Ekaterina Pankina, stylist-image maker, style consultant

How to choose the right accessories

"To be irreplaceable, you need to change all the time"
(Coco Chanel)

It is said that women have two problems with clothing: nothing to wear and nowhere to store. You are familiar with this morning horror that begins every time this unfortunate wardrobe is opened ... If not, then you probably already know that the secret of an excellent wardrobe is not in the amount of clothes, but ... (of course, in quality, but that's all as they know) ... in the ability to make ten multifunctional outfits from one thing for different occasions and occasions.

Until I mastered this science, I always had nothing to wear, and it seemed that I had few clothes. Buying more and more, the problem was not solved. Mountains of things, irritation, constant spending ... But now complete harmony reigns in the closet, and I have money for something besides dresses and suits. How did I achieve this? The problem was solved simply: with the help of accessories. I used to think that accessories are such female jewelry pieces that you must definitely buy, and then we'll figure it out.

It turns out that accessories can completely change the image and style without the extra cost of clothes! They save not only our money, but also the energy that we spend on finding numerous outfits suitable for different life situations: work, study, leisure, guests, holidays, dates, going out and so on.

In dictionaries, the term "accessory" means an accompanying object (from the Latin word accessorius - additional; from the French word accessoire - belonging, addition, accompaniment).

Accessories include:
Bag;
Scarf / stole / shawl / cape;
Glasses;
Belt / belt;
Jewelry: brooch, beads, pendant, bracelet, earrings, rings, necklaces, hairpins;
Headwear (hat, beret, cap, etc.) / hair ornaments;
Gloves / umbrella;
Clock;
Many fashion designers even refer to shoes as accessories due to their unique ability to change our image and style in a few minutes.

Great Combinator

Sometimes a significant amount of money remains in stores, but there is still nothing to wear. I'll show you how you can save money while always looking different and stylish. Take, for example, a classic dress in your favorite cut and perfect color. Not necessarily a little black - your basic dress can be gray, dark blue, beige, burgundy, dark green. The main thing is that it ideally suits you in color and style.

So, a basic sheath dress in your favorite color combined with a strict business jacket, a classic bag and stilettos (or pumps) - and you are ready for the office, business meeting or interview.
But in the evening, this same dress + a bright, long silk / chiffon scarf / stole combined with a bright little handbag, a bright belt, colored shoes and beads - and you are ready for a party, going to a visit or a cafe.

And if you go on a date after work, then this same dress is complemented by a feminine hat with applique or a small flirty veil, lace bolero or cape, shoes with small heels. This creates the image of a romantic and graceful stranger, whom you will certainly want to fall in love with.

Received an invitation to the theater after work? It couldn't be easier! Just throw a fancy coat over your favorite basic sheath dress, take a small velvet or satin clutch, put on sparkly earrings and a necklace - and you will be irresistible at the premiere of the season!
As you can see, there is one piece of clothing, but there are several images!

You don't have to buy a new dress for every party or holiday. One and the same dress can be so skillfully beaten with accessories that you will look different every time.

What is important to know about accessories

The right accessories are an art that can and should be learned. This is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. The selection of accessories is a creative process that consists of different subtleties. When choosing accessories, you should proceed from the event and its theme, your mood / worldview and time of day. Accessories should match your clothes (for example, you should not wear an elegant necklace with jeans and a sweater, and pearl necklaces with a beach colored sundress).

It's tempting to overload yourself with accessories to make the outfit appear very different. It is not right! The most suitable would be to take as a basis no more than three things perfectly combined with each other. For example, a bracelet, belt, beads. Or a hat, gloves, belt. Thus, you will not look like an empty Christmas tree.
It is also important to choose the right size for the accessories. Small accessories do not look at all on large women (very thin weightless chains, small beads, graceful small earrings), and massive jewelry obstructs the beauty of miniature girls.

Another additional nuance in choosing the size of accessories is the openness of the outfit. Open outfits look best with small feminine accessories (pendant, small original pendant), but closed outfits suggest larger details. Accessories should be matched with each other in size: for example, large earrings do not match with a small thin chain.

It is necessary that accessories stand out in color, and not merge with clothes. This color contrast will highlight your personality. Try to match accessories in style with the basic outfit. For example, a handbag with a floral pattern, a hat with an ornament in the form of a flower can continue a romantic floral theme in your look; or a flower decoration in the hair (a hoop with a flower, a spectacular openwork headband with flowers, etc.).

As the famous Coco Chanel said: "Fashion leaves, but style remains." This statement is true for both clothing and accessories. Therefore, it is best to choose neutral classics that never go out of style and go with almost any outfit. For example, you can purchase an accessory in a color that is fashionable today, but in a classic style.

A few more secrets of the perfect image

Clothing may not be very expensive, but accessories are your investment for years to come! Choose expensive accessories that will serve you faithfully for several years;
Quality comes first! Never skimp on quality;
You should also not save on a good bag - cheap leather deputy spoils the whole image! Have a few expensive bags in your wardrobe in different colors to match your outfits. For many years you will not have to think about how to look perfect in any situation;
Choose designer items - they look expensive and respectable at all times;
Classics never go out of style;
Give preference to solid and high-quality materials: leather, silk, chiffon, satin, suede, wool;
As jewelry, choose natural stones or luxury jewelry that looks expensive;
Shoes can be different, but always of good quality! Don't neglect colored shoes;
We are not rich enough to buy cheap things (folk wisdom);
Get creative with your look: paint your own style like an artist with detail and imagination.

Photos: http://glamtalks.ru, www.thelocalq.com, http://www.sydnestyle.com, http://thirtysixmonths.com, http://en.paperblog.com, www.stylisheve.com, helens-wardrobe.com