personal style | accessorizing

my buddy Latorsha mentioned that she likes to learn the how-to's of accessorizing. one of my peeps from my Facebook page said the same thing. 

i'm going to do my best to offer some useful tips. 

all of my accessorizing stems from trial and error. it consists of putting stuff on, taking it off, asking The Girl what she thinks, and then repeating these steps as needed. not the most time efficient approach, but it's time well spent if you ask me. the right combination of accessories can really elevate an outfit.

and because i've been doing it for quite some time now, it doesn't take nearly as long as it used to - although i doubt i'm setting any records. 

when putting together an outfit, i choose accessories in this order: 

necklaces

earrings
ring

bracelets

earrings | hoops are my favorite and they go with just about everything. small ones for more conservative outfits and larger ones when you want to make a statement. i have a few pairs of colored hoops, but i get more mileage from the metal ones. you can find multi-packs that have both silver and gold in a couple of different sizes (i'm wearing a flat, gold pair above) and buying them this way gives you more bang for your buck. chandelier earrings come in all designs, colors, and sizes. Body Central, Forever 21, and Rue 21 offer great selections at super low prices. Target also carries a nice variety. 


if you want to try "flashy/bolder" earrings, buy one medium sized pair and get comfortable wearing those. then add to your collection. 


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necklaces | rarely do i leave home without one. in most cases, i'm wearing two (above i have on a multi-strand chain link and pearl necklace along with a brown beaded one). after trying each one on separately, i put them together and came up with a look i was happy with. if you aren't ready for layering, start with a single necklace that has an adjustable clasp. the one i wore in the Redbook challenge is the perfect example. and just like hoops, get one in gold and silver. if you're more into stones, my friend Jamie makes one of a kind pieces. 

my reason for starting with necklaces when accessorizing is because how many i wear and how much of a statement they make determines what kind of earrings i need. i typically allow necklaces to be the focal point. especially when wearing a simple, understated outfit...one that doesn't have alot of color or patterns.

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rings | these are pretty straight forward. all i need is one (i went with a colored stone above). i've gotten to the point where a ring is a must just like my earrings. even for a quick trip to the grocery store. my hand feels naked without it . for someone who's testing the waters with accessorizing, i'd advise you to skip the ring and go with earrings first and then a necklace. no need to dive right off the deep end. start slow and work your way up. 


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bracelets | for a daytime casual look, two is my limit. for a night out, i've been known to stack three or more. this is another area where i like to experiment with combining different metals and textures. my favorite combo is a woven cuff paired with a black and gold one (pictured here). the floral cuff i'm wearing above is the only multi-colored bracelet i own. i have a few solid colored ones in my stash, but mostly metals. 


if i'm in a professional setting, i don't wear bracelets that make alot of noise. this can be a big distraction. 


in closing, here are three simple tips:

1. start with one item, master it and advance to the next. once i got the necklace thing down, i graduated to bracelets.
2. when in doubt, take a less is more approach. if you put a piece on and second guess it, go ahead and take it off. 
3. there's no right or wrong way to go about it. experimentation is the key to figuring out what you like. the next time you're playing dress up, pull out the accessories too.

be sure to come back tomorrow to see the complete outfit and i'll also tell you about my latest trip to the thrift store!