2 June 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.Sources:
All remixed
- Jacket – F21
- Dress – BR Outlet
- Belt – BR Outlet
- Sandals- Steve Madden
- Headband – Limited
- Earrings – Gift
Endnotes:
It’s still hot here, so a flowy jersey dress was an easy choice this morning. Once again, I am attempting to make my jersey appear more structured, and thus more professional, by adding this wide belt, heeled sandals, and a cropped blazer.
2 June 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.I’m also wearing a headband to try to give my hair some structure as the weather becomes increasingly humid. I worry that headbands look to juvenile and don’t wear them very often but some days it’s about function over form!
These great earrings are one of my favorite pairs. I love to wear them with plainer more conservative outfits as an unexpected playful punch. With the belt, the headband, and the earrings, I chose to forgo a necklace. A reader recently asked for advice about choosing accessories and how much is too much. I think we might just have to do a Fashion 101 or a Taking Notes post on this topic but I’d love to hear what you all have to say. Do you have any rules of thumb you follow when accessorizing? Are you a less is more kind of girl? Do you tend to use accessories to make an outfit more playful, to give it more personality? Do you have an accessory you wear on daily basis that affects your other accessory choices?
Eye Earrings, originally uploaded by academichic.You may recognize my background as S.’s porch. I’m watching Louie while she is in San Francisco. Here is Louie just before he tried to eat my earrings.
Louie, originally uploaded by academichic.
That dress does fabulous things for your shoulders, lady!
I’m such a rules girl, but I really don’t have any accessories rules. I have to go outfit-by-outfit and see what is needed. Accessories are generally the finishing touches, though. I build outfits around shoes sometimes, but rarely around jewelry or belts.
That dress is very flattering on you!
I don’t really have a particular set of rule for accessories – but in general, I like to keep things relatively simple. I will sometimes wear more statement like pieces, but then I will tone down everything else.
You ladies have the BEST jersey dresses. I love how you’ve added the belt and blazer – it gives a much more polished look.
That dress looks incredible on you! You look so tall – I think it’s the way the belt breaks up the column of fabric. Love this look!
And I love the look on Louie’s face – he wants those earrings!
Those earrings are fantastic!
I generally try to remember Coco Chanel’s rule to, “when accessorizing, always take off the last thing you put on.” This is largely because I’ve never met an accessory I didn’t love (I’m the opposite of Sal – I’ll TOTALLY build an outfit around an accessory).
For example, today I designed my outfit around a large green and gold spider broach my sweetie gave me. Black leggings, black dress, green scarf, gold leaf earrings, and the spider perched atop my shoulder (looking like it’s about to crawl up my neck), and I’m good to go! (but I took off the gold bracelet, a la Coco).
While I love bold coloured accessories, I can’t/don’t wear too many at once. These are the rules I’ve come up with for myself…
*I let one statement necklace stand out, with more subdued earrings. I don’t like a necklace and earrings to compete for attention.
*I only wear fashion rings on my non-wedding hand and only on one finger at a time.
*I only wear bracelets on my right arm too. I feel like my wedding rings should have the whole left arm to themselves! Am I weird!? I feel overdone if I wear bracelets on both arms.
To make my accessories seem more fashionable, I always try to wear a contrasting colour, for example I wear a yellow dress in summer with a bright pink necklace which makes both colours pop. It also means that pink is closer to my face which is a better colour for me than yellow.
Which brings me to a problem I have…..
I’m going to a wedding this weekend and i’m wearing a gold dress. I’m frustrated that I’ve currently only got black accessories packed. I’m unsure as to what contrasting or complimentary colour I can wear with gold. Do my favourite colour inspiration girls have any ideas!?
Cool earrings! And Louie is oh so cute!
May I suggest @ Aussie…how about turquoise?
@ Someone…. mmm that’s a good idea. i’ll go and dig out my turquoise accessories now and have a look. Thank you!
@ someone….a ha! I have gold and turqoise earrings! That might be the best bet I think!
I guess I need to think of Gold as a yellow and then apply the colour principles for yellow.
Thank you again! Now I feel like I’ll look dressy enough but with a little spice to make me feel up to date!
I love this outfit – I like that it goes from casual to professional! The belt and jacket with it.
Hey, who takes all of your photos each day?
A great dress made fabulous!
Fabulous outfit. You look fantastic!
My only real accesory rule is that I won’t wear it all at once if they are big. So I won’t wear a big necklace, ring, bracelets and earrings all at once. If they are subtle/dainty than I will.
You look great in that dress!
I own this jersey dress from BR Outlet, too. You have provided me with some excellent ideas for how to wear it!
Thanks so much for this blog; it is so helpful and inspiring.
I follow the same rule about wedding rings/left arm accessories. I wear a watch, a little diamond bracelet and my wedding rings on my left arm/hand, and that is all. The fun stuff goes on the right arm. And if I’m wearing a statement necklace, I may or may not choose a bracelet. Any bracelet will be small though, to avoid distracting from the necklace.
I hate matchi-matchi, so I will never pair the same color shoes with tops. Maybe the same family–today I’ve got a petal pink sweater on, so I’m wearing peachy-pink brocade kitten heels.
I wear scarves often as well, so I’ll build an outfit around the scarf.
I have to once more weigh in from San Fran:
@ Aussie and Someone – I love the idea of a gold dress with turquoise accessories, what a fabulous color combo!
@ A – haha! Imagine my surprise when I saw Louie make the photo shoot, it’s great to get to see him from afar :) Thanks!
@Caroline – mostly we take our own photos with a timer and by propping the camera somewhere. A. most likely used my little balcony table as a camera stand for this one, which I do a lot out there. On occasion, our significant others take our pictures or we’ll take each other’s if we happen to see each other than day, but it’s mostly self-portraits with a timer.
S.
[...] written a bit about the role of accessories in my wardrobe and asked for your feedback as well. Many of you mentioned building outfits around an accessory, [...]