Clueless Fashionista: Back to Basics: The importance of accessories

By Ashia Sims
 
Typically when I see someone doing accessories wrong it’s either one or two things. Either the person is under accessorized or they’re over accessorized. I am a big fan of accessories because if done right, they can really amp up your outfit. Now you may be wondering why accessories are so important.
 
Have you ever seen someone all dressed up in a fabulous black dress with a great pair of black shoes and a cute little black purse? Sounds cute, right?
 
Well imagine that same person with a pair of sparkly heels on along with a pair of sparkly earrings and a necklace with a solitaire diamond in it. Sounds sophisticated, right?
 
Accessories can take an outfit from cute to fabulous. If you’re unsure about how to wear them, start with one piece in a bold color. I found a great cubic zirconia earring set where they come in a variety of colors. It wasn’t very expensive (less than $30) and when I wear them, I’ll often put on a pair that is in a different color family from what I’m wearing. For example, if I’m wearing a red shirt, I’ll put on the pink earrings. Or if I’m wearing a black shirt, I’ll put on the light purple ones.
 
I know this may seem a bit on the basic side, but once you’re comfortable experimenting with the color of one accessory, you will begin to branch out with more pieces and feel more confident adding them to your outfits.
 
If you have a question about an outfit and what kind of accessories you should consider for it, please don’t hesitate to contact me at info [at] cluelessfashionista.com. Send a picture of the outfit (you can be wearing it or it can be on a hanger) along with the question so I can keep the color in mind.
 
I’ve been noticing this term, statement jewelry, being said a lot lately when it comes to fashion trends and great ways to add some spice to your wardrobe.
 
I realize that many of you may not really know what a piece of statement jewelry is.  Well, I’m here to shed some light on the subject.
 
Statement necklaces are really large, eye catching necklaces.  Here is a picture of a necklace that would be considered a statement necklace:
Large Earrings, Necklace and Bracelet from http://www.bradbarwick.com/projects.asp
 
There is also other statement jewelry in the picture, but let’s focus on the necklace.  In essence, the statement necklace is any really large.  I know those can be intimidating to those of you who wear no jewelry or very little jewelry, but don’t be afraid.  Here are some ways you can ease into statement jewelry a bit.
 
1.  Start light.  Get a long necklace that can be looped more than once around your neck.  You will be doing the statement trend but in a way that may be easier to digest.  Once you realize how fabulous this looks, you should be able to get a larger necklace.
 
2.  Wear two necklaces at once.  This is another way to ease into the trend without feeling overwhelmed.  You can get two inexpensive necklaces of varying sizes and just wear them together
.
3.  Wear a shirt with an attached necklace.  I’ve noticed a trend in stores where they are selling shirts that come with necklaces attached.  Oftentimes the attached necklace is a nice size and with it being attached to the shirt, you may not feel like you’re wearing statement jewelry.
Good luck jumping into the statement necklace trend.  Please send me questions if you need help diving in.
 
Ashia Sims is a  writer and blogger that works in television and film production. Clueless Fashionista is dedicated to making fashion fun and easy to understand.  Visit her website at  www.ashiasims.com and blog at http://cluelessfashionista.com