The Power of Styling
Styling and accessorizing is a fun and creative way to enhance your outfit and express your personal style, turning a very basic outfit into something that looks and makes you feel amazing. Fashion is a powerful form of self-expression that allows us to communicate our personality, mood, and creativity to the world. While our clothes and how we style them forms a big part of the the foundation of our style, it's also accessorizing that truly elevates our outfits. The right accessories can enhance and define your personal style. A statement necklace, a vintage scarf, or a sleek leather belt can instantly communicate your style preferences to the world. In this post I am going to give you tips on how to effectively elevate your outfit through the art of styling and accessorizing:
1) Start with a Solid Foundation - Begin with a well-coordinated outfit as your base. Your clothing should provide a canvas for your accessories to shine. Consider the colours, patterns, and style of your clothing before selecting accessories.
- Good quality pieces will set a good foundation to start with, if you have a cheap see through t-shirt, then no matter how much styling and accessorising you do it will still look a bit naff. I recommend Cos and Uniqlo for good quality basics, although I recently bought an excellent t-shirt from Zara which I will link.
- Mixing and matching accessories on top of this can then lead to unexpected and delightful combinations, helping you stand out from the crowd. From bold and colourful earrings to unique handbags, there are countless ways to infuse creativity into your outfits. For example I could wear black shorts and a black t-shirt as my basic and then add a tan belt and bag and a khaki blazer to turn it up. Layering accessories can create depth and interest. Stack bracelets or rings, layer necklaces of different lengths, or wear multiple earrings if you have multiple piercings.
2) Bring the Confidence - When you feel good, you look good. The act of accessorizing can boost your confidence. Knowing that you've chosen the perfect pieces to complement your outfit can make you feel more put-together and self-assured. This newfound confidence can be a game-changer in various aspects of your life. Often it is someone's confidence that is the extra accessory to their outfit.
3) Adapting to different Occasions - Accessories and how you style an outfit is key to making an outfit versatile and adapting it to different occasions. A simple dress can transform from casual to elegant with the addition of statement heels and a clutch. Likewise, you can tone down a formal outfit with quirky accessories for a more relaxed event. The power of accessorizing lies in its adaptability to turn an outfit from casual to smart or smart to dressy. In the capsule wardrobe and quiet luxury world that we live in now, that is the beauty of being able to use your basics for many different occasions with the power of styling. For example a Winter coat can go from being smart to dressy by simply adding a designer belt round the waist. This one of my favourite ways of making my self feel more elevated during the Winter months. I also really enjoy wearing a satin slip dress in many different ways. I wear it with a jumper and trainers casually and by itself and a pair of heels for an evening.
4) Creating Focal Points - Accessories can be strategically used to draw attention to specific areas of your outfit. A stylish belt can cinch your waist, accentuating your curves. Bold earrings can frame your face, making your features pop. By creating focal points, you control where the eye goes, and this can be a powerful styling technique. I love a bold earring so will often wear those to make an outfit pop but I am also a handbag girly so often that is the statement of my look! Designer items can also be a really good item to go for to create a focal point, by using a designer bag or belt you will automatically draw the eye. But do make sure you maintain balance in your outfit. If you're wearing a bold statement necklace, consider pairing it with simpler earrings and a minimalistic bracelet. Too many bold accessories or clashing designer pieces can overwhelm your look, you don't want too many focal points!
5) Learning what suits your personal shape and style - Consider the proportions of your accessories in relation to your body and outfit. Petite individuals may prefer smaller accessories, while taller people can pull off larger pieces. This also goes with colours and the way that you style your outfit. Some individuals might suit neutrals better than colours, get your colour palette done if you're interested in knowing what suits your skin tone as this will help you massively!
6) Don't be afraid of colour - Accessories are a fantastic way to introduce pops of colour into your outfit. A vibrant handbag, a pair of colourful shoes, or a statement necklace can add an exciting dimension to a neutral or monochromatic outfit. I absolutely love the idea of a white dress with a green pair of heels and a bag.
- Make sure you're using the 3 colour rule when styling yourself, don't go over 3 colours in your outfit or you'll look too busy and mismatched, sticking to 3 colours or tones will ensure that you always look sleep and styled.
- Colour blocking or using the sandwich affect can also help with styling colours in your outfits. For example you could wear white shorts and a black top as your basic core outfit and then add a black blazer, black sandals and a white bow in your hair. This creates a sandwich effect of every other colour down the body, tying in all the colours together. If the bottom half of your outfit was all white and the top half all black, it wouldn't tie in properly, but by sandwiching it, it ties it all together nicely.
- Silver jewellery is also having it's moment, so if you're a gold jewellery girl like me, don't be afraid of switching it out and trying Silver. I actually think a gold jumper and blazer would look really chic with silver jewellery.
7) Seasonal styling - Different seasons call for different accessories. In colder months, you can opt for scarves, gloves, and boots, while warmer seasons are perfect for sunglasses, sun hats, and lightweight jewellery. layering blazers, jumpers and coats is also super fun! Transitioning in Autumn I have been enjoying styling shorts with tweed jackets or and t-shirts and blazers to take it from Summer to Autumn. Having a good basic layer of a wardrobe that can be styled to different seasons is key. I also think a pair of sunglasses all year round is the best accessory you can have.
8) Let yourself be influenced - I screen shot looks that I like from Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest all the time and recreate it. I don't pretend to know how to style everything and often I have one idea and someone else will have another two ideas and then i have 3 ways to style the same pieces and they all look good. Being and outfit repeater but being really good at it as you style it differently is genius.
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