The Art of Accessories

Many of us just throw ourselves together and go out the door. It is a fast paced life we lead and we have little time many mornings to think much about what we wear. That is unfortunate because many an outfit can be enhanced by the judicious use of accessories. Of course the reverse can also hold true. Accessories can make or break an outfit. Too many can overwhelm and take all the focus away from a coherent whole. If you are prone to over indulgence in this respect then do as the great Coco Chanel did and just look in the mirror and take off one item before leaving the house. This will help prevent you from being overloaded with jewelry and/or scarves.
This Spring is a wonderful time to indulge in the accessory styles that were sweeping the runways. Of course we will not be so crazy and over the top as many of the designers were but quite a few of the offerings were very wearable indeed! So here are some of our picks that fit the new trends but are budget friendly and will allow you to have more than just one!

Handbags

The style most wanted this season is the hobo bag. Its slouchy look wears well with the boho stlye that is one of the trends. Both bags shown here are from Forever 21:


Angelica Hobo $24.80

Mocha Hobo $24.90

Jewelry

Necklaces this season are large and statement making and bracelets are chunky and beaded. These are so easy to overdo so you may want to only wear one. If you do a very large necklace, forego a bracelet and viceversa or you may look a bit like Cleopatra!


Minuet Yellow $28.00 from etsy.com

Wood and Metal Bracelets from Forever 21

Tomatillo Necklace $22.00 from etsy.com

Desiree Bracelet $5.80 from Forever 21

Bead Necklace $6.80 from Forever 21

Shoes

While you may not think of them as such, yes shoes can be accessories. Especially when they are worn to accent your outfit. This season sandals are in and the semi-chunky heel in wood is a stand-out along with the ubiquitous wedge heel and for an exotic look turn to python which was seen in everything from shoes to bags to belts. Also new are the architectural heels, but since they are not budget friendly I have not show any. If you want to see some moderately priced ones Victoria's Secret has some in the $100.00 range that are cute. Now here are some looks from Nordstrom that are sure to get your mojo rising!


These cute wedges by Sbicca for $29.90 are perfect for boho styles.

A python print sandal makes everything sexy! By Me Too for $38.90 on clearance!

Great with casual or semi-dressy style is this sandal by Steve Madden on sale at $46.90

This is shown here in red, but click through and check it out in the gold. The color is PERFECT for all your Spring styles! By Star Ling for $39.90
All these shoes are on clearance and will go fast, there are also tons of other cute styles that follow the new Spring trends. I highly suggest you check them all out. I just need a sugar daddy or to win the lottery. So many shoes and so little money!

Hair Accessories

What can be more refreshing than flowers in the hair? Many runway designers did just that. Tucking a bloom in sweetly coiffed tresses. You too can achieve that look with these items shown here:


Flower Barrette for $4.50 from LadyRayCello

Flamenco Silk Rose Barrette $10.00 from Shopbonnin

Brown Flower Hairpins $8.00 from Seaglassvintage

Belts and Scarves

We all have a tons of these from seasons past that can be put to good use for this season. If not I urge you to check out the many clearance racks for these items. They are so expensive to buy. Think thin for the belt and if you have snake or python all the better! Wear it over a cardigan or dress. You probably also have many lovely scarves that can be reworked, I know I do! They can stand in for belts or twisted make great head bands. Of course the classic way is to tie at the neck. If you need a new infusion here are a couple offerings that won't break the bank!


Snakeskin belt from Gluegungeisha

Hand dyed and stamped Silk Scarf $12.00 by HandmadeByRebecca


I hope I have inspired you to look at your accessories in a new light and the next time you get dressed to add that extra something to make your outfit go from everyday to extra ordinary!

Cleaning Out Your Closet

We have all seen the new magazines and catalogs touting the new Spring styles and for those of you still digging out from Winter's recent snowfalls you are thinking it is madness. I too am not really ready for Spring wear, but now is the perfect time to think about cleaning out your closet. If you are like me it is in serious need of an overhaul. I have a pile of items waiting for the dry cleaner. Another pile that needs to be mended and I am feeling very blase about the whole thing. The rewards make it all worth while though, I swear! First, forget the rule that if you haven't worn it in a year you should throw it away. I wear things in rotation and may not wear an item in a year, but I will get to it. More important is if it makes sense as a whole in your wardrobe. All items in your wardrobe must go with at least 5, YES FIVE other items. This allows you to build multiple outfits so that you will always look and feel like you are wearing something new. If you have, say a blouse that goes with nothing else it it taking up valuable real estate and needs to go. Another important thing is to get rid of what doesn't fit. It is doing you no good if you can not wear it. If it is too big take it in. If it is too small sell it on ebay or donate it to charity.

Now that you have pared things down a bit lets think about organization. There are a few ways to organize your closet. I like to separate first by casual and work wear then then into the distinct items such as jackets, blouses, skirts and pants. If you have a small wardrobe and have little time to get ready in the morning it may help to organize by outfit so that you may simply grab one and get dressed! If you go this route do not get stuck in a rut. Try to mix up your outfits a bit at least each month so that you look fresh.

Once your closet has been cleaned and organized you may find that you are in need of items to fill "holes" in your wardrobe. Make a list of what you need and start looking in magazines and catalogs to see what is in style and available BEFORE you spend your cash. It is better to make any new purchase on a well thought out basis so you can look for the best deal available. Places to look that you may not have thought of before include ebay and thrift shops. I will be writing future articles on these places!

I hope that you have been given inspiration to tackle that closet and maybe Spring doesn't look so far off after all!

Beth