Easy Tips on How to Accessorize an Outfit

One of the most important aspects when choosing accessories is color.

You don’t have to match color, but they must belong to the same temperature, cool or warm, and have similar depth, from bright to pale.

Here are some examples:

This bag has a laid back vibe that matches the type of shoes, but it’s too bright against the shoes, which have a soft color depth. 

This bag and these shoes have a similar laidback style, but the colors don’t match. The bag has too much contrast to it. 

This bag is a much better fit because it has the same style and colors as the shoes. They both have a soft depth and warm colors.

Let’s use these tips to style. I’m starting with a neutral one-piece as my foundation. 

1. Laidback cluster

In this cluster, I picked sneakers, casual bags, and brown sunglasses for an active weekend. 

Because the look is casual, I wore a stylish belt with a feminine gold metal to counterbalance the masculinity of the cap.

Layering is also a good idea if you’re spending a lot of time outdoors. I chose a sweater in a warm color to keep the look cohesive, yet fresh.

You can also pair it with a contrasting color and that will create a lot of interest in the result.

You can’t go wrong with chic, casual, or sporty items for a laidback cluster. They’re timeless, effortless, and most important, they’re comfortable.  

2. Work/business cluster

This cluster is a little more elevated and works well for the office or any business occasion that you need to be dressed up for.

To immediately take this look to the office, add a sleek pair of slingback shoes, a top handle bag with silver metal, and a silver metal masculine belt.

Add a black blazer with oversized shoulders for a bit of fun. It creates a sandwich effect that’s very stylish and modern.

When composing this outfit, I reinforced the silver metal theme all over the outfit for cohesiveness.

Black and beige accessories aren’t too serious but are grown up enough for any formal occasion.

3. Evening outing cluster

For an evening outing look, I swapped the base for a more elevated one as the previous one was too informal.

It is still a one-piece, but in navy, which is a much more evening and elegant neutral.

Silver accents, a small chain bag, statement earrings, and red lips are the pieces to get you ready for dinner or a cocktail with friends. 

Evening outings are all about elevated sleek pieces, so to elevate any outfit with the use of accessories alone, we need to talk about style.

Styles don’t need to match exactly, but if they contrast too much, they will clash. Here’s an example:

This bag has a distinctive beach vibe with natural materials that don’t sit well with the urban, city feel to the sneakers or the Slingbacks. 

On the other hand, if you overdo it and match two luxurious textures together, that can easily overwhelm the look.

Here the brocade shoes and the feathery purse looks a bit like a Christmas tree. A cleaner look would be more pleasant and timeline. Think about balance. 

A statement is something that is in-between classic and trendy pieces. It should have something to it without the short shelf life.

It should also be very personal and not mass-produced. As it is the focal point, don’t create a lot of statement pieces in one single outfit.

These boots are bold in both style and color so they should be the only statement piece in the entire outfit composition.

Pairing it with this bag that has multiple colors and silver accents would be too much. 

This crossbody is more subtle and complements the boots perfectly!

How to accessorize an outfit 

Now you know how to look polished and put together just with accessories.

Accessories aren’t merely embellishments and they don’t only have a functional aspect to them.

They also work hard for you to change your outfits completely. It’s worth putting the time and effort into finding accessories that you love and that have a long-lasting quality.

They’re a smart and easy way to elevate or change your outfit completely. Let me know which cluster you’re most inclined to in the comments below.

Then, check out my post on How to Dress to Look Slim and Tall.