Allison Czarnecki, founder and chief editor of the popular family lifestyle blog Petit Elefant, shares five hot accessory trends and how to pull ‘em off.
SCARVES
Accessorizing can be a fun and relatively inexpensive way to spice up an outfit for the holidays. A few key pieces will make you merry and bright through every holiday party you attend.
Scarves are hot right now and the timing couldn’t be better with frosty weather to tie a little something around your neck. Think of a scarf as you would a necklace, a piece that will add color and texture to whatever you’re wearing. When you’re choosing one to buy, pick a scarf that’s appropriate for the season. The holiday colors of green and red in stores right now are a great starting place, but its okay to go with something unexpected like a pretty purple or a burnt orange. Go ahead and wear a patterned scarf if you want to have a little extra fun, just remember not to coordinate your outfit with the scarf so you don’t clash when you walk out the door. {Scarf from TJ Maxx $7.99}
THE BOLD NECKLACE
A bold necklace is all you need to make a little black dress go from ho-hum to special in an instant. Pick something that makes you feel amazing, something with color, and it will be the only accessory you have to wear with your outfit to make it holiday appropriate. If you are wearing a top or dress with a low neckline wear a shorter necklace so the eye will be drawn back up toward your pretty face. And if you’re wearing a closed neck or high collar, a long necklace or two paired together will lengthen your silhouette. {Necklace from Savers Thrift Store $12.99}
BRACELET & COCKTAIL RING COMBO
Choose a great statement bracelet & a cocktail ring to make a simple outfit pop or to accentuate a frilly evening dress. Pick pieces in contrasting but complementary colors to show off what you’re wearing instead of detracting from it.
{Bracelet from Savers Thrift Store $3.99, Cocktail Ring from Charlotte Russe $3.99}
HEADBANDS
Headbands are an adorable way to accessorize an outfit, gussy it up for a night on the town. Ruffle headbands add a little something extra and take an outfit from day to night. Pick fun colored headbands for the season, even one with a little sparkle or shimmer on the ribbon to really dazzle your friends. Headbands can be worn by women of virtually all ages as long as they’re worn appropriately. For example, a headband with an enormous bow is might be adorable on a college coed but will look like it’s trying too hard on a woman over 40.
{Headbands by Susan of the blog Freshly Picked freshlypicked.blogspot.com $15.00 each}
THE STATEMENT EARRING
A simple pair of sassy earrings can be all you need to highlight your face and eyes. Look for something you’ll be comfortable wearing, especially if you’re headed to a holiday party that might rock into the night. A pair of earrings that are effortless to wear will let you spend your energy focused on friends and family instead of your earlobes. Big earrings will compete with a big necklace and vice versa so choose accessories accordingly. If you are wearing your hear back and want to make a statement with a pair of chandelier earrings, skip a big bold necklace and let the earrings be the star of the show. Simple earrings that don’t clamor for attention can coordinate nicely with a simple necklace.
{Earrings from Savers Thrift Store $5.99}
Accessorizing is easy if you follow a few simple rules:
1. Don’t overdo it. Don’t wear a headband and a scarf and a huge pair of earrings. Pick one statement piece instead and your overall look will have more impact.
2. Choose appropriate accessories for your age and outfit. Just because something is popular it doesn’t mean you should be wearing it. It’s possible with accessories to go a little trendier than you might with your outfit, but stay within your age range so you don’t look like you’re trying too hard.
3. Look for colors that will accentuate rather than overshadow what you’re wearing. It’s possible to choose bold colors that highlight what you have on rather than detract from it. Pick pieces in the same color family and you’ll be safe.
4. Have fun! Accessories are the fastest, easiest, and cheapest ways to sassy up a wardrobe.
Allison Czarnecki is the founder and chief editor of the popular family lifestyle blog Petit Elefant {www.petitelefant.com} where she writes about traveling with kids, fashion and style for women, recipes and crafts, home and garden, all on a realistic budget. She’s a happily married mother of two school aged children.
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