I love a simple, classic dress just like the hot pink sequin prom dress. You can wear it to anything and never goes out of style. Just when I thought I had nothing to wear to Shore Club’s grand opening this week, I spied my favorite ‘go to’ hiding in my closet. BINGO!
The only issue is it’s been my “go to” a little more often than it should. You know when you’re dodging photos to avoid a social media post? Only because you’ve worn it that much? Embarrassing!
Luckily, if you know how to strategically accessorize, you can morph something simple into something different every time – saving you tons of money and room in your closet. So I did exactly that for my party and felt just as confident as if I’d bought something new.
Here are my fool proof ways for mastering accessories every time. They’ll naturally draw attention from your dress to your details. Problem solved. Bring on the Instagrams!
To keep it easy, I broke my tips into two parts:
- Where To Find Unique Accessories No One Else Has: Yes, Nordstroms, Bloomingdales and Saks are my go to’s for shoes, bags and jewelry, but if you want something other people don’t have, try these places instead!
- How To Put It All Together: How to choose the right accessories and piece them together for a flawless look.
4 Unexpected Places To Find Accessories Not Everyone Has
- Blue Cream: I just found out about this secret spot! Founded in the Hampton’s, it quickly grew attention from Hamptonite Jet-setters alike. Their online boutique carries a curated selection of high-end designers and has a major celebrity clientele. If you like to invest in handbags and shoes, this is a trendy resource to consider. Since their target audience consists of celebs and socialites (versus the masses), they’ve whittled down their selection to the best of the best! Next time I’m in New York, or if I ever get invited to the Hampton’s ;), I’ll be popping in their brick and mortar store.
- Mark & Graham: One of my friends turned me on to Mark & Graham. I’d never of considered them for accessories if it wasn’t for her. Thanks Abby! Their fall collection is OUT OF CONTROL darling. What makes them unique is the option to monogram EVERYTHING. So it’s truly personalized. A guarantee no one will be wearing what you’re wearing. Great for gifts too.
- Tuckernuck: All American style, this shop just came on my radar this year. Where have I been?! Their earring collection is TO DIE FOR (I linked a ton below) and their newsletter is so fun. And I’m very particular of who gets email real estate these days…
- Go Directly To The Designers: At the end of the day, we tend to stick to brands and designers we love. Because we know them and it’s a safe bet! Thanks to blogging, I discovered a trick for finding different pieces from popular designers. My secret? Go directly to the designers’ websites! They’re usually featuring different items from the big department stores. They also use different models; have their own look books; and style their collections differently. Sometimes they even have sales! Pretty tricky huh? I love doing this for Rebecca Minkoff handbags especially. They’re a great price point, well made, last long and on trend. But so many bloggers and friends love them too. So to be different, I go to them directly. That’s how I found this clutch {which is sadly sold out}! I do the same with Loeffler Randall too.
5 Foolproof Ways To Accessorize A Classic Dress
So now that we’ve covered where to shop, here are 5 helpful ways to select and pair together your shoes, handbag and jewelry. You can choose just one or do all four. They work like a charm every time. I chose three here! {handbag, earrings and shoes}.
- Handbag: When wearing a simple dress, reach for a handbag or clutch with texture. A print works great too, but a material you want to touch is best. Examples are straw or rattan, velvet, lots of hardware, embellishments, embroidery, metallic or calf hair. Here’s a fool proof test to try: Ask yourself, “if my dress and purse were the same exact color, would the purse still pop?” If the answer’s “yes!”, you nailed it.
- Jewelry: Statement earrings are a huge trend right now and EVERYWHERE. The bigger and more fringe, the better. They keep people focused on your face too, which I love. For contrast, wear a different color from your dress. This is what makes them stand out and takes the attention away from your dress. Gold, white and black will go with anything. Go with a bold color for an eye catching look.
- Shoes: Aaaaagh, the shoes! Again, I like to go with texture. Tip: Suede sandals are the best summer/fall transition shoes. Embroidery for your feet will be a HOT trend for fall too. But a contrasting color works like a charm as well. I just purchased these suede sandals with pearl heels and LOVE them. The light pink blends in with my skin tone, so they elongate my legs – which I especially need with a low heel.
- Other Accessories: Depending on the occasion, a hat, scarf and sunglasses can transform a dress too. An easy way to dress down a nice dress is to pop on a Panama hat. The hat adds another layer and more texture. Plus you don’t have to worry about your hair. Word to that!
- Tying It All Together by Color: If you’re rocking more than one statement accessory, I prefer to do it two ways.
- Match all your accessories by color. This gives you a cohesive look and prevents accessories from competing with each other. If you have a broken watch that matches a lot of your outfits, you should consider having it fixed by a watch servicing professional.
- Pick one piece to be bold in color and keep the rest neutral. Although my statement earrings and shoes are embellished, the gold and soft pink are neutral. I chose my multi colored clutch as the BIG statement. You can use this same formula for any of your accessories. Want a bold shoe? Keep the earrings and handbag neutral (even though you can go big in style). Here’s another great example of me doing this with a simple dress. Hot pink suede sandals with a neutral basket purse. The shape and texture of the handbag definitely makes a statement but doesn’t compete with the hot pink shoes. So it works! Here’s another example of going bold with accessories but wearing a simple dress.
If you’re hesitant how to mix and match trends, these are great guidelines I live by. But never be afraid to bend the rules and wear unique pieces like a tactical military watch. They’re meant to be broken after all!
So tell me. How do you like to accessorize? Have any good tips I’m missing? Lipstick is another good one! I’m always looking for more, so share below. Also, out of curiosity, where do you like to shop?
P.S. A simple way to dress up an old handbag and why I love hoop earrings. You’ll never guess!
SHOP THE POST
navy dress {ON CLEARANCE! here & here} || straw color clutch c/o Rebecca Minkoff {sadly sold out but similar here} || tassel earrings c/o White Elephant Designs || pink sandals
A huge thanks to Nakturnal for sponsoring this post!
So cute Nicole! Great tips 🙂
I love layering medium and long necklaces to accessorize my outfits! I usually keep my shoes and bag neutral since I wear a lot of color already.