What goes with that?

Be wise – accessorise!

It’s really great when you find the ‘perfect’ item of clothing – you know what I mean, the one dress that slims you or adds curves where you want them...the pair of trou that fall beautifully from your butt making your legs appear as if they go on forever...a jacket that cleverly defines your waist while hiding your tummy.  Some of us seem to have a wardrobe full of such great garments and leave the house day after day looking better than nature would have us. The woman who thinks she looks better with her clothes off than on is incredibly rare, in fact, pretty much unheard of.

While none of us would leave the house without wearing clothing, many women will go out under-dressed. No, I’m not talking about the women who attend a black tie event dressed in their work clothes or those who religiously wear their jeans with a sparkly top to a cocktail party. I’m talking about the women who never wear accessories. There are no belts, no scarves, no earrings, no necklaces in their wardrobe – nothing. For many, since the day their husband slipped that little gold ring on their finger they’ve not worn any other jewellery, except perhaps a watch and a pair of gold hoops in their ears. For others, it’s a “don’t have time” thing or something they just never worked out how to do. Time goes by and before you know it, you’ve forgotten how to accessorise and even if you try to put a different necklace on, it doesn’t feel right, so you take it off again and just leave the house bare...as in naked.

Accessories lift a good outfit and make it great. They finish you. As well as creating interest, a belt added at the waist or hip can define your proportions and add a little extra to your look. The right pair of earrings can make not just an interesting talking point but a touch of glamour to an otherwise simple neckline. A long necklace can elongate your figure and draw the eye down through the body in the most flattering of ways – making the wearer appear taller and slimmer. A shorter necklace can draw the eye upwards and away from a fuller mid-section or hips. A beautifully coloured scarf can dress up the most boring of coats or add a touch of chic to an otherwise dull outfit of jeans and T Shirt. Hats are always a talking point, so they do require a confident wearer...but who knows, perhaps you’ll feel more confident when you wear one?

Whatever the outfit – it will always look better with the right accessory: a belt or scarf, a necklace or a great pair of earrings. I encourage you to start adding to your outfits – take a little bit longer to get ready, take the time when buying new clothes to find the right pieces to go with them. Build an accessories wardrobe that you can dip into every day...and never throw your accessories away. Fashions may change, but your accessories will come back to live another day, finishing yet another outfit and allowing you to say “Oh, I’ve had this for years”.