Accessorizing - Where To Begin? | The View Is Beautiful

Accessorizing can be what takes and outfit from plain to Pinterest-worthy, but I know it can be difficult to know where to start. Of course accessories are all dependent on your personal taste and style, but as someone who has struggled in the past here are some of the tips I've learned along my personal style journey!

Find the "Dead Zone"

Once I have my clothing choices down, I look at the outfit to see if there are any large open spaces that immediately draw the eye. Filling these "dead zones" with pieces that balance with the proportions of the space is a great starting point. Long pendant style necklaces and scarves help to draw the eye up and down and can make you appear longer and leaner, while statement pieces bring the attention to your face and neckline.

Balancing Act

I prefer my accessories to coordinate versus match. Sometimes jewelry comes in matching sets, but I prefer to split them up into different outfits to let each piece make their own statement! Choose a focal piece that you want to shine, and build around that. Rocking a bold lip? Having a colourful arm party? A neutral dainty necklace or scarf can help balance it out. Wearing a pattern on the bottom? Chunkier accessories on top can harmonize the look. That being said, don't be afraid to play with patterns, textures and finishes. Just because it's neutral doesn't mean it can't make a statement!

Save or Splurge?

While I don't think it's at all necessary to spend a lot on trendy accessories, consider investing in a few key pieces that are versatile and classic. When I'm in a rush and don't know where to start, there are a few key pieces that I know I can rely on to go with virtually any outfit. My staples are: a skinny black adjustable belt, a chunky watch, pearls and delicate clear stone pieces. These can all be dressed up and dressed down with ease and are neutral enough to go with any other colour scheme. I wrote this post on my 5 most worn pieces of jewelry in 2013, and I still wear all of those pieces at least once per week!