“Any opportunity to adorn oneself is human, and accessories are an easy way to do it.”—Marc Jacobs
My mother asked me what I was writing about today.
“Accessories,” I said.
“Maybe you can come into my closet and help me pair some outfits with accessories,” she said, “It’ll be fun! We can play!”
And that’s the idea.
For me, the first rule of the game is to pick one accessory to be the star. Everything else should hold it up.
(Insert non sequitur: I am “accessorizing” writing this article with “All She Wants” by Duran Duran playing in the background.)
“Don’t overdo it” when it comes to accessorizing, cautions CL intern Amy Daire, who contributes blog posts to collegefashionista.com. Amy describes her personal style as bridging the gap between preppy and hipster. “I really like classic stuff like pearls and plaids, but I also really like combat boots and piercings.”
She’s excited to pair her favorite new earrings with a black romper and gold sandals — a simple backdrop to set them off. “Sometimes now, the dainty stuff is what really stands out,” she says.
Accessorizing is a matter of priorities. And if you have so many favorite things it’s hard to count them, avoid looking like a haute mess wearing everything at once and put them on a rotation.
“Dare to be different,” says VERTICAL Tampa Bay photography intern, RaLisha Ann Wilder. “Be bold.”
RaLisha believes her hair is her most powerful accessory and changes it about every two weeks. “It’s part of my artist statement,” she says, adding about her personal style, “I think I’m weird.”
“I don’t like matching anything but by mismatching, I feel like I’m matching.” Not surprisingly, she feels she fits in best with other creative types. “I do most of my dressing up when I’m going to be around more people who are artistic like myself.”
As for my own philosophy on the topic, accessorizing keeps things interesting, fresh and relevant while maintaining your personal style sensibilities. The more time I spend on this beautiful planet, the more I get to know myself. Where fashion is concerned, my truth is this… while I do love to get dressed up when the occasion calls for it, I am absolutely most comfortable in my own skin dressed in a T-shirt and denim (with sparkly sneakers, of course). This is the perfect backdrop for playing dress-up with accessories.
Many of us admire looks we see on the street, on film or in magazines, but rather than fill our closets with things we love but will likely never wear because (wish as we might) we just don’t feel right in them, open the door to the possibilities afforded by accessorizing. Whisper something dainty or explore your wilder side. Accessories come in all shapes, sizes and prices. Currently, the market is flooded with super fly jewelry under $30, making it easier for everyone to play.