Easy Accessorising

Following on from the accessories showcase of the year (High Heels & Handbags last weekend), I thought it might be fun to delve into the exciting world of accessorising for today's blog post. Now, I'm not going to talk about every type of accessory (with my penchant for waffle, we could be here for a week); instead, I'll run through the main rules, and then pick out a few of the most popular accessories for discussion. As always, if you have a question or query, don't hesitate to put it in the comment box below.

GENERAL RULES

• Position carefully: Accessories draw attention to the area where they are worn, so be careful to only place accessories at/on.around your best features!
• Size matters: Choose accessories that are proportionate to your figure i.e. if you are petite, then over-sized bags/necklaces etc. will only swamp you; likewise, if you have a fuller figure, small accessories will look lost on you.
• Quality, not quantity: You should wear no more than 13 accessories at any one time. That may sound like a lot, but believe me, they add up quickly, for instance, shoes and earrings both count as 2 accessories!
• Colour me beautiful: If you want to liven up your wardrobe, then colourful accessories are the cheapest and easiest way of doing it. Transform an outfit from day to evening, or work-wear to social-wear, simply by substituting your shoes, handbag and jewellery for glitzier versions. Et voila!

Necklaces

• If you have a broad or short neck, avoid short or choker style necklaces. Instead, choose longer styles that hang in a V-shape, which will elongate the neck.
• If you have a very long neck, avoid long, thin necklaces which will only exaggerate this feature. Go for shorter, funkier or chunkier styles to break up the space, like the beautiful Red Sea Waves necklace by Carol Shaw (€79), pictured below (also available at Serendipity Shoe Boutique).
• If you are quite busty, then avoid chunky necklaces or scarves that sit on the chest. Instead, go for more delicate styles that sit around the collarbone, drawing attention away from your chest.
• Likewise, if you have a neat bust, experiment with bulky and funky styles.

Earrings

• If you have a short neck, avoid long earrings. Delicate drop earrings will flatter you tremendously, like the stunning Round Drop Earrings from DiamondLite (€80), pictured below.
• If you have a long neck, longer, more dramatic styles are made for you!
• I strongly advice that you wear either a dramatic pair of earrings OR a dramatic necklace - don't wear them both together or the result could be, well, traumatic!
• Avoid styles that are too heavy for comfort - red, stretched earlobes are not a good look.
  

Bags:

• Choose a bag size that is in proportion with your physique e.g. if you are petite, opt for a smaller bag.
• If you are busty, avoid bags with short straps that hang just at the bust; instead, choose a bag with longer straps.
• Likewise, if you have a neat bust, by all means wear a bag with shorter straps, like the summery Pauls Boutique Bag from Asos (£60), pictured below.
• If you have broad hips/thighs/bum, avoid carrying a bag that hangs around these areas (it will draw unnecessary attention to them); instead consider a more flattering length (say, waist-length).

Finally, in the immortal words of Coco Chanel, check in the mirror before you leave the house and remove one accessory. Why? Because less is more of course (see above).

Yours in style,
Caroline