How to accessorise like a PRO
Tonight on instagram live Courtney talked us through her top tips on accessorising.
Firstly she started with WHY. Why do we accessorise? Why is it important? I've already bought the amazing clothes. Isn't that enough?
Yes. It sure is. Especially when you are buying the best Australian fashion has to offer like all the stuff we painstakingly search out for you and move mountains to bring into the one store for your shopping enjoyment and to help you get that incredible, enviable and COHESIVE wardrobe you deserve.
BUT...
Those incredible outfits can be SO MUCH MORE with just a little touch of accessorising.
So don't let your money or those incredible clothes down by neglecting accessories.
And trust me, I've been there! I spent 10 years focussing on the clothes and never accessorising. Throwing an incredible outfit on and running out the door.
It's only been the last few years that I have realised the true value in just a touch of expert accessorising. It really does elevate your outfit from just clothes to expert level style that people look at and think "how the hell did she put that whole thing together?".
So what are Courtney's top tips for accessorising?
DO
1. Be bold
The difference between a good outfit and a GREAT outfit is bold accessories. We have seen it time and time again at fashion week. And no, we are not talking on the runway because they are trying to SELL the clothes, not the accessories. Did you know that? Fashion week is mainly for the buyers! Not for the public! Which is why most fashion weeks worldwide are actually invite only. It's a way for brands to show their upcoming collection that they have not yet sold to buyers so the buyers fall in love and buy more and more and more! HAHA! Which is why you don't see exceptional accessorising on the runway. So don't be fooled!
Where do you see exceptional accessorising? All of the celebs and influencers and fashion industry peeps (including buyers) attending the shows! And which ones get photographed for Vogue and Marie Claire and all the tabloids? The ones whose outfits are NEXT LEVEL. And next level means accessories and for the most part, bold or very expensive accessories. Now if you don't have $4000 for a designer handbag and $2000 for the matching shoes, you are going to want to go BOLD rather than demure, am I right? Trust me, I'm right.
You do not need a $4000 handbag EVER if you know how to accessorise without one. They are different looks but on par. If you know how to accessorise like a pro you will be on par with the $4000 handbag + $2000 shoes lady in the eyes of the entire fashion industry (and the fashion photographers. Trust me, I know. I don't own a single $4000 handbag and I get photographed by the fashion photographers at every event, often voted their "best dressed", alongside all the silk designer shirts and Chloe handbags and Balmain belts and Jimmy Choos, why? Because I AM BOLD and know how to accessorise!).
So be bold with your accessories and leave the $4000 handbags on the shelf. Unless you love them in which case, do it all! You know us, we don't judge! But we also know people don't have endless supplies of money usually so we are sharing where to direct your money for best bang for buck and exceptional outfits!
2. Layer
The best way to update any outfit and look seriously on trend and expertly put together is to layer your accessories. Layer up your necklaces, layer your rings, layer your bracelets and bangles. It is the best and easiest accessory look to nail!
We have put together some great bundles to take the guess work out of it for you!
3. Work with colour tones
One of the easiest ways to look like you really know what you're doing is to have a look at your outfit and decide what colour will really complement that outfit - gold, silver or rose gold - and then layer up in those. The human eye recognises pattern in colour and we naturally appreciate it. So work with a colour palette and look expertly styled.
4. Create accessory sets that work so you can take the brain work out of it
Accessories do not need to be original every time! Honestly, literally no one will notice that you wore that same configuration of necklaces or rings as last time. Honestly, no one. No one at all.
Which means you can create go-to sets that you throw on with any outfit appropriate.
We have created these gold, silver and rose gold bundles for you that are a perfect start or can add to your current collection!
5. Invest in quality accessories
There are some accessories that are unlikely to go out of fashion quickly. We recommend investing in a fab handbag and belt match that will go with almost anything, and we also recommend in investing in fine jewellery because they have been timeless over the years so even as trends change you will be able to mix and match these pieces with a few fast fashion pieces to stay well accessorised. This is why you have seen us source beautiful fine silver jewellery from Bali in recent months and bring the Bryan Anthonys brand on board! Fine, beautiful quality jewellery that is not time-based and won't go out of fashion. How you layer them will be reflective of the times but the individual pieces will last you a decade, if not more.
We have a great quality handbag and belt bundle to get you started right here.
And fine jewellery bundles that will last you years and years...
6. Let your accessories tell your story
And this is why we love layering so much. If there is anything you take away from tonight's live and this blog post it's letting your accessories tell your story. And that means integrating the pieces you have that mean so much to you (your engagement and wedding rings, special pieces handed down in you family and the like) with other pieces that speak to you, resonate with you and represent who you are. Or remind you who you are! Even more powerful and even more moving for us in fashion when we get to be a part of that for you!
So start building your story and wear it every damn day. Not only will you be being true to you, and inspiring yourself every day, you'll also be doing your outfits justice with the benefit of accessories.
7. Headware, headware, headware
Next to layering, our top tip is headware! Do not be afraid of it! It is the BIGGEST statement making accessory you could wear. Hats, turbans, headscarves, the lot. Wear them all and wear them proudly. Match your tones and away you go, it really is as easy as that.
Here is a tutorial on tying the Camilla large square scarves into turbans and various headbands.
DON'T
1. Be lazy
Like I said above, I spent 10 years thinking buying the fab clothes and putting them together in my own creative way was enough. How lazy! All I needed to do was go that one small step further with accessories and it would have been INCREDIBLE! (much easier to do when you've set yourself up with some go-to bundles like our ones above too BTW which is why we have done that for you!).
Not accessorising is doing yourself and your gorgeous clothes (and the money you have spent on them and the beautiful, creative geniuses who designed them for you) a serious injustice. Don't be that girl.
2. Follow silly rules
No "you can only accentuate one thing - a necklace, earrings, bracelet" etc is not a thing. Or gold and silver can't be worn together. It's about whatever works for you outfit and whatever works for YOU! it's about what you love and how it makes you feel.
The boho layered look is a BIG look right now. We're talking turbans and headscarves, layered necklaces, layered rings and layered bangles. That's not choosing one thing to accentuate is it? And it looks damn good! So bye-bye dumb, creativity-stifling rules and hello doing whatever I damn well please!
Also, gold and silver can 100% be worn together. The only trick is balancing your look. Don't wear your gold wedding and engagement rings with silver necklaces and earrings. Or your favourite silver watch with gold errythang and nothing around that watch to tie it in. If you're going to mix and match, commit to the look and make sure the mixing is balance from head to toe! Make it look deliberate and gorgeous!
Here's a great example:
Image credit: Pinterest
Image credits: Rise Jewellery
We hope you have found this useful and if you have any queries or want to see more, let us know!
Lots of love
Courtney and the fabulous girls that keep her sane xx
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