Style Buzz: The Quiet Power of Accessories + Accessorizing a White Button-up

Eugene Stylist
Nov 14
4 min read

Three Ideas to Inspire Your Style This Week

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Accessories are the cheat to good style - they always fit."

I remember watching What Not To Wear and loved seeing a frustrated client totally shift gears when they went shoe shopping. Every single time. They'd be near tears about finding and trying on clothes, but put them in a fabulous pair of shoes and they lit up like a firecracker. No size issues, nothing uncomfortable or itchy. We need those pieces that always make us feel good, especially as our lives and bodies change.

xxx rachel

FINISHING TOUCH: THE QUIET POWER OF ACCESSORIES

Here's a bonus quote for the day!

Clothes set the scene; accessories whisper the asides. While they're not necessary in the way clothes are, they’re the small clues that tell people more about you and your personality: whether you’re bold or understated, a “stacked-bracelets and doesn’t mind the jangle” type or the “one delicate ring and absolutely no fuss” sort, whether you love the attention of bright colors or to chill in muted tones. The trick, of course, is figuring out what feels like you. Not the “perfect Pinterest board” you, but the everyday, coffee-running, running-late you.

Start with what you already own. Lay out your jewelry, scarves, belts, shoes, and bags and notice the patterns. Do you reach for the same earrings every morning because they simply behave? Or are you someone who can’t resist a bold necklace stack a la Iris Apfel? Those instinctive choices point to your accessory personality far more honestly than any quiz ever will. (But if you're curious about your alter-ego who has a completely different style? Here's your permission to give their preferences a try!)

Next, think about your lifestyle. If you talk with your hands, a stack of bangles, lovely though they are, may drive everyone in a meeting to distraction so look for other ways to be a maximalist, like with necklaces, handbag charms, brooches, or rings. If you’re always carrying kids, groceries, or half the contents of your car, maybe your handbag needs to be the larger, tote bag sort rather than the one with complicated straps and decorative tassels that get caught on door handles. But who said it needs to be black or brown? Find one in a color that delights you!

And of course, look for versatility in your accessories. Choose a handful of “anchors”, pieces that play well with 80% of your wardrobe. These can be a stunning watch, a pair of pearl earrings, a leather belt that works with both trousers and dresses, a handbag in a deep burgundy that's neutral but bold. Then add a couple of personality pieces that make you smile every time you put them on. Those are the ones people remember and say can loads about you and your style.

Whether a piece is delicate or bold, think about wearing it as either your statement or signature piece. A signature piece is one that you're known for - you'd look underdressed and not yourself without it. A statement piece is the highlight of your outfit, bringing a pop of interest either through color or design. Some pieces can be both, it just depends on how frequently you wear them and the outfit you wear them with.

My secret to a well-rounded accessory collection is to look for pieces wherever I go: boutiques, Target, coffee shops (really!), on holiday as souvenirs. If it's something I don't already have but complements what I do have, I'll likely get it. Another tip is to pay attention to how other people wear their accessories. You're completely allowed to draw inspiration from what you see around you, using your current pieces in new ways and letting you try a different look on with a much smaller investment than buying a whole new outfit.

Accessories don’t need to be expensive or dramatic. They just need to feel like an extension of you and your personality. And when they do, your whole outfit suddenly looks intentional, even on the days you definitely didn’t plan on looking intentional at all.

3 WAYS TO ACCESSORIZE IT: White Button-up

What's more of a neutral palette than a white button up and jeans? It sounds kind of plain but it's such a great foundation for accessorizing and playing with all sorts of looks. My usual "3 Ways" examples just show the clothes and let you choose how to accessorize, but this is the full picture when I'm putting together an outfit. I think about jewelry, hats, scarves, shoes, handbags, belts, coats, and even my watch strap to fully complete the look.