Jewellery, Belts, and Bags: How to Use Accessories to Elevate Your Outfit
- Alexis Majeau
- Jan 24
- 5 min read
Finding accessories that tie in with your personal style while also complementing your outfit can be tiring and overwhelming. This is the guide on wearing accessories.
I used to think that accessories (for the most part) were a waste of money. I thought I'd rather buy myself a new pair of shoes or a new top instead of jewellery or accessories. I had one purse that I used every day with every outfit, and I was okay with it.
That was until I was out with my boyfriend's family, and we walked past a piercing studio. My boyfriend’s sister went in and enquired about getting a second in her ear. I was suddenly intrigued by this piercing in a way I hadn’t ever been interested before.
I had my ears pierced as a young child, but I remember hating them and ever since, piercing never really interested me. Before I knew it, I was begging my boyfriend for pierced ears. And then I was in the chair getting them done as a 23-year-old.
After that, I became obsessed with finding jewellery that not only paired well with my skin tone but elevated my style.
Jewellery
I was working with a student budget, so trial and error was not really part of my plan.
My first step was to figure out what metallic worked best with my skin tone. I am naturally very pale; I have dark hair and blue eyes so I thought silver would best suit my features.
But while I was shopping for silver jewellery, my eyes kept drawing in on gold.
Needless to say, I have a lot more gold jewellery than silver and that's okay!
Curating your jewellery on what metallic suits you best can work for some, but for me personally I think I can wear both depending on the shades and details of my outfit, but also because I enjoy it.
Fashion is not just about what colour suits your features or what style of jeans looks most flattering on your body. It is about loving what you’re wearing and having fun with it. Confidence is truly the only accessory you need, and it works for everybody.
However, if you want your jewellery to suit your features then follow this general rule:
look at the veins on your wrist, if they are green and you have a darker toned skin then gold will suit you best. If you have purple or blue veins, then silver will compliment you well.
For another general rule, gold suits warm toned features (blonde hair, brown eyes, tan or dark skin). If you have cool features (dark hair, light eyes, pale skin) then silver will better suit you.
If you are a mix, then try both and see which one you feel better in. At the end of the day, it is not what you’re wearing but how you wear it.
Belts
I never understood the power of a belt until I used one purely for the effect it had on my outfit. Belts can make great accessories and can add tons of character to your outfit.
Starting with basic, and timeless belts. I recommend starting off with a plain black belt, the belt buckle should match your chosen jewellery colour to add a seamless touch.
If you want to advance to the next step of using belts as accessories, then get a brown belt. I originally got a lighter shade of brown, but I found it did not complement my outfits as I had wanted because I usually wear darker colours. If that is you, then get a darker shade of brown. Again, the belt buckle should match your jewellery shade.
After you have the basic colours for belts, then advance to the last level of belt accessorising. The statement belt. In 2015 we had statement necklaces, now we have statement belts.
I am at this stage currently and finding out what kind of statement belt would complement my outfits is tough. To find this statement belt, I vowed to follow this simple rule: can I use this belt for more than two outfits?
If the answer is no, I will not purchase the belt. I haven’t quite yet passed this million-dollar question, but a statement belt update is in the near future, so look out for it!
In the meantime, here are links to some belts I think would add tons of character.
Bags
My mother taught me that you can never have enough purses, and although I somewhat agree, I would rather have a few good quality bags than tons of medium to low quality bags.
I grew up having purses stored under my bed and stuffed in linen closets, so I think by now I know what kind of bag to look for to avoid having too many, haven't you heard? Consumerism is out, minimalism is in.
The first good quality bag I bought, was a leather burgundy tote bag from Michael Kors. I was obsessed with the colour (still am) and loved the feel of it even more. However, I was 15 and had no use for a bag that big. Still, to this day (almost a decade later) I have never used that bag.
Choosing a good quality bag is less about how much you love it and more about the use you will get from it. If you’re like me, then you don’t have unlimited funds to spend on a bag. So, you need to ask yourself these questions.
What colour of bag do I want?
I recommend getting a colour like black or white. If you want more character and colour, then get a colour that goes with most or some (but at least 2!) of the outfits in your closet
What will this bag be used for?
If it is an everyday bag, then opt for something simple and timeless. If it is for work, school, or other professional uses, then consider getting a bigger bag, like a tote or even a briefcase.
What size of bag do I need?
This goes with the previous question. Think about the things this bag will need to carry for you. Laptops, notebooks, lip gloss, headphones, a book, etc. These are all things that need to be considered.
What style of bag do I like, or suits me best?
If it is an everyday bag, then consider styles like satchel, saddlebag, shoulder bags, or even a baguette bag. If you need a bigger one then consider, hobo bags, and tote bags.
After you have answered these questions then, the ideal bag will pop into your mind.
If you are looking for a bag that stands out and is not your everyday bag, then I recommend asking yourself those questions again but alter the questions to the event or outfit you want to pair it with.
I advise against getting any accessory that only goes with one outfit, so follow the golden rule of, does this piece go with more than two outfits?
Adding jewellery, a belt and a fashionable bag will elevate your outfit and show your personality. It is easy and accessible for everyone and all budgets.
Comments