What if I don’t buy a new dress? Your guide to accessorising your way to a new look
We’ve all been there – you’re off out at the weekend but you’re stuck for something to wear… you look at your wardrobe and decide there’s nothing for it but to go shopping (again). But what if you decide not to buy a new outfit?
What if – shock, horror, you dig out some of the things from your wardrobe you haven’t looked at for a while, maybe because you’re bored with them, or because they’re not smart enough or interesting enough for a night out… and then change them completely into an outfit you can’t wait to wear? It can’t be done, you think? Well, it might be the same jeans or same dress that you’ve owned for years, but it won’t be the same outfit – and therein lies the key.
It’s all about the accessories, you see. Different shrug or wrap, different shoes, different tights, jewellery and different handbag – and you’re set. Unlike clothes, accessories are often inexpensive, and can be stockpiled for the express purpose of changing an outfit from boring to brilliant in the blink of an eye. Even if you’re not a fan of trawling the high street, the internet is a great place to track down interesting and unusual accessories to complete any outfit. You can buy fascinators, shrugs, belts, jewellery and ladies handbags online – to be delivered straight to your door, and unlike with party dresses, you don’t even need an excuse to get out there and shop, shop, shop for accessories.
Of course, if you’re keen to be on-trend, the fashion accessory you need to know about this winter is the tiny box clutch – you’ll have seen them on the red carpets everywhere, in the delicate mitts of the famous and well-accessorised. A great way to set off your party outfit, they come in a range of shapes and colours, making them a real statement piece – as well as being a useful place to stash your phone and your lippy. If you click on www.cafelamoda.co.uk, you can find some inspirational ideas there.
Lastly, don’t forget that shoes can be the finishing touch that really makes or breaks an outfit. A pair of show-stopping killer-heeled party shoes – whether they’re designer label or just something outrageously gorgeous from the high street – can dress up a pair of jeans and a sparkly top into a real look-at-me outfit, or launch a so-so dress from dull to delightful. Combine the shoes with a matching clutch bag, and of course just the right amount of lip-gloss… and you’ll look and feel a million dollars.
This year has been a great year for accessories, from hats and headpieces to hard jewelled clutch bags and oversized rings – so dig through that treasure trove and finish off your outfit with just the right extras to really make it pop!
