Date Published: 12th May 2017
Accessories finish off an outfit, and though they tend to be small details they can make all the difference. But it can be hard working out which accessories really match an outfit well. How often have you stood in front of the mirror asking yourself over and over whether something really goes with your chosen outfit for the day?
The best way to reach an answer is to take a step back and think a bit more logically. In deciding whether a certain accessory matches any given outfit, there are three main things to consider:
This is the most subjective point to consider, but if you can answer it then you will be a long way towards choosing the best accessories. Is there some particular style that the outfit embodies, and that the accessories you are considering also fit into.
It is often easiest to think of this in terms of keywords. If there is a certain style word – words such as “vintage,” “contemporary,” “casual,” “glamorous,” and so on – which unites outfit and accessories, there is a good chance you could have a match on your hands. The main exceptions are accessories that are fairly neutral in style, whether they be the pair of simple black shoes that most women will own or that simple clutch bag that goes with every kind of outfit. It is entirely possible these would fail to fit into any single category with an outfit, yet not be at odds with it either. In this kind of situation, outfit and accessories can still manage to go together very well.
The next consideration is colour. This might seem like one of the simplest things to think about, but can be a bit more complicated than people really give it credit for. If your outfit and your accessories share some colours, then obviously they pass this step and you could have a match. However, there is a lot more to it than just finding colours that match, and just because an accessory is in completely different colours to your outfit it does not necessarily mean they will not go together.
Different colours can be complimentary, and choosing colours that are very different can create an attractive contrast rather than necessarily clashing. If in doubt, look at a colour wheel – widely used by artists and most people who work in some kind of visual medium. Colours that are next to each other on the wheel will usually complement each other, and colours that are opposite will contrast nicely most of the time. Oh, and black and white really do go with everything in most cases.
The last thing to think about is impact. Accessories can have impact in one of two ways; sheer size, or having intricate looks and a complex design. Accessories with a lot of impact tend to provide a nice focal point on similar, more minimalist outfits.
On the other hand, less impact-heavy accessories tend to go will with looks that already have a lot of impact, such as patterns and prints or complex and ornate items of clothing, as items with a lot of impact can just make a look too busy. This last rule doesn't always hold true for an accessory that is large but fairly simple, so trust your judgement if you think you have found an exception.
