We pay so much attention to the way we dress that oftentimes we find ourselves completely stressed out while getting ready and, when we finally have the ensemble right, there is the big decision about which shoes and bag will go with our outfit. They say, on average, it takes a woman no less than 20 minutes to get ready. But sometimes despite making all that effort, something feels amiss. 

Many self-confessed fashion conscious women The Week spoke to mentioned that looking chic isn’t just about the clothes and shoes you wear. The right accessories – like rings, bracelets, neckpieces – can elevate a simple outfit and take it to a whole new level, and make you feel confident as well. Unfortunately, not many of us pay much attention to this aspect of getting ready and choose to make do with the same watch, belt, or jewelry for all kinds of dress codes. 

If something as simple as putting on the right kind of accessories can make you look oodles better, why not give it a try right? The Week is here to make sure the next time you get dressed (for work or a night out with friends), your accessories game is on point.

We have rounded up some best advice regarding how to accessorize and up your style quotient here for you. 

“First and foremost, don’t be afraid to experiment. That’s the only way to find your style.”
The thing with accessorizing and lack thereof is that many people fear they will look funny or won’t be able to pull off bold pieces. And they shy away from accessorizing their outfits. But you really won’t know what works and what doesn’t unless you give it a shot. Be willing to buy and put on what catches your eye. Don’t overthink it. It might be those chandelier earrings you got but never wore or that statement neckpiece that you picked up on a whim in Thamel, just wear it and see how it makes you feel. Once you start wearing accessories, you will realize you can’t do without them as every outfit will seem incomplete without a certain something to add some spark to it.  

“Invest in some key pieces. You can’t (and shouldn’t) always wear cheap junk jewelry.”
The thing with imitation jewelry is that it can sometimes take away from the look you are trying to create and the impact you want to have. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot on gold or diamond jewelry. These days there are many really good jewelry designers who work with brass and craft timeless pieces. These silver or gold plated items can make you look elegant while not sending your budget out of whack. Alternatively, you can also invest in some silver jewelry, if you don’t like gold. Silver jewelry is versatile and can work with all kinds of attires, from casual to formal. However, the idea is to invest in some good pieces and build a collection that can jazz up your look.  

“Strap on a watch. It sometimes is the only accessory you really need.”
They say wearing a watch will, over time, make you a punctual person. That’s good, especially if you are someone who’s always running late. But sometimes strapping on a watch is really the only thing you need to do to accessorize your outfit. While a watch will complement business or formal attires, you can even use it to give a pulled together look to a dress or a skirt, if you don’t want to go all out with other accessories like earrings and necklaces. However, refrain from wearing watches that are too big for your wrist as it can sometimes look a little tacky. Big watches are fine as long as the dial of the watch is a little smaller than the size of your wrist. Stick to a watch with a clean dial for a formal look and look for one with rhinestones or a little bling when it’s time for a party. 

“Use bracelets as add-ons to other accessories like a watch or bangles instead of using them as stand alone pieces.”
A lone bracelet does nothing to up your style quotient as it will, more often than not, go unnoticed unless it’s a subtle chain with a lone diamond. That doesn’t mean these simple accessories should be done away with. Pair multiple bracelets with a watch or some strap on bangles. When creating a stack, vary the shapes and weights of the bracelets, but keep metal color as a unifying theme. Too much variety can just look messy so make sure there is some sort of coherence to it. Clean and simple designs are great for everyday outfits because you can instantly transform them into a very modern and stylish look. Minimalist inspired bracelets no matter their size, delicate or bold, are very suitable with chunky sweaters and a pair of skinny jeans. Also, big bracelets look very daring and edgy especially when you pair them with an all-black outfit so they can stand out.

“As with bracelets, make use of many rings. A single one is so passé.”
Huge diamonds aren’t really making the cut these days. A single piece just won’t do. The modern way to wear rings is to pile them all up. What you should be doing with the rings you choose to stack is playing with the shapes, colors, textures and overall characteristics of each piece. Spirals, coils and chains are all in. Smaller rings are better these days as they can be stacked up or subtracted from the look according to the design you want to achieve. Also, you don’t need to wear the rings at the base of your fingers alone. Instead, it may be a fun alternative to wear them as midi rings as they are so fashionably called these days, adding some interest to your overall look. It looks different, perfectly cool and it’s a new style trend that’s worth following. Plus, it elongates the look of your fingers. Midi rings look particularly nice if you have painted nails. 

“Stay away from over-accessorizing. Before you step out for the day, take one thing off, be it the earrings or the bangles.”
It’s easy to go overboard while accessorizing your ensemble. Sometimes we end up putting everything from earrings and rings to bracelets and necklaces. Even it it’s just a single chain with a dainty looking locket, pairing it with big earrings can make you look over the top. Take one off. You will be doing yourself a favor. While accessorizing your look, you need to decide (often beforehand) on the focus point. Choose one, not even two. If you want your earrings to stand out, we don’t mean you have to take off those rings altogether. Just wear one or two and don’t stack them like we recommended earlier. If you are wearing stacked rings, put on tiny studs on your ears or simply go bare. If you are wearing a statement neckpiece, then a cuff or a bracelet to compliment it will be enough. Or you can just wear the neckpiece alone. 
 

 
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