FashBlog.com

By Jennifer Lynn

Have you ever seen a woman with a fabulous looking outfit but there is just something that is off. You think for a brief moment and then say to yourself, "I know the perfect necklace that would accent that neckline" or "Yikes, those earrings are overkill". When it comes to accessorizing, is it a skill that one must master in order to maximize his or her wardrobe or is it just a subjective standard that varies from person to person? In all actuality, it is both skill and personal taste; however, while accessorizing can be difficult, having a few basics will take you quite a long way. As the world of fashions turns, there are the accessory trends that come into style that many people embrace and before you know it, everyone has jumped on the bandwagon. Then, with the blink of an eye, the accessory's short-lived limelight fades leaving you with yet another extra accessory. While there are tons of accessories out there to choose from, having a standard stash will help you to accessorize just about any look from the most casual to the most elegant, and the best part about this is you'll get more than one use out of it! I don't know about you but if I buy something and just use it once then I feel like I have wasted my money; however, if I buy something and use it over and over again, I feel like I made such a good investment and have to sum it up by thinking I am such a good shopper. I've come up with the ten must have accessories for every woman's wardrobe that will help you take your outfit from "not quite there" to "totally put together".

#1 A Pair of Simple Stud Diamond Earrings- A little bit of frost (also known as ice or bling-bling) can give your outfit that final sparking touch. From personal experience, I can say that I feel naked without any earrings; however, there are just some outfits where the earrings can be a little difficult to figure out and you can't figure out what to wear. While you're thinking something has to be better than nothing, overkill certainly can ruin any outfit. That is where the simple diamond studs come in. They go with everything and polish off your look with little sparkle. Now, real diamond earrings come with a slightly huge price tag so if you are a part of the financially challenged, go ahead and pick up a set of cubic zirconium studs. I promise you that no one will be able to know the difference but you. While there are a variety of styles, choose the one that looks practical. In other words, three-carat studs scream fake!

#2 A Pearl Necklace and Accenting Pearl Earrings- When it comes to taking an outfit to a classier and an ultimately more classic level, the pearl necklace never fails to deliver. When you think of pearls, you may think of your mother or perhaps your grandmother, and for a moment may think that perhaps the pearl trend is slightly dated; however, another way to look at the pearl trend is to sum it up as a classic style. As the times have changed, accessories have become more abundant and everywhere you go there are accessories galore. In the past, women had fewer choices when it came to picking accessories. Ultimately, a pearl necklace was one of those few choices that seem to have withstood the test of time and still remains a favorite among women of all ages. If you are an earring girl, then having a pair of pearl earrings is an essential. You can wear your pearl necklace and pearl earrings together to have the ultimate classic and polished off look that women for generations have adored.

#3 A Standard Handbag- When it comes to handbags, some women may have a ton to choose from (those women are also known as the handbag connoisseurs), while others may be slightly more conservative and only have a select few (these women are also known as the more selective few). Regardless of whether you are a handbag connoisseur or one of the more selective few, it is essential to have a standard handbag in either your vast collection or your chosen few. A standard handbag will serve as your go-to bag when you are in need of a handbag and aren't quite sure what to choose. When you are choosing a standard handbag, it is best to stick with neutral and fairly simple colors such as black, brown, or tan, because these colors have the ability to be paired with most other colors. Whenever you can't figure out which handbag to use or if you are at a total standstill on what to choose, this standard handbag will serve as your go-to bag.

#4 A Pair of Sunglasses- Long gone are the days of sunglasses just being a simplistic form of eye protection. In this day and age, sunglasses have become much more than mere eye protection; It is without a doubt that they are now notable fashion accessories and with such a variety of options, they have the ability to reflect a little bit of your own personal style as well. Depending on your face shape and your own personal style preferences, different options are available. In fact, there are even affordable options that give Hollywood a run for its money. Many of the styles that you see worn in Hollywood can be purchased for a fraction of the cost. Usually these little sunglass fashion huts can be found at kiosks in your local mall. Regardless of where you live, sunglasses are useful for protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays and in addition, they give you that final touch of sophistication to your daily look. Besides, if you ever are in a hurry to run out of the house and do not have time for eye makeup, just slip on your sunglasses and no one will know any different. With an added perk like that who would not want to own a pair of sunglasses?

#5 Your Own Scent (also known as Perfume)- Out of all the accessories I will list, finding your own perfume has to be the most difficult to accomplish. With so many scents out there, how do you know which one is right for you? The best advice I can give you is to shop around and try to get as many samples as you possibly can. Perfume is not a very cheap thing to buy and depending on the designer who makes it, you could be looking at quite a pretty penny. Many fragrance counters are more than willing to give out samples for you to try. One of the best places to go is Sephora where they have a whole wall of perfumes by a variety of designers. Once you have obtained a sample, try it on for a few days and see what you think. It is literally impossible to decide if a scent is for you after just one spray or a short walk around the mall. You need to give it some time to adapt to your own body's natural oils and then you can tell if the scent is right or not. In addition, it is important to keep in mind that while one scent may smell absolutely heavenly on someone you know, that does not mean that it will be the right scent for you. Perhaps you have already found your own perfume and if so, you are well ahead of the game. For most women it takes quite a bit of time, effort, and tons of sniffing, but once you find that perfect perfume, it is well worth all the effort!

#6 A Pair of Hoop Earrings- While hoop earrings may seem like a flash back to the early nineties, they are still in style and no matter where you go, they can always be spotted garnishing some women's (or man's) earlobes. When it comes to choosing hoop earrings, there are two things that you must consider. The things that must be considered are size and metal. There are a variety of sizes and depending on your personal preference you may choose tiny hoops or large hoops. I do not recommend getting the extra large hoops because that particular style tends to be over the top for most individuals and tends to overshadow, not accent, your face shape and hairstyle. As far as the type of metal, that too depends on your own personal preference. While there are some places that still carry colored hoops, the best decision is to either choose gold, silver, or if you got the dough to spare, platinum hoops. The beauty of hoops is that they are versatile and can accent any outfit.

#7 A Cocktail Ring- If you have a fancy event to go to and don't wanted to be under frosted (also known as not enough bling), a cocktail ring gives you that final sparkling touch. Cocktail rings come in a variety of metals and can be found with virtually just about every stone imaginable. Depending on your preference, you may choose a three-carat rock or perhaps a simple one-carat yellow diamond looking ring. The best option is to get a ring that is a cubic zirconium because a cubic zirconium closely resembles a diamond ring, which makes it very versatile. This means you can either wear it to a cocktail party or on any day you want to add a little bit of frost to your outfit.

#8 A Hat- While you may wonder, why would she consider a hat a must have accessory? There are several reasons. First, we all have those bad hair days where we just can't get our hair to cooperate. Wearing a hat can help conceal your uncooperative locks while giving you a cute little finishing touch. Secondly, hats are accessories that can distinct you from the rest of the crowd. Many people are scared to wear hats mostly because they do not feel they look good in hats or perhaps they just do not know which styles work for them. Berets tend to look really cute on women and with a pair of hoop earrings the look can be polished off. If your style is a little bit on the sporty side then you can get a baseball cap or a truckers hat and accent those with either hoop earrings or a pair of studs.

#9 An Everyday Necklace- Depending on the top you choose to wear and its neckline, you may feel you need to wear a necklace. When choosing a necklace it is best to go with a simple necklace. One of the most versatile styles is a thin chain necklace (either silver or gold) with a little diamond pendant. This style necklace can be found just about anywhere and as it is with most of the styles, if you are on a budget you can opt for the cubic zirconium or if you feel like splurging, go for a diamond pendant.

#10 A Pair of Chandelier Earrings- While it is debatable whether or not the chandelier earrings are somewhat passe; any pair definitely has the ability to spruce up a simple outfit. There are a variety of styles and colors to choose from and depending on what size earrings you are comfortable with, you can either opt for small chandeliers or really large chandeliers. The chandelier earring can either be worn with hair down or with hair up in an up do. Regardless of how you choose to wear them, chandelier earrings can spruce any old outfit up.

While fashion is always a matter of personal preference, it should always remain fun. Despite the fact that many of these accessories may seem more along the simple side, they are also very versatile, and along with versatility come multiple uses. As we all know the more use we get out of a buy, the better the buy was. So, when it comes to finding accessories shop around and do not always feel compelled to roll with the trends. Always buy what is best for you, not what everyone else seems to think is best. In other words, always stay true to yourself and your own personal style. Happy accessorizing!