FashBlog.com

By Brandi M. Seals


If you have not been hiding under a rock these last couple of months you would notice that jewelry is making a big come back. I am not talking about diamonds and sapphires, but rather plastic beads, shells, or any other brightly colored pieces. If you do not believe me, just head into any department store's jewelry department. There is sure to be a whole section devoted to this lower-costing jewelry. Heck, just open a fashion magazine. You will see what I mean.

Lately I have found myself at odds with a number of the fashion trends. Shirt dresses, leggings, and 60s mini dresses really are not my thing. In fact I cannot imagine why anyone would want to own any of these things. The only thing that might come in handy is the leggings. They could easily be worn as an extra layer under pants on those cold winter days.

I guess some might say I am a bit of a fashion snob, really I am not. I am just frugal. Sure I will spend money on a great piece, but I will not spend anything on trends that I think will come and go just as quickly as I can blink my eyes. A lot of these new trends fall into that category for me. However, the resurgence of costume jewelry is one trend that I think has some staying power.

It was not until the brightly colored necklaces and bracelets made their comeback that I realized it has been years since anyone I see has really accessorized. Occasionally there is a diamond or cross necklace and maybe a pair of earring. But as far as every day accessories go, there really was not much going on. Quite frankly I am glad to see more people putting some effort into accessorizing. It improves the look of the outfit and can really dress things up.

If you have not already gone out and gotten yourself some of these pieces, it is really time you got started. A good place to start is to get pieces that coordinate with the clothing you already have. If you wear a lot of blues, you will need some blue pieces. Do not feel the need to match colors exactly or feel free to experiment around. These days fashion is not so much about matching as it is about going together. Get pieces that pop but that do not over power you.

If you are petite you will want to avoid large over sized pieces as they may make you look weighed down. The reverse holds true for large framed women. Small pieces will not have the same impact and may become overlooked. Just try to find pieces that are proportional.

Since you are investing in accessories, why not make sure you bag is up to date. Purses seem to have increased in size (some of them are so big that they rival Alaska as the largest state) and have grown shiny. While I may not be a fan of the huge bags, I see no reason to stick to itty bitty bags. Increase a little in size, who knows, you might even be able to fit most of your stuff in there.

The real key to buying a purse is to get a piece that stands out. I am not saying you need to buy something that is covered in sparkly sequins, but you can opt for something that is unique. For example, my favorite purses are unusual colors. One is a metallic red and the other is a bright dark blue. I love them because they stand out and they are different from just about anyone else's bags.

To go with your great purse, chose a nice wallet to go with it. You do not have to buy a wallet for each purse. I would suggest something that is fairly neutral, yet a little different than the average wallet. Avoid the black, brown, or even blue leather wallets that seem to be in everyone's purse. Get something a little different. Buy gold, silver, or even a crimson wallet. Just find something you really like. There is nothing worse than trying to be different but going outside your comfort zone. If you do that, you will never use the wallet. So be daring, but not too daring.