The third piece is often the one that takes an outfit to the next level by making it look more finished, pulled together, fashionable and interesting. The most common third piece is a topper of sorts, but that’s not your only option. Take your pick depending on the outfit, weather, and your style preferences. Some third pieces are more subtle than others. 

Topper: Cardigans, jackets, vests and coats are common third pieces. It’s amazing how a fun topper makes a simple top and bottom shine their brightest. Trendy cardigans are great to wear at home or when you’re after a topper with extra comfort. Vests are a super option for hot weather. And if you work in an air-conditioned office, jackets are often an insulating necessity. 

Extra Top: Layering two tops over one another creates an interesting effect, like wearing a pullover or cropped top over a blouse or shirt. Or wearing a blouse over another blouse, leaving the layered blouse open. You can create a fun pattern mixed look this way. 

Scarf: Adding a scarf to an outfit creates visual drama. Add one in a print or solid. Wear it large and voluminous over a top, or wear it small and tucked away like a cravat inside a shirt collar. Wear lightweight and gauzy cotton and linen scarves in Spring and Summer, and heavier weight scarves in Autumn and Winter. 

There are also accessories that I wouldn’t refer to as a third piece, but that definitely have the potential to take an outfit to a completely different level. The most obvious examples here are handbags and footwear, but there are also other options.

Belt: A belt does a wonderful job of adding polish to an outfit. The oh-so-fashionable partial tucking of tops has made belts more popular than ever. Adding a waist cinching belt to a top or dress is just as fashionable these days, as is the low-slung hip belt.   

Statement Necklace: Adding a large necklace, pendant necklace, or strand of chunky beads to an outfit definitely makes it more interesting. Feel free to layer a few at a time. Dainty necklaces are less visually impactful and don’t do quite as good a job as the only third piece. Dainty necklaces (and earrings) do a better job of complementing an outfit. 

Statement Earrings: Like necklaces, bolder and bigger earrings make for a more impactful third piece. Blogger Kilee, who we featured a few months ago, is all about adding statement earrings to her outfits and the strategy is very successful. 

Eyewear: Your glasses can add a dramatic effect, much like a statement necklace or pair of earrings. That’s why I often refer to specs as “my jewellery”.

I REALLY enjoy jackets and can wear them frequently in our mild climate, making toppers my most frequently sported third piece. Here is my Jacket Capsule, complete with custom finds.

I also enjoy my one and only vest and a few scarves from time to time. I often wear a belt. I used to wear statement pearl necklaces, but these days my style is jewellery-free (unless you count my specs as jewellery, which I wear each day and all day).

Which third pieces do you use to complete your outfits? And do you have favourite accessories that you use to elevate your outfits?

Our good friends Shirley and Iftach travelled from Israel to join us for the rest of our stay in Amsterdam. Shirley likes my colourful outfits so I knew I had to wear a happy combination to welcome her. I chose blue jodhpur jeans and added a citron pullover, orange blazer, white loafers and turquoise bag. That’s three happy brights — four if you include my green specs —  that are tempered by the denim and white in the outfit. 

These pictures were taken on Staalmeestersbrug, one of two bridges in Amsterdam where couples leave padlocks to signify their love. These so-called love locks have sometimes been a source of controversy when local authorities have removed them. A recent example was the Pont des Arts in Paris. Earlier this month hundreds of thousands of padlocks were removed. Apparently their weight had already begun to tear some of the metal grillwork from the bridge.

We walked for miles around sunny Amsterdam for most of the day, catching up about everything and stopping for food breaks along the way. In the evening we went to a fabulous Indonesian restaurant — Sampurna — and I swapped out my blazer for a warmer sea foam leather jacket and orange scarf. We’re having a BALL spending time with our special friends.

We’ve had mild, warm and occasionally hot weather here in the Netherlands, but a few days ago it shot right back down to a daytime high of 16 degrees Celsius. I was thrilled to have popped a trench coat into my travel capsule at the last minute, thanks to your encouragement. 

I wore my warmest items and felt very comfortable. White boyfriend jeans, a black and white contrast underlayer sweater, white booties, citron trench coat, turquoise bag and orange scarf. We walked for 17 kilometres that day and had a wonderful time discovering new nooks and crannies in Amsterdam.

Swatch will start selling sunglasses, an eco-friendly clothing collection from Marks & Spencer, Nike becomes the official apparel provider for the NBA, and other fashion news that made headlines this week.

• The “New for Now” exhibition opening in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam today showcases over 300 costume and fashion prints.
• Nike becomes the official apparel provider for the NBA. This is also the first time an apparel partner has negotiated the right to feature its logo on the uniforms in the history of the NBA.
• Sarah Jessica Parker becomes the new face of the popular ’80s denim brand Jordache Jeans.
• As the watch industry faces one of its most challenging years, Swatch is diversifying and plans to start selling sunglasses.
• Inès de la Fressange returns to retail with a 2,150-square-foot store in Paris.
• Marks & Spencer has launched a street style-inspired line of womenswear made with recycled cotton and recycled polyester fabrics.
• Yoox Group has teamed up with Italian film institution Cineteca di Bologna to restore Federico Fellini’s legendary movie “Amarcord”.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that in the 18th century Birmingham was an important centre for button manufacturers. An enormous diversity of buttons was produced in this city in the West Midlands, from silk covered, brass, stamped and embossed to gilt metal, silver, cut-steel, and mother-of-pearl. In fact, it is said that underneath the town hall there are “thousands of tons of mollusc shells, the waste from workshops which used mother-of-pearl.”