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Accessories - glasses/hats/scarves/earrings?

Sal

Veteran

Hi All

I struggle a bit with accessoring. I am confident with bracelets and with rings but I struggle around the face. Part of it is my shortish neck and full messy hair.

I am not into "rules" but I quickly find if I wear glasses (reading or sun) I can feel overloaded if I wear a necklace or earrings. And the metals can throw me too - with gold framed glasses how do I make a silver necklace look right? I can't manage it....

I love a summer hat (and regularly need one) so that tends to replace necklaces or earrings for me.

I see other people layering scarves and necklaces - but I struggle to do this as well.

How do you approach accessorising - visuals are welcome?

Thanks in advance.

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from Kari

LaPed

Veteran

Huh, Sal, we are accessories opposites! I have a hard time wearing any accessories on my hands/wrists because they tend to feel in the way. I'm just getting myself accustomed to a wristwatch again after years of not wearing one, but I tend to take it off as soon as I get home because it's no good for cooking/washing up.

I won't be much help, because I really don't have enough accessories for decision-making to be hard. I wear the same sunglasses everyday but no glasses indoors, and I rotate between a very small number of necklaces. I pretty much let neckline dictate which one I choose. I am strictly silver with no gold, so I can't help you on mixing metals.

For winter, I default to certain complements: I have an olive hat and an olive scarf that I wear together, and a mustard hat and a multi-coloured earthtone hat that I like with that scarf. Then I have a grey hat and a red hat that I prefer to wear with either my white or grey/black scarves. Summer is different, and activity and level of sun exposure tend to dictate my accessory choices then.

Oh -- I do have a couple of small silk/cotton/linen "decorative" scarves (not for warmth) and kerchiefs, and I pull them out when an outfit seems off with a necklace for whatever reason. Sometimes a scarf feels necessary to add a "soft" element or a bit of colour.

My most common accessory, of course, is sunglasses-as-headband. I seem to have a bit of a reputation among my friends for always having my sunglasses on top of my head. And sometimes I forget they're there and borrow DH's and then feel ridiculous...

em

^^^ HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! (forgetting the sunglasses on the head)

Irina

Veteran

I’m with you, Sal. I, too have hard time choosing the accessories. I wear it minimally. Last year I bought a purse with the gold hardware. Now, my rings, the wedding set is in white gold. So, I needed to find a common element, to bring it together. I bought a pair of small earrings in both white and yellow gold. Also, bought a small gold ring that fits with the wedding rings. I’m slowly building a collection of pearl accessories- pearls go with everything.

Sal

Veteran

I do the sunglasses on the head thing!! I sometimes have reading glasses on and sunnies on my head and vice versa...

I am not good with scarves but I do have a few I wear in winter for warmth - and a bit of interest. In warmer weather I tend to avoid them because I don't feel right.

I wear glasses for computer work and reading, but not for around the home, walking or driving. Hence I have three pairs (two prescription and one chemist) because I leave them everywhere, I have four pairs of sunnies - our sun is really fierce and I need them summer and winter. I have three main pairs and one fun pair (blush pink and a bit mad - not in finds).

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Brooklyn

Veteran

I try to go for neutral (for me) framed glasses - tortoiseshell or a colour, not gold or silver.

I stopped wearing a watch a few years ago because I tired of the effort involved in matching it with my other accessories. I just look at my phone for the time.

I wear 2 thin silver rings next to my yellow gold wedding ring so that I can wear either gold or silver next to it without feeling off.

These are my only tips!

I do find I struggle to wear earrings or bangles that bang together (cuffs no problem).

Wise Shopper

(website)

I won't comment on scarves, but earrings and a necklace are like second nature for me. I wear gold that I can shower and sleep with, don't even remember that I have it on. Why don't you try something small and light for a start?

Aquamarine

Veteran

I never wear earrings because I wear glasses and my hair covers my ears anyway.. I don’t wear a lot of necklaces either, preferring bracelets. Lately I’ve been experimenting with scarves, wondering why I’ve avoided this accessory...they seem to add some much-needed punch to neutral tops.

My glasses are colored (burgundy) and tortoiseshell, so they don’t clash with silver or gold jewelry.

Joy

Veteran

Echoing Wiseshopper. Real gold earrings that you can leave in done in simple basics are nice to add a little twinkle to your face. Studs or smallish hoops in gold or white gold will go easily with everything including other accessories. I am just getting used to not wearing eye glasses after wearing them for many many years. It feels very strange and I'm not sure I like it.

taylor

Veteran

I am like you Sal , I can load up my fingers and wrists but when it comes to earring and necklaces I can quickly feel overloaded . I think for me it is because my hair ....short or long , is always considered an accessory to me . So much going on up around my face ! Your full hair may be enough for you around your face .
I tend to go with a necklace or earrings , usually not both unless lower neck, or off the shoulder . I don’t wear scarves very often for the same reason .

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I wear earrings, daily. But when my hair was mid length like yours I only wore simple barely noticeable studs. Otherwise it felt like too much. (See Krishnadoux’s threads about how hair length affects clothing choices; same is true for accessories.

Because I wear earrings and sometimes dangly ones, I don’t wear many necklaces and still have trouble choosing them. I will wear one now and then but if I do, the earring will be unobtrusive.

I wear a watch, a big ring, and wedding ring daily. Almost all my jewellery is silver tone. But my wedding ring is silver with rose gold trim.

I do wear scarves. And often! But I have a small bust, short hair, and a medium long neck. So scarves serve a practical purpose, protecting me from drafts, and also spice up my outfits with colour and pattern. They are an easy accessory for someone with my body type modifiers to wear. And I am more confident in picking them than necklaces. I am in awe of Brooklyn. Wish I could figure out how she does it!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sal, I wear bold specs or sunnies daily because you know - I need to see

I also wear chunky white pearls daily, or almost daily. And sometimes a scarf with all of it. Occasionally my vintage Yorkie brooch too. I don't think it's too much - or at least, I am used to it!

I never wear:

earrings
eye shadow
bold lippie
fingernail poilish
smokey eye make-up

I think the "never" help make what I do wear near my face feel harmonious. Because on top of all of that I wear brights and pattern mix.

LaPed

Veteran

Sal, Angie makes a good point about brights and patterns. I find it's usually lower-contrast, neutral outfits that benefit most from the oomph of accessories. You have such a vibrant wardobe, maybe a restrained approach toward accessories is just a natural extension of enjoying a wide variety of colours and patterns.

DonnaF

Veteran

I'm pretty (okay, very) maximal BUT I'm short with a short neck, small face, and glasses.

I wear a watch every day because I grew up before cell phones. I also wear earrings every day. I have at least four watches and way too many pairs of earrings. May hair has been quite short for many years, but now that it is salt'n'pepper, I mostly wear (LARGE) studs because otherwise it is Too Much Going On -- unless I am wearing collarless solids.

Necklaces almost always demand studs; same with scarves because scarves are like collars in terms of close proximity to my earlobes. I run cold so I tend to wear scarves more than necklaces. I also don't have full functionality in my fingers and am lacking a nail on my thumb so I struggle with necklace clasps so it's a bit of a deterrent to wearing necklaces.

I've taken to liking bracelets (on the non-watch arm), but it is a struggle to find them small enough for my sub-size wrists and short arms.

Oh, and in the past six years or so, I've started to wear nail polish for the first time in my life. The colors seem subconsciously to drive what I wear that week: Black, silver, gunmetal, navy, etc.

I think this is all easier for those of us who are magpies and have very short hair.

rachylou

Veteran

I stick with two things on my head... glasses and earrings, earrings and headband, glasses and headband... three things and it starts feeling junky to me.

Note that the neck is a separate area in my book. Glasses, earring, scarf and necklace would be ok. Lol.

Sal

Veteran

Thanks - sorry it took me a while to get back on this thread!!

Rachy - yes that sounds a good plan!

Donna - it sounds like you have it sorted. I too like large studs and I love nail polish - and agree it can be an accessory in itself.

Thanks La Pedestrienne - I do agree that when wearing colourful patterns accessories are not as important as with neutrals or solids. It is just getting the balance right.

Angie - you get the balance right and carry off pearls, scarves and glasses beautifully. I wear glasses of one sort often, always rings, and the rest varies greatly (I do like bright lips and nails sometimes - and I do like earrings sometimes too).

Suz - you have some great earrings and short hair is perfect to show them off. I am better with necklaces than with scarves - and they suit me better too.

Taylor - yes when hair is fuller it is almost an accessory in itself. I also tend to do necklace or earrings.

Aquamarine - Scarves are a great way to add interest. I hope you enjoy wearing them.

Joy - I can imagine that suddenly not wearing glasses is a little strange - they do provide some definition too. Some small gold sleepers would be a good addition for me actually- just a hint of shine.

Wiseshopper - good idea. I have been wearing a small light gold chain for a couple of days now and enjoy the shine.

Brooklyn - thanks- I also like tortoiseshell glasses and cuffs!! You certainly have got the layering necklaces sorted too. I no longer wear a watch - I lost too many.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sal, maybe you're an eyewear-rings-lippie-nails gal. That's fab! Signature. (Thanks for the compliment).

Katerina

Veteran

I am a total maximalist. I wear often scarves (sometimes double), sunglasses, red lips and red nail polish. I wear earrings, but often rather small ones. I don't wear necklaces so often - I think it is difficult to combine them with scarves. Watch and bracelets occasionally.
Now when I think about it - I actually often create outfits around my scarves and my wardrobe contains very few printed or patterned pieces, mostly solid ones. I wear strong colours often, but in solid items.
As for scarves, I try to choose colours and patterns that work with my colouring and my facial features. It happens sometimes that I order a scarf because it is beautiful and then the pattern does not work near my face - it happens often with smaller and busy patterns. You always have to try a scarf on to see how it looks like with your face.

Kari

Veteran

Is is so interesting to see what accessories folks wear, what feels easy, what feels like too much or takes some extra thought.

I wear glasses daily (on VERY rare occasions I’ll wear contacts, but not often.) I added prescription sunglasses this year. I have a few pairs of glasses and they are my most important statement accessory.

I also wear my wedding ring (platinum, single band, small inset diamonds) and Garmin smartwatch (white and rose gold) daily. I recently swapped out the white silicone band for a rose gold mesh magnetic band due to a silicone irritation, and really like it.

Most days I will wear a long pendant necklace or a chunky collar necklace, depending on the neckline of my top.

Occasionally I will wear a wide cuff bracelet in rose gold or silver. (I don’t mind mixing metals.) I wouldn’t wear watch, necklace, and bracelet together - I’d remove one of the three.

I don’t wear earrings anymore as metal allergies got too annoying to manage (and as others mentioned, my glasses kind of dominate the statement around my face.) I don’t wear nail polish as I prefer a bare nail.

I wear some subtle eyeshadow and liquid liner because it gives my eyes a little extra definition behind glasses. I wear bold red lipstick or a soft melon depending on what I’m in the mood for.