Today’s post is by Guest Contributor, Glenda K. Harrison. Glenda created the style blog, STYLE with Glenda K. Harrison. Through this platform, she inspires readers “to view fashion as an all-encompassing vehicle and encourages women to explore their personal gifts, style, femininity, and, most importantly, inner beauty”. Her post today is all about accessories, or as Glenda calls them, the icing!
Accessories – The Icing
Accessories – The Icing On The Cake
Whether you enjoy accessorizing like over-the-top style maven, Iris Apfel, the elegance of the minimal approach like designer, Carolina Herrera, or somewhere in between – whatever your take, accessories are most certainly the icing on the cake. But here’s the most crucial fact about the icing – either it can enhance the beauty and flavor, or it can completely ruin the outcome. In other words, if you put the wrong jewelry, bag, belt, scarf, sunnies and shoes with your sartorial pursuits, you’ll completely destroy the look. Careful attention to these important details are ultra important, and must not be ruled as an after thought.
Depending on the occasion, mood and story I wish to tell, I have dazzled with a variety of accessorizing techniques. However, in most cases, I tend to lean more toward a minimal approach to completing an ensemble. In my opinion, comfort is just as important as what you choose to wear. The idea of futzing with myself is out of the question. When I select what I’m wearing, I like for the entire look to flow seamlessly into my complete life, or better yet, my style story.
To better understand the concept of accessories completing my style story, I have selected 4 looks from my STYLE with Glenda K. Harrison archives. Enjoy!
Free Spirit
What better way to represent my free spirit than to dress in clothing that gives me the ability to do so – clothes that do not restrict, but swirl and dance in playful movement. Soft, artful layers glide over my silhouette – enhance who I am, rather than conceal. Tassel-tied shoes and jewelry are the perfect choice for such a bohemian inspired look – with just a loosening of the tie – they evoke thoughts of a life led free.
Black Down Memory Lane
A tie-neck detailed dress which evokes memories of the ladylike appeal of the 50s and 60s has been accessorized with items that continue to play with that particular era – Cateye sunglasses, a ladylike silk floral handbag, a pair of laser-cut gloves, and a necklace which was wrapped around my arm several times to create a charm bracelet.
The Icing: Maximum
A beautifully constructed, dramatic necklace, in colors that remind me of cascading water, is worn to create an element of surprise in this calming and leisurely ensemble. Typically, when I expose my shoulders, I prefer to keep the entire area bare, free from necklaces, but with large hoop earrings. But for today, since I’m sporting such an artistic piece, accompanied with large sunglasses, I chose to scale back my earrings. The look represents an inner calm, yet it taunts my ability to make a statement…but in a reserved and quiet way.
The Icing: Minimum
The look I’m wearing is classic, feminine, and minimal: A tiered lace skirt is accentuated by a fitted scoop-neck tee, barely there heeled sandals, and simple lace clutch. The hero accessory is a glorious, yet classic coin bracelet that makes a statement on it’s own. There’s no need to over adorn myself with multiple necklaces and a variety of rings – a touch of gold on the ear and one gold ring are all that’s needed.
Inspired by Chanel
To capture the spirit of a Cubana, I decided to adopt a couple looks from the Chanel 2016/17 Resort collection. A straw fedora, a more masculine sandal, a Spanish-inspired corset, and added touches of antique gold jewelry take this look to another level of success. Without the accessories, I would be wearing a white top and black pants. There’s nothing wrong with that, but why not take your look up a notch or two.
You May Also Like:
How to Wear Red Over 40, 50 and Beyond
13 Super Stylish Ways to Wear A Scarf
Tie A Scarf 3 Ways!
Like to accessorize with scarves, but bored with the way you are tying them? Subscribe to My Side of 50 and get 3 Fashionable Ways to Tie a Scarf TODAY!
What a great post. I love the inspired by and Glenda, you did a great job of recreating it. Love all of your looks.
Thanks, Sherry – Glenda is fabulous!
Stunning! Love the outfits and the illustration from your daughter is gorgeous.
I know – Glenda’s looks are fabulous. Glad you like Allison’s illustrations! I love her looks – but them I’m her mom! 🙂
Fabulous looks! Truly accessorizing done right!
Glenda does it so well! Thanks for reading and commenting!
I love this post. I tend to wear black clothing a lot with either jewelry, shoes or a scarf to accent the outfit. This is perfect for me. I need to add a few “wow” pieces and it would up my style. Love the lace skirt and the statement necklaces. I may not be able to do it justice like Glenda, but it would be a more stylish “me”. Allison is so talented with the illustrations too! Thanks for sharing your style pieces, they are helping me to form my own look.
Doing these pieces are helping me too. That lace skirt is stunning! Thanks for encouraging Allison. I’m proud of her – she is doing so well!
She is one classy chic!!
That she is!
Cathy, thank you so much for featuring my blog and accessorizing tips. I hope your readers enjoy them!
Glenda, my readers have loved your post! Thanks so much for sharing. I hope that you have received lots of great feedback as well!
So, I need a Glenda to come and go through my closet with me…just a stylish and put together lady. And let’s just talk about her fantastic legs! She is a credit to all of ladies ‘of a certain age’ for sure! Thanks for the inspirations.
She is a class act all the way around. I have so many accessories that I don’t know what to do with , so I end up wearing the same 2 necklaces and earrings all the time! I guess that’s why I like guest posts from fashion bloggers so much! 🙂
Glenda always looks fantastic – I think it’s that air of confidence and natural grace that does it (not to mention wearing clothes well and having a great figure!)
So true! She looks fabulous!
What fun clothes! I still can’t get over that you can still wear heels. You look beautiful. I’m more minimal partly because of the fact I keep breaking all my necklaces. Pinned some.
Rebecca – I don’t wear heels anymore either. Don’t Glenda’s legs look stunning?
These looks are all fabulous! I’m too lazy to accessorize, but I always admire and appreciate women who do.
Roz – I hear you. I stick pretty much to the same 2 necklaces and 2 pairs of earrings! But I appreciate the beauty of what Glenda does!
I love all of these looks and like Glenda I believe less is more when it comes to the icing. The first thing I do when I get home is remove all of my jewelry, I can’t get it off fast enough. What a fun illustration!
Doreen – for me jewelry, shoes and bra – in that order! LOL. Glenda’s looks are stunning!
The pics are great. Styling is, well all that and more! I love the accessories, all of them.
That flowing necklace is my favorite – just stunning!
Gorgeous! I love all the outfits, although I am pretty much a jeans and t-shirt girl myself.
Lois – Me too. So much so that it’s hard to even know how to dress when something a little nicer is required! These fashion bloggers teach me a lot.
Wonderful overall looks, very well put together
I love how this beautiful woman wears her clothes. She’s a classic. Well done!
I whole-heartedly agree!
gorgeous looks! You are so beautiful and you look amazing in each of these outfits 🙂 thanks for the inspiration!
Glad you enjoyed the post! Glenda is lovely!
What an interesting and delightful post, I enjoyed looking at all the different looks that Glenda modelled. She looks so lovely in all of them.
Kathleen
Bloggers Pit Sop – we love your posts
Glenda is so lovely – inside and out. I love her looks too!
I loved all the looks in this post but especially the one called Maximum. That necklace is awesome. For me scarves are my big accessory. #bloggerpitstop
I love that necklace too! I like scarves, but in the winter more than in summer. Glad you enjoyed Glenda’s looks. She’s great!
Great post and great looks.
So glad you stopped by! I love all of Glenda’s looks!
[…] Accessories – The Icing on the Cake […]
[…] Accessories: The Icing On the Cake […]
[…] Accessories – The Icing on the Cake […]
[…] of mine for the last year. I have featured her in some of my fashion posts and she has even done a guest post on my blog, My Side of 50. I admire her greatly, not only for her fashion sense, but how she […]