Today’s post is by Guest Contributor, Glenda K. Harrison. Glenda created the style blog, So What to Twenty. 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 So What to Twenty 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.