The financial climate as it is for most of us means that some everyday pursuits can now be seen a little like luxuries. That trip to grab a latte in the morning, that gym membership that you don’t use enough, another streaming service that doesn’t seem to have anything worth watching, and, god forbid your latest efforts to keep up with the fashion trends.
Saving money is going to be key in this year, and clearly, you won’t want to bring an end to your efforts to be a style god or goddess. There is an answer and a solution, and it’s one that is as relevant today, when times are tough, as it should be when all is fine and prosperous.
Make Accessories Work for You
One very smart way to keep your fashion budget costs down is to switch focus from garments, which may well be the leading cost-consumption items you purchase, to accessories.
Accessories are versatile, durable, and, more often than not, far less expensive than the clothing you may be buying. There are many reasons why adopting this route will pay off for you, and not just financially; here are just a few.
Front and Center
Too many of us consider accessories as an afterthought when they can be so much more than that, just so long as we know how to use them correctly.
They can provide a key basis and addition to your outfits, and they are also a perfect bit of additional detailing that can shift the entire direction your collection takes. Think about how a great clutch bag in a vibrant color becomes the eye-catching aspect of your look, more than just a finishing touch, but a talking point that hits things home.
Statement Value
A good selection of accessories can really set off your whole wardrobe, offering existing items that you haven’t worn in a while a new lease of life and, alternatively, giving you a new dimension when buying new additions.
Accessories are there to act as a lightning rod for your overall ensemble. They can be workmanlike in their aims, such as that sturdy but elegant bag that has been with you for years, and they can also have real statement value, like with a custom-made necklace that perfectly meets your personal daring style palette.
Add Value and Longevity to Your Look
The right accessories, worn correctly and selected expertly, will add years to your clothes; they do so because they will offer them a new lease on life. A dress or top that you’ve fallen out of love with all of a sudden is brought back to life with a perfect accessory. In this way, they more than pay for themselves.
Cost-Effective Way to Shop
Next time you shop, instead of piling your cart or fashion store tote with many tops, jeans, and dresses, why not instead seek out three or four great accessories? These could take the form of a gorgeous bag, a delightful pair of ballet pumps or a lovely necklace, or just about anything that suits your personal aesthetic.
When you get home, see just how adaptable these items are and what they can add to your current clothing items. Try to seek out accessories that will work with a number of outfits and ensembles, and you’ll soon understand the benefits of this approach.
The cost-effective nature of this form of shopping will become apparent instantly. There is a secondary benefit to this. Often when we shop, especially in physical brick-and-mortar stores in malls or on the high street, we find ourselves buying items just for the sake of it.
We almost do so instinctively, without thinking, and often that’s because we see the apparent inexpensive nature of some of these pieces. What then tends to happen is we end up buying things we never wear. If you were to look in your closet right now, there are probably many items you’ve literally never tried on since you saw them in the store.
This is the by-product of fast fashion, and it’s not a pretty sight. There are massive downsides to this form of clothes shopping. Firstly the quality of these cheap items is usually very poor and won’t last long; they are also usually produced in third-world countries by workers who work in very poor conditions.
Then there is the environmental consequence of this process, which is vast and global. We can help combat this problem by instead becoming part of the solution. Instead of buying clothes just for the sake of it, try to make the best use of what you have, which is where a well-chosen selection of accessories can really be a lifesaver.
Get the Right Items
Whatever accessories you use as part of your signature look or to act as a base layer to your tried and tested outfit choices, you’ll have to make sure that these items hit the spot and fit the bill in every sense of the word.
There’s no point in blindly shopping for accessories just because they are invariably less expensive than a new item of evening wear. For instance, make sure to refer to the relevant necklace length chart or select the types of jewelry that work with your skin tone or face shape.
Accessories Add Something
It’s often the small things in life that bring us the most joy. A well-suited broach, a playful hair clip, and a snazzy and trendy head scarf. These little things can really help to brighten up a look, and they add a little something that can often bring your overall appearance to another level.
These are often far more personal items also, ones that you really look forward to putting on and wearing, mainly because they will serve you so well, day in, day out.
