← Her Style Podcast | Shopping, Color Palettes, Fashion, Wardrobe, Outfits, Clothing
Her Style Podcast | Shopping, Color Palettes, Fashion, Wardrobe, Outfits, Clothing
282 | Accessorizing Made Easy: How to Elevate Any Outfit in 30 Seconds or Less
00:16:42
Alright, imagine that you and I are both wearing a plain white t-shirt and jeans. Same exact outfit. Now, I stack bangles, add a fringed bag, and throw on oversized hoops while you slip into delicate pearl studs, tie a silk scarf around your neck, and...
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- [00:01]
A
All right, imagine that you and I are both wearing a plain white T shirt and jeans. Same exact outfit. Now I stack bangles, add a fringed bag, and throw on oversized hoops while you slip into delicate pearl studs, Tie a silk scarf around your neck, and reach for a polished, structured satchel. We started with the same base, but now our looks have a totally different feel. Right? That is the power of accessories. They're not just extra. They're how we communicate our personality without saying a word. They help us define and create our presence. And they're the secret behind those women who always look well styled, even in the simplest outfits. The best part? They literally take 30 seconds to add to your outfit. In this episode, I'm going to share the one accessory swap that instantly elevates your look. Which fall and winter 2025 accessories are trending right now. And how to wear them without looking like you're trying too hard. That's always the key. How to use balance and placement to highlight your best features. Often overlooked accessories that can make your wardrobe feel instantly updated. And how to build two ready to go accessory kits so you never feel stuck or unfinished again. You ready for this? Let's dive in and discuss how to use your accessories to elevate any outfit quickly, easily, and in a way that feels totally you.
- [01:24]
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Welcome to her style podcast, where we're all about empowering you to show up and get dressed every day with confidence. I'm your host, Heather Riggs, a 15 year and counting certified image consultant and color specialist. Ready to build a wardrobe and a personal style you love.
- [01:43]
A
Let's get started. All right. I'm just saying people notice the details. I want you to think about someone you've met who just stayed in your mind. And I'm not talking about their personality, but their presence. Maybe they had a bold, amazing pair of glasses or the most beautiful handbag or even a striking ring. Not to sound superficial, but our accessories can be a fantastic conversation starter. They really do communicate something about us before we even open our mouths. And they can be the last thing that somebody remembers. If you had a really powerful piece that just captured the attention. And I want you to think about your accessories and, like, punctuation for your outfits. My son is in first grade, and one of the first homework assignments that he came back with this year was a sheet that had different sentences with the punctuation mark left off, and he had to figure out which one was correct. And it's interesting to see how the same sentence can end with a period, an Exclamation point or a question mark. And each one is going to send a completely different message. It's the same way with your accessories. So maybe one woman is going to style her little black dress with chunky sculptural earrings, and another is going to opt for classic diamond studs. It just gives a whole different feel to your presentation and your look. And these details really do matter because first impressions are powerful. Whether you're walking into a presentation at work, a networking event, or even a school pickup line, your accessories can signal creativity, confidence, refinement, or warmth in an instant. So if you've been overlooking accessories altogether, or if you are just throwing on the same pair of studs every single day, you. You are leaving so much style potential on the table. And I am going to be the first to call myself out, because I'm right there with you. I've been super lazy lately when it comes to my jewelry and accessory game, so I think this is going to be a good challenge for us to step it up together. Now, I know that accessories can also feel overwhelming. There are so many choices, maybe a few too many rules. And so that's why I want to keep this super simple for you today. Now, inside Her Style collective, we go deep into figuring out your best metals, the scale that flatters your features, and which styles align with your your personal brand. But for today, let's stick to a couple of quick wins that I think everyone can use successfully. I'm going to give you two guiding principles. The first one is to think about balance. I always believe it's a good idea to let one accessory or piece lead the way. If you're rocking bold earrings, you might want to keep your necklace more subtle. If your handbag is a showstopper, then let your shoes be the supporting act. It's not about never mixing bold with bold, especially if you have a creative or dramatic style. It's more about letting one item be the star while the others play backup. Just like with your wardrobe as a whole, we want your accessories to work together and feel cohesive. So don't let too many things steal the spotlight. The second thing to keep in mind is placement. Your accessories are like little arrows in your outfit. If you're wearing a great pair of earrings that can draw the eye right to your face. Necklaces or scarves will help to highlight your neckline or your chest. Belts will give lots of definition and attention to your waistline. And then, of course, belts and rings are going to highlight your hands, which could be perfect if you are presenting or networking. If you're a hand talker like me, I'm literally sitting here waving my hands around as I'm recording this episode for you. But no matter what, I want you to just use this to your advantage by placing your accessories wherever it is that you want to capture attention. So ask yourself, what do I want people to notice first? Then you're going to accessorize or put your leading piece there and build everything else around it. All right, let's talk about what's feeling fresh right now in the world of accessories, because this is one of the easiest way to play with trends for the season without overhauling your wardrobe. If you don't want to buy a lot of clothing pieces that might not be as popular the next time fall and winter comes around, it might be smarter to just invest in a few simple accessories or even some costume jewelry to help you feel really current right now. So here's a couple of pieces that we're going to be seeing a lot of this season. Chunky earrings are really in right now. I'm talking about oversized hoops, sculptural shapes, even playful pearls. Just anything that captures a little bit of attention or feels extra special. That's a key piece, especially if you're someone who has lots of zoom meetings. You don't really need to accessorize a full outfit, but that can make a big difference in how you show up on camera. Chain details are big on necklaces, belts, or even your handbags, if that's something you want to look for. Brooches and pins are also very popular. You can style them in a modern way on your blazers or coats. Textured tights. I'm talking about sheer, patterned or just literally textured tights. And then knee high and crew socks are also very big at the moment if you prefer a heavier weight option. Hair accessories are always a cute thing to play around with a little bit if that works for your personality. But you could try some sleek headbands, velvet bows or jeweled clips. And then of course, everything is about statement belts right now. And these are a perfect way to cinch your bulky sweaters, as we talked about in the last episode. Of course you could wear them over a blazer or even a dress. So many different ways to style up a belt, so it's always a good idea to have a couple of options in your closet if you're a belt person. You know, I'm not one for blanket advice, but just saying. And the beauty of trends is that you don't have to Go all in. You can start small and just swap your plain tights for a pattern pair or add a chain link belt to your blazer or tuck a bow in your hair. On a casual day, if you just want to feel more playful and pretty, the key again is choosing one style standout or trending accessory at a time and letting the rest of your look stay simple. If you're going to stretch yourself and try an accessory that feels a little bit more current or different from what you would normally do, let the rest of your look feel a little bit more safe. That way your outfit feels intentional and modern without looking like you are trying too hard or you got dressed in a hurry at a costume party, or even worse, that you are trying too hard to impress your Gen Z daughter, neighbor, sister, whoever it is. I don't know about you, but I just had that clip of Amy Poehler's character in Mean Girls saying I'm not like a regular mom, I'm a cool mom flash through my mind. So I know that's not what we want to do here. We just want to feel current in a way that's age appropriate and fits in with your style well. However you want to go about it. These tiny updates are going to help to keep your wardrobe feeling exciting without breaking the bank or taking up too much time and headspace when you're already hard pressed to style an outfit and make it to your 9am meeting on Monday morning. Now, of course we always want to come back to personalization. That is our core principle here at Her Style and helping you know exactly what you should choose. And I'm not going to tell you what that is or that you have to wear this thing or that thing because I believe everybody needs to figure out what's right for you personally. But one of the easiest ways to narrow down your accessory options is to think about what best aligns with your unique signature style. So I have seven style types that I talk about that we cover all the time here. There's a whole episode about that that I'll link up for you in the show notes. You can take my free 5 minute personal style quiz if you have no idea what your style is right now, but I'm going to kind of run through all seven types and give you a few key accessories that you might want to consider depending on which combination is right for you. So if you have a natural style, you will probably find that you gravitate toward accessories that feel unfussy and practical. So so that could be anything from natural woven Textures to more minimalistic jewelry or an easy canvas tote bag or stylish backpack that you can just carry everywhere and that holds all of your things and keeps your life organized. If you're more of a classic dresser, then your best bet will always be timeless pieces. That would be things like simple stud earrings, a great sleek leather belt that you can keep for decades, or a simple watch that you can wear every day. No matter the outfit. For my elegant style types, refinement is the name of the game. I'm talking silk scarves, beautiful brooches or pieces that feel like they might be a family heirloom or something that's really precious and refined. A structured handbag, whether that's real or faux designer. We just kind of want that elevated look that's going to take even the simplest outfit up a notch. Also, sunglasses can be a really powerful category for you to consider. If you have an elegant style as well. Everything's just like a little bit extra, a little more fancy, and so you want to incorporate that into your accessories as well. If you are a feminine or romantic style type, then delicate layers are probably going to feel most like you. That could be soft scarves, maybe in a beautiful floral print, a stack of dainty rings, or even some fun hair accessories like headbands, bows or cute clips. Anything that just makes you feel a little bit prettier or even more approachable. Now, those within a luring style might lean towards sleek metallic pieces. Hoop or drop earrings that highlight your neck beautifully. Ankle strap heels or long lariat necklaces that are going to add a sultry edge. Anything that's like textured and long and sultry. That those are kind of the keywords that I would use for alluring accessories. I always say anything goes with creative types. I know the creatives love to play and experiment and be a little bit unpredictable. So this is your chance to have some fun with bold. Maybe handmade earrings, some treasures off of Etsy or from local artisans. Pattern tights or vintage pins that feel unique and expressive. Also, hats, colorful scarves and stackable jewelry can be great options to explore as well. Again, anything goes. So the sky is the limit. And if you are dramatic, then you're obviously going to want to lean heavy into the seasonal trends. Look for those wow items like sculptural clutches, statement belts and oversized jewelry to give you that bold, powerful energy that you love to make project. If you heard one of those descriptions and you thought, yes, that's me, that's how I want my accessories and my outfits to feel then perfect. If you felt pulled in a couple of different directions and a few things appealed to you, that's very normal too. Most women are a mix of style types. And again, inside her style collective, we will really help you nail this down and accessorize your outfits with laser precision and confidence. And here's the real game changer friend. Instead of staring at your closet every morning wondering which necklace goes with which top, I want you to create two ready to go accessory kits. This is kind of like the beauty bundles that we worked on if you were at our wardrobe Revamp boot camp. But instead of styling your items based around a key piece like a jacket, you're going to focus instead on accessories only and make sure that they work as universally as possible. So the first kit that I think you would be smart to put together is a daytime or casual kit. Think easy pieces that are just going to elevate your everyday outfits. Maybe it looks like a pair of studs or small hoops, a casual crossbody bag, a simple belt that would pair perfectly with all of your jeans, and maybe even a baseball cap if you want an option for those lazy hair days when you're just out of time but you still want to look cute and put together. Now, of course, adapt this to work for your personal style. I'm just giving you some general tips here. I want you to think daytime, easy, effortless. Go. Now the second one is going to be an evening or elevated kit. And these are going to be some easy dress up quick wins if you need to make that fast change. If you just need to grab something quick to elevate your work outfit so you can go out for the evening, maybe you're headed right to a date night or an outing with friends. This could be statement earrings. Maybe it's a chic clutch or a metallic belt or some pattern tights. If you're someone who loves to wear skirts and dresses often, just think about what's going to work together to create one cohesive accessory set and work with most of your outfits. The goal is to have these items grouped and ready to go so you can literally grab them in 15 to 30 seconds and look instantly put together. So again, you want to make sure that they're going to work with most of your outfits. Think about what you normally wear on a weekly basis and then feel free to branch out. You can always put more accessory kits together as you gain confidence, but start with just two or three items in each. You don't have to go overboard. You can always add more items to your kits as you refine your style and see what's working with your outfits. If you feel like something's missing, there's no maximum number. If you love layering accessories or stacking rings, then go for it. I think your magic number really does depend on your style personality. Just choose that one key accessory and then build everything else around it. So there you go. I actually just gave you a handful of ways to make accessorizing easy and more impactful. As a quick recap. First, always remember that your accessories communicate who you are. Don't overlook that you can use balance and placement to highlight your best features, so be strategic about how you accessorize and where you put the different touch points on your outfit. Play with trending pieces if you want to help keep things fresh and update your wardrobe in an economically friendly way. Pull inspiration from your style type to really personalize everything. And then I do think it's so smart for you to take a few minutes to build two grab and go accessory kits so that you never feel stuck or unfinished in your outfit again. Remember, accessories aren't just extras, they're the fastest way to add presence and personality to everything that you wear. If you want help figuring out your most flattering scale, your best metals, your signature accessories, come join us inside her style collective. That's my 90 day group coaching program where we get personal and custom with your style so it finally feels easy. Easy and fun. And normally I would invite you to pop into our free Facebook community to share your favorite accessories with me. But just a quick heads up, the group is going on pause while I work on some really big exciting projects over here behind the scenes. I am also trying to do less but better. Not just buy less but better. So I will keep showing up here regularly on the podcast. Nothing else is changing and of course we're available to connect with you every day inside Her Style Collective. We do have a private Facebook community over there for that program if you're ready for the next level of support. So stay tuned, there's lots of good stuff coming and I will meet you back here for another episode soon.
- [15:55]
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Thank you for listening to today's episode. If you want to stop copying everyone else's style and start dialing in your own swoon worthy signature look, head over to take my free 5 minute personal style quiz which you can find at the link in the show notes. If you've enjoyed our time together, please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to Her Style Podcast so you never miss an episode. Finally I invite you to make this a two way conversation and send me a DM over on Instagram eatherigstyle to let me know how I can best support you on your style journey. I'm always here for you in style and service. Until next time.