The Instant Outfit Elevators - Accessories You Need for Your Wardrobe

Accessories are the finishing touch that completely transform individual clothing items into an outfit. However, accessories are often the trickiest part and my clients struggle to find the right ones and incorporate them into their wardrobe.

If you feel this way, and want to feel confident with your accessorising, here are some of my favourites!

Belts - A Waist Shaping Accessory

Whether or not your trousers fit you, a belt can be a fantastic addition to your outfit by bringing the eyes to your waist. If you are wearing a mid rise jean as an hourglass figure it can also be an excellent way to emphasize the waist even further.

A belt is also an excellent accessory for bringing hardware to a more simplistic, monochromatic look. For example, a silver buckle with an all black outfit adds a complimentary touch, without being too troublesome for more classic, natural or professional styling.

If you have a more dramatic or artistic personal style (click here to download my quiz to find your personal style!), a harness can do the same hard work that a belt does, while working on additional layers such as over a dress, a billowy blouse, or with a midi skirt, without the need for belt hoops. They have become much more popular and accessible, with plenty of options to look for, including more simplistic options that may feel more approachable.

If you want to add some colour to your look, a belt in a pattern, light tan, or brighter colour will do a great job at this, without having to invest in something higher in budget such as bags or shoes. It's a great option for playing with colours in your wardrobe, too!

Word of warning! If your waist is an area you particularly dislike, avoid belts as they will draw the eye there. Instead try one of the following accessories.

A Handbag - Practical and Beautiful

Handbags, while sometimes a larger expense if you are looking at designer or leather (faux leather for those who prefer vegan options), are a fantastic accessory for not only being practical at carrying all you need for an event, they are a great accessory for adding colour, personality and style.

A cross body bag in a bright colour will make a big statement, while also working well for more casual outings; a neutral-toned tote or trapeze bag are bigger and therefore excellent for taking to work or to the park with your children when you need additional items with you. Duffle bags and backpacks are more casual while remaining larger once again - great for travelling! A clutch, minaudiere (small, structured bag), bowler or wristlet are the smaller handbag options that work for more elegant, evening events or when you only need the essentials - and often come in more extravagant looks such as with sequins, patterns or brighter colours as the smaller piece can make more of an effect!

When it comes to bags, here are some things to look out for:

• What do you need to take with you? If you often go on work trips with a need for space for your laptop, notebooks, and electricals, a bigger bag will be your best go-to.

• What occasion is it? For more professional events, neutral tones or simple one-colour bags may be best, while going to a party or with friends you may be able to add more fun to the bag.

• What is your "scale"? This is one of the elements I cover in my Four Weeks to Fabulous course, and we cover it in depth - in short, consider your scale. This just means your height: if you are petite, smaller bags are best, while if you are taller, a bigger oversized bag will feel best with your scale. That is a crash course on this subject!

Shoes - Transforming The Styling of an Outfit

Shoes really can make an outfit work for any occasion - depending on the style of shoes you put with an outfit you can make it work for multitudes of events.

Trainers - in the past these were only left for those going out for a run, in the modern age are more accessible (and thankfully more beautiful!) than they used to be. You can even get platform trainers, if you prefer to add a little height. They do, however, remain best for casual looks. They work beautifully for a summer walk in the park; with wide-legged trousers and a tee when you head out to brunch; or even heading to the shops but wanting to feel a little elevated think of adding a pair of suede trainers to your look for a casual yet pulled-together outfit. If you simply couldn't go for a trainer (particularly Romantic style types), ballerina pumps, loafers, Mary Janes and Oxfords are all flat shoes that can work well in place of a pair of trainers.

Stilettos, heeled sandals, or pumps - perfect for meetings and dinner dates, depending on what they are paired with! They come in a huge variety of colours and patterns, too, so you can even add a little spark to your outfit that is more neutral-toned at the office.

Wedges, block heels, and sandals - work well for elevated days at the beach, dates, and more casual elevated looks with a touch more comfort than those stilettos! They work better for when you may be heading out or walking more than usual, but do not want to be as casual as you may be with trainers.

Jewellery - The Final Touch

Finally, jewellery - the glittering finishing touch and your day-to-day outfit could feel incomplete without it.

Building your go-to jewellery look can be as simple as finding the earrings you feel best in that work with the most amount of outfits you have; as well as a necklace, a watch, or bangles that you can automatically jump to, and wear every day. Find the metal that works best for your skin tone, and stick with that, or add a touch of classic styling with a gem or pearl. I wear my pearl necklace and earrings with everything: for daytime, evenings, holidays and very casually as well. Find your favourite and stick with it, unless you're a creative of course, where you'll want to change it at least every day, if not more!

While I love when I put on my pearls for a normal day, I do often recommend jumping out of your comfort zone for special occasions. This could be to change to a statement earring, an extra ring (or two!), a watch, or a statement necklace.

With so many options out there, it may feel a little daunting, so I highly recommend taking my Personal Style quiz to find which style you fit into most, and this will then help you know what style of jewellery to look out for.

So, if you find an outfit feeling a little "undone", you may want to try adding one or a few of these accessories to the look to see if it feels more finished! I have made a live catalogue with different accessories for a variety of Personal Style personalities here, too, to help inspire you.