The Power of Accessories

This post is sponsored by Nordstrom and ShopStyle.

Happy Friday, Ladies!  I hope you’re ready for a weekend with your peeps, and I’m also hoping you are ready for a super informative blog post today!  Think of it as a science experiment of sorts.  The closest thing I’ll ever get to a science experiment anyways.  Ha!

Do you remember last Friday’s post?  I talked about how I felt like accessories have the ability to transform an outfit from ho-hum to WOW.  I focused on bags and bandanas and loved the looks!

This week I’m talking about ALL types of accessories.  And I’m not just going to talk about how accessories can be transformative, I’M GOING TO SHOW YOU!

I’ve actually been doing this a bit already this week.  On Wednesday and Thursday I highlighted 1 outfit each day, but I showed you how you could change the overall look just by changing up the bag and the footwear.  (Click HERE to see a linen wrap shirt dressed up and down.  Click HERE to see my leopard button up styled 3 different ways.)

Today we’re going to look at 2 different outfits with NO ACCESSORIES.  #zip #zilcho #zero

And then I’m going to show you the same outfit WITH ACCESSORIES.

And I’m telling you, the looks are going to transform right before your eyes.

OUTFIT #1

For outfit #1, I went with what is one of my favorite spring and summer uniforms:  a great pair of jeans, a great tee, and a great cardi.  It’s an easy outfit formula to throw on that always looks good.

Here’s the outfit without any accessories.

It’s still cute (because all of the individual pieces are good pieces), but definitely ho-hum.

white tee / cardi / jeans / must have wedges

And here’s the same outfit formula, but all styled up with accessories!

LOOK! HOW! DARLING!

There’s no doubt that the accessories kick up the cute factor a notch OR TEN!

white tee / cardi / $16 option for sunglasses / turquoise earrings/ multicolor stripe belt / jeans / knotted bucket bag / bracelet set / must have wedges

We’ll get to the accessories in a minute, let’s talk about the clothes first.

Everybody needs a couple of great cardigans in their closet, and this one fits the bill.  It is a gorgeous rich red berry color and has a great fit.  I sized up to a medium to make sure it would be a generous fit.

The tee is a classic crew neck that comes in several colors.  I’m wearing my regular small.  If wearing the white on it’s own, I would wear a cami with it personally.  When layered under things, it’s fine without a cami!

The jeans were new to the blog this week, and you can see them styled in other outfits HERE and HERE.  They are a great light wash that is perfect for spring and summer, they have minimal dressing on them with no gaping holes, and I absolutely love the wide cuff on the bottom.  The relaxed and casual feel of these jeans is just what I was looking for.  They are considered a boyfriend jean, but they are a slim cut.  I’m wearing my regular 4s, but I would definitely recommend sizing down if between sizes.  The 2s are actually on their way to me so I can compare the fit.  AND GREAT NEWS!  They sold out of the most popular sizes on Wednesday, but they got re-stocked yesterday!

white tee / cardi / my sunglasses in black / turquoise earrings/ multicolor stripe belt / jeans / knotted bucket bag / bracelet set / must have wedges

The exact cardi above is almost sold out, but there are a couple of similar ones in several different colors that are available and well stocked!  Click on each of the below cardigans to see all the many colors that are available!  One of them has 10 color options, and the other has 12.

The earrings and the bracelet set both give a fabulous punch of turquoise to the outfit. I’ve had the earrings for probably around 5 years.  They are my favorite size of Kendra Scott earrings because they aren’t heavy, and they are still noticeable!  Click HERE for lots of color choices.

The bracelets are new to me (you saw other colors earlier this week).  AND LADIES, if you’ve read my other posts this week, I THINK IT’S CLEAR THAT I’M FLAT OUT OBSESSED.

turquoise earrings / bracelet set

The bag is FABULOUS.  The cute little size, the interesting shape, the wood grain handle, and the vintage inspired macrame netting all come together for a really unique look.

multicolor stripe belt / jeans / knotted bucket bag / bracelet set / must have wedges

And probably my favorite part of the entire outfit, THE BELT.

Like the bag, it has a totally vintage vibe, and I’m here for it.  I think the rainbow pattern is great, and there’s no doubt that the belt alone totally changes the look!  I got a medium in the belt.

white tee / cardi / $16 option for sunglasses / turquoise earrings/ multicolor stripe belt / jeans / knotted bucket bag / bracelet set / must have wedges

The MUST HAVE wedges of course deserve a mention again, because they truly are must haves.  Click HERE if you are new around here and want to see the post last year where I initially gave them their much deserved must have status.  A year later, and I still fully believe that you need these wedges.

They re-released them this year, and they introduced several new colors as well.  I like several of them (especially the blush, mustard, and snake skin), but this cognac color remains my favorite.  They are true to size for me, but some readers that have wider feet have said that they sized up 1/2 a size.  They are easy to walk in, look great with a variety of outfits worn both casually and dressed up, and are reasonably priced at just UNDER $80!!!  Oh, and one more thing.  They are DARLING.

Also of note is that these particular wedges are exceptionally flattering to your legs.   This was something that I didn’t appreciate or realize when I first purchased them last year, but after seeing them photographed in many outfits throughout the year, they definitely have leg lengthening powers.

jeans / must have wedges

Get The Look For Yourself Here:

Here’s the BEFORE and AFTER, ladies!

THERE’S NO DENYING THE POWER OF ACCESSORIES!

And just for fun, I thought I would mix it up once again.  Same outfit formula, but this time worn more casually with my shoreline converse and a large tote.  And with a bandana thrown in for good measure, of course.  #becausebandanasarebackbaby  I’ve been wearing them at home as a headband or tied around my ponytail holders, and they are great fun!

white tee / cardi / $16 option for sunglasses / turquoise earrings/ multicolor stripe belt / jeans / reversible cognac tote / bandana/ bracelet set / navy shoreline converse

Click HERE to see the post last week that highlighted 3 different bags with 3 different bandanas (if you’d like some more bag and bandana styling ideas).

reversible cognac tote / bandana

Get The Look For Yourself Here:

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OUTFIT #2

I saw this tweed jacket online, and I immediately knew how I wanted to style it.

Here’s the basic outfit:  my favorite boot cut jeans (that have Ab-solution technology and make you look taller and skinnier than you already are!), the same white tee as above, and a pair of espadrille wedges.

I mean, the jacket is gorgeous.  But the entire outfit is boring.

white tee / tweed jacket / ab-solution itty bitty boot cut jeans (plus size HERE) / gold espadrille wedges

But not anymore!  Bye bye, boring!  Hello, FABULOUS!

Let’s talk about the clothes first.

The jacket is a gorgeous multi-color tweed.  It gives me Coco Chanel vibes, and I’m totally smitten with the color combo and the fringe.  It’s sophisticated and classic, and it definitely has a vintage feel as well.  I sized up to a medium, which I often do in jackets, but there was a little too much extra room.  I would suggest to just stick to your regular size.

Okay.  The jeans. Look how long my legs look in these jeans!  At almost 5’4″, I wear a regular size 4 in these jeans (if between sizes, size down).  The petites were way too short on me since I only wear mine with taller shoes. I do have to wear them with heeled booties or wedges, but that just helps contribute to the long leg illusion. Click HERE to get to the post where I named them gateway jeans and styled them in several different outfits.  The Ab-solution technology sucks and holds you in, but in the most comfortable way possible!  And they are stretchy, but they don’t stretch out.  They’re magical.  The jeans also come in plus size!

white tee / tweed jacket / earrings / blush necklace / ab-solution itty bitty boot cut jeans (plus size HERE) /blush bag / blush and gold stretch bracelet set / wire bracelet set / gold espadrille wedges

This outfit is smart.  Everything just works together.

Now let’s get to the stunning jewelry.

The blush necklace is a lovely and very muted blush pink quartz.  It has an adjustable chain that can easily be pulled to the desired length and can be worn short or long.  It comes in 8 other color choices, but this blush and the abalone are my favorite.

Blush is definitely having a moment, and this blush bag complements the tweed jacket perfectly.  It’s a good medium size, can be carried by the handles or worn over the shoulder or cross body.  It has several interior compartments and a really cool spotted lining.  I always love it when a bag has a great lining.  (Click HERE if you want to see the bag styled with a mustard scarf and worn cross body.)

Look at the fringe.

Seriously.

LOOK AT THE FRINGE ON THIS JACKET.

And please give me a minute to go on and on about the bracelets.

Take all the time you need to ooooh and ahhhhh appropriately.

The bracelets are GORGEOUS.

I introduced you to this brand earlier this week showing you several different colors of these stretch bracelets (and highlighting the turquoise colorway above), but these wire and gem bracelets are making their debut!  The colors are so vibrant, and the bracelets look much more expensive than they are.  For under $50 for a set of two, I actually think both the stretch bracelets and the wire bracelets are both an incredible value.  These would make excellent gifts.

blush and gold stretch bracelet set / wire bracelet set

The before and after pics speak volumes.

Get The Look For Yourself Here:

I hope today has inspired you!  Don’t be afraid to incorporate accessories into your outfits.  I promise, they will elevate your style, and they don’t have to break the bank.  Just remember, accessories are powerful and transformative!

I also wanted to let you know that Nordstrom’s Spring Sale is live now with up to 50% OFF on top brands!  The sale ends on 04/22, so make sure to check it out before it’s over!  Here are some of my top accessory picks from the sale:

And I couldn’t let you go without mentioning the fact that my favorite earrings EVER are 20% OFF right now!  (And you can click HERE for the makeup post if you missed my makeup routine from a couple of weeks ago.)

pink and red short sleeved sweater / my favorite earrings

a plum-berry shade called Fashion Icon/ a neutral shade called Pillow Talk/ a red shade called Ruby Woo

A huge THANK YOU to Nordstrom and ShopStyle for sponsoring this post.  And a special thank you to the talented Stephanie Drenka for the pictures!

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