Don't Forget The Accessories

Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt like your outfit was missing something?

Maybe you put on your favorite dress or you paired up your best blouse and hottest jeans for date night and felt just “meh”.

You probably forgot the accessories!

This often-overlooked element will complete your look and help you get that “put-together” feeling.

Even jeans and a t-shirt look better with a belt, great shoes, and the right jewelry to complete the outfit.

It’s like the icing on the cake.

Let’s start with belts.

If the loops are there, please use them! It just gives your jeans or pants that “complete” feeling.

You can add a leopard belt to accent a solid top and pair of jeans or you can try a fun Obi belt which is fantastic for belting a loose black dress in the Summer.

Don’t forget to accessorize!

Next up: jewelry. Whether it’s earrings or a necklace, don’t forget the impact your jewelry can make on an outfit. Check out my favorites below.

It’s a shoppable board, if you see something that strikes your fancy, click on the picture and check it out.

Speaking of icing on the cake… my absolute favorite accessory for jeans and a t-shirt is a pair of statement earrings or a long tassel necklace, usually just one or the other for me. But if you love a good statement earring AND a long necklace, you do you! I also feel much more “complete” when I accessorize a simple outfit with a bunch of gold jewelry. Combine a pair of studs with a simple bracelet, an inital necklace, and rings and you’re accessorizing just like Jennifer Anniston.

And finally, shoes.

Don’t let them be an afterthought. Red flats are the best pop of color and sass for dark skinnies and a black tee. Strappy pumps are great for a party top and jeans… see where I’m going here? Don’t forget the effort in shoes. Below is a shoppable board, click on it and dig in!

If you think your shoe game could use a little work, check out the fun ideas above. Do you have red flats? If not, why not start there? I use my red flats whenever I need something special for a “plain” outfit like jeans and a black tank or jeans and a leopard sweater.

How about an animal print shoe? Leopard flats are a great idea, printed pumps rock, and checkout the booties too!

As always, if you’re looking for a style update and want me to help you, let’s get going. Get it done now, no more boredom with your current style.

Xo, J

The "Third Piece" Rule For Getting Dressed

Ever hear of the 3rd-piece secret in Personal Style? Ok maybe it’s not a secret. Let me start by telling you that the 3rd piece rule/tip/secret/trick is THE answer to the most frequently asked questions that

I hear everyday:

So it goes a little something like this, start with your basics. You know, pants and a top. Easy, right? Put your jeans on, put your top on, and you’re totally dressed right? Nope! Take your outfit to the next level by adding that third piece ……..

most easily that 3rd piece is a jacket, cardigan, or blazer.

When styling my clients, the most frequently used items for a 3rd piece are as follows:

• A layer: this can be a vest, cardigan, denim, jacket, blazer… see where I’m going?

• Some jewelry: the #1 thing I do when a woman tells me she LOVES turtlenecks but they feel too plain, I say add a statement necklace! Using jewelry as the 3rd piece can also mean statement earrings or a long, layered necklace over a blouse or tee

• Accessories: adding a scarf might be the most frequently used 3rd piece and in most climates it’s a no-brainer for Fall and Winter but you can also add a hat or belt as your third piece.

1st piece (top) + 2nd piece (bottom) and your 3rd piece to pull it all together !

Just be sure to pull pieces that suit your taste, your Personal Style.

Not sure you have what you need?? Start with a very basic cardigan to go over your favorite striped knit top like this or this.

Or get a little dressier with a blazer here or here.

Even better, go for a moto jacket! Here and here

In the examples below, of course a striped tee and jeans is fine and so is my chambray top with the white jeans. You aren’t doing anything “wrong” with just a top and bottom. Those outfits are good enough but the 3rd piece tip is the way to feel more pulled-together, feel more dressed.

And THAT’S a question I am asked quite a lot!

Outfit ideas that show you the “third piece rule” in action are here on my Pinterest board!

I will continually add lots of ideas so you can be inspired. But just remember…

How to look more stylish? Add a 3rd piece!

How can I feel more pulled-together? Add a 3rd piece!

How do I create outfits? Add a 3rd piece!

You can do it! XO, Jaime