Anyone who has a modicum of style knows that clothing staples can only take you so far. Don’t get me wrong, a pair of well-fitted jeans with an accompanying blouse and a pair of killer pumps will definitely get you places, but they’ll never go the full 100%. For that, to elevate your everyday outfit from the plains of normalcy into the realms of heavenly fashion chic, you’re going to need accessories. But who has time or money for that, I hear you cry. Accessories are so varied, so diverse, that you would need dozens or even hundreds just to have a catalogue on hand to match to your idiosyncratic outfit of the day. Don’t fret. We’ve scaled this list down to include just a handful of the most crucial, must-have accessories that can work for absolutely any outfit regardless of the occasion. Check them out below.
A Classic Watch
One of the easiest and most significant ways that you can up your style game is with a classic watch – this is true no matter what outfit you’re wearing. Going to a fancy dinner party with a cocktail dress and some heels? Classic watch. Meeting up with friends, dressed in jeans and a cardigan? Classic watch. Heading down to the beach in nothing more than a bikini and sandals? You guessed it – classic watch. But what classic watch? True, there’s a massive amount of choice out there in terms of brand, style, size, and so on. A good place to start is by scouring second-hand online marketplaces for reputable brands such as Panerai, Rolex or Patek Phillipe. Not only are they classic brands, renowned for their quality, but you find them at reasonable prices if you look hard enough.
A Wide Brim Hat
Wide brim hats are one of those accessories that instantly and effortless add a serious dose of cool to whatever you’re wearing. They’re simple and to the point, but it’s important to note that the design should be simple too. Don’t overcomplicate things by wearing patterns or bright colours, neutral tones or plain black are going to be your friends in this regard.
Hoop Earrings
Grab your Friends cassettes everyone – the 90s are back. Or rather, they’ve been back for a while, and one of the best things they’ve dredged up that period, besides mom jeans and the Rachel hairstyle, are hoop earrings. When it comes to these beauties the general principle is simple – the bigger the better. Wear them with any outfit to instantly look five times as stylish. And yes, I did the maths – it’s exactly five times.