Look, I Need to Tell You Something
I’ve been in this industry for 22 years. Worked with the best, seen it all. And let me tell you, we’re all messing up accessories. Yeah, you heard me. We’re doing it wrong. And I’m gonna tell you why.
It started last Tuesday. I was at a brunch with my friend Lisa. She’s a stylist, been in the game for 15 years. We were talking about this season’s trends, and she had this new necklace on. It was… well, it was a mess.
I said, “Lisa, what is this?” She said, “It’s the new thing, Sarah. Layering, remember?” I said, “No, no, no. This isn’t layering. This is a disaster.” And that’s when I realized. We’ve lost our way.
First of All, Less is More
I’m not saying don’t accessorize. I’m saying don’t go crazy. You know that saying, “If you have to ask, you can’t afford it”? Well, I’ve got one for you: “If you have to ask if it matches, you’re wearing too much.”
I remember this one time, about three months ago, I was at a conference in Austin. There was this guy, let’s call him Marcus. He had on, I kid you not, 12 bracelets. Twelve! And they were all different colors, different materials. It was like a rainbow threw up on his wrist.
I asked him, “Marcus, what are you trying to say with all these bracelets?” He said, “I don’t know, I just like them.” I said, “Well, maybe you should try liking one or two at a time.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
And Don’t Even Get Me Started on Earrings
Earrings are like the gateway drug to accessory overload. You start with one pair, then you think, “Oh, I can do both lobes,” and before you know it, you’re wearing enough metal to set off an airport scanner.
I had a colleague named Dave. He used to wear these huge, dangly earrings. They were cool, I’ll give him that. But then he started adding more and more. Soon, he was wearing earrings on his earrings. It was like a jewelry mobius strip.
I told him, “Dave, you’re not a chandelier.” He laughed, but I was serious. You gotta know when to stop.
So, What Should You Do?
First, you gotta find your style. And I mean really find it. Not just follow what some influencer is doing. I’m talking about what makes you feel good. What makes you feel like you.
I remember when I first started out, I was all over the place. One day I’d be all minimalist, the next I’d be dripping in diamonds. It took me a while to find my groove. And honestly, I’m still figuring it out.
But here’s the thing: when you find your style, you’ll know. It’s like when you’re reading news today latest and you come across an article that just speaks to you. That’s how you should feel about your accessories. They should speak to you.
And when you find that style, stick to it. Don’t be swayed by every new trend. I mean, look at what happened with those chokers. They were everywhere for a while, and now? Crickets. Don’t be a choker, people.
A Quick Note on Quality
I can’t stress this enough: quality over quantity. It’s better to have one amazing piece than a drawer full of junk. I’m talking about pieces that will last. That will become a part of your story.
I have this one necklace. It was my grandmother’s. It’s not fancy, just a simple silver chain with a tiny pendant. But I love it. It’s a part of me. And that’s what you should be looking for.
And for the love of all that is holy, please, please, please stop buying those cheap, trendy pieces. They’re not doing you any favors. Trust me, I’ve seen the aftermath. It’s not pretty.
And Now, a Word on Mixing Metals
Look, I get it. Mixing metals can be fun. But it can also be a recipe for disaster. You gotta be careful. You can’t just throw a bunch of different metals together and expect it to work.
I had a friend, let’s call her Emma. She was all about mixing metals. She’d wear gold, silver, rose gold, all in one outfit. And it was… a lot. I told her, “Emma, you’re not a metal detector. You can’t just go out there and find all the metals.” She laughed, but I was serious.
If you’re gonna mix metals, do it intentionally. Have a plan. Don’t just wing it. And for the love of all that is good, don’t mix more than two metals at a time. You’re not a walking scrapyard.
Final Thoughts (Kinda)
I could go on and on about this. I mean, I literally could. I have 22 years of thoughts on this stuff. But I won’t. I’ll leave you with this:
Accessories are like the cherry on top of your outfit. They should enhance it, not overpower it. They should be the finishing touch, not the main event. And they should always, always make you feel good.
So, go forth. Find your style. Be intentional. And for the love of all that is holy, lay off the chokers.
About the Author
Sarah Johnson is a senior magazine editor with over 22 years of experience in the fashion industry. She’s worked with some of the biggest names in the business and has seen it all. When she’s not writing, she’s probably complaining about the state of accessories or eating brunch with her friend Lisa.
