Accessories Make the World Go Around

Good Evening Everyone. This is Oliver B. back again to share more of my fabulous style tips for professionals. Tonight's post covers my absolute favorite topic: ACCESSORIES!! I have some wonderful ideas for the ladies and the men. Let's get started, shall we?

For the ladies, accessorizing is much easier for you than it is for the men. You have so many options it's insane. So why can't you seem to accessorize correctly? I don't understand it. But don't worry ... I am here to help.

Ladies, accessorizing has one simple rule: Make accessories pop without taking away from the outfit as a whole. It's very simple.

How do we make the accessories pop you ask? Color choices, patterns, size. If you're wearing all black, try some jade earrings, or bracelets, or rings. Yes, jade. Gold is always good with black, or jewel-toned accessories. The bright colors pop, but do not detract from the demur suit choice you've made. You can also wear patterned scarves with solid suits, and vice versa. And go big on the accessories (size not quantity). I love oversized pieces (sometimes referred to as gaudy jewelry). A great thing to do is take a few small brooches you have and cluster them together on your suit to make one large brooch. It's a unique touch. Oversized rings have been around for years, and they do not seem to be going anywhere, so feel free to accessorize with a chunky ring. Just remember the old Coco Chanel rule for accessorizing: "When accessorizing, always take off the last thing you put on." It's a great way to make sure you don't overaccessorize.

And I almost forgot ladies ... BAGS! Even Target carries fashionable bags now, large enough for your case files and laptops. Why are you still lugging around two or three ugly bags every day? Get it together.

Now on to the men. It is actually pretty difficult for men to accessorize in a professional setting because let's face it, there are only a handful of accessories you have: pocket squares, rings, watches, briefcases ...

So what can a man do to perk up his look? Well it just so happens that I have found the tip for men of the modern era: change up the color of your accessories. How? Did you know that there are different varieties of gold out there? Well, GQ Magazine recommends switching your plain gold, silver, or platinum accessories for rose gold ones. Roe gold is actually a mix of copper and gold to get the reddish color. Mix a few of these pieces into your look and it will subtly take you to the head of the style pack. Just be careful to select the correct shade of rose gold. You want closer to copper, not closer to pink. You are men afterall. There are rings, watches, cufflinks, even iPad folios with rose gold used. It looks great, and has and old world feel, as rose gold was popular in Russia at the beginning of the 19th century.

As for pocket squares, try contrasting patterns and colors. If you're wearing a navy suit, try a red plaid pocket square. It pops but complements the suit. It definitely gives the suit a Tommy Hilfiger all-American look. Do you get the picture? Get into mixing up the pocket squares more, using them in every day professional dress. They're a fun and inexpensive way to vary up your look.

On to briefcases. Every designer of a men's line carries men's duffel bags, weekend bags, and briefcases. So why did you go buy the old-fashioned combination lock briefcase? Why are you wearing a canvas messenger bag from college? As adults, we need to be slimmer and sleeker in our look. Go out to the department store right now and find a bag suitable of your new station in life.

You can now follow me on Twitter ... @OliverBStyles. And don't forget to catch me on "The Fine Print" ... http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thefineprint

Here's to style. Cheers!