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How Our Brand Stylist Chooses and Wears Her Accessories
One of the most stylish people at M.M. gives us a crash course in everything statement earrings, belts, shoes, and so much more.
Let’s talk about accessories. For many people (myself included), they can feel like an afterthought. But when styled well, those finishing touches are what bring an outfit from “You look nice” to *jaw drops to floor.* Lucky for us, M.M.’s brilliant Brand Stylist, Nyjerah, loves accessorizing so much, she hosted an entire workshop on how to select and style everything from statement earrings to shoes. Here are her best tips for accessorizing with impact.
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Statement Earrings
A great pair of statement earrings can be the difference between a basic outfit and a statement outfit. But which pair to wear? For patterned pieces, try taking cues from your clothes. You could, for instance, wear the Juliana dress in pin dot jersey with the circular, spiral-y Celia earrings. Or perhaps you’ll pair the stripes of the Samara sweater with the strong lines of the Claressa hoops. Alternatively, you could mix things up with color: Combining warm and cool tones makes an unexpected statement. That said, you don’t have to wear bright colors to make an impact. Pair the Dae top in cream with the all-neutral Mardy earrings for a look that’s all about those geometric lines.
Belts
According to Nyjerah, belts can play a few different roles in an outfit. First, a belt can help you refine a simple tuck. The Shae hoodie tucked into the Milo jeans works on its own, but add the Reid belt, and you’ve got a chic, pulled-together ensemble. Belts (or sashes) can also help define your garment’s silhouette. You can wear the Ellen top without the sash for a relaxed look, or with the sash to create a bit of shape. Finally—and this one’s a classic—you can use a belt to complement your shoes. The thick Beebe belt in black helps bring out the dark tones in the Rowan flats’ snakeskin pattern—and pulls the entire outfit together.
Shoes
If you’re not sure where to start, Nyjerah suggests following this easy rule of thumb: The shorter the hemline, the shorter the heel. A dress like the Marie, which hits a couple inches above the knee on most women, looks great with sneakers and flats, while the longer James dress is an ideal match for high heels. That being said, style rules are made to be broken—this one included—and you should never hesitate to try something new, like wearing your Caitlin shorts with a pair of heeled slingbacks.
Garments as Accessories
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve officially graduated from Accessorizing 101—congrats! Now, we’ll get a little more advanced. One of Nyjerah’s best tips is to think about your garments themselves as accessories. In other words, tweak how you wear and pair your pieces to give them a whole new look. A personal favorite of mine is the half-tuck—a low effort trick that makes a big impact on your outfit. For summertime, try half-tucking a T-shirt into your favorite shorts. You could also experiment with rolling or pushing up the sleeves of your top or jacket for a more casual look, or tying a sweatshirt around your waist for added definition that doubles as convenient, on-the-go storage. When it gets a little colder, you can try out an accent sleeve, which works best with a long-sleeved top and a jacket with bracelet-length sleeves.
Pops of Color
In a similar vein, you can also treat pops of color as accessories—think of bright shades as finishing touches that make an outfit feel complete. A statement shoe, like the Rowan flat in ultramarine, is an easy place to get started. Try it with an all-neutral outfit, like the striped Leslie T-shirt and tusk-colored Caitlin shorts. You could also go for a color-blocked look by pairing some vibrant red shorts with a white top and sneakers. Need some color at the last minute? Tie a bright sweater around your shoulders to take your black suit to a totally different level.