How to Accessorize to Look Classy & Look Polished Everyday over 50

Looking for tips about how to accessorize to look classy & look polished everyday over 50?

Accessorizing can be tricky! There are so many questions about how to accessorize, such as:

How Many Accessories Should You Wear?
How to Accessorize a Plain Outfit?
How to Accessorize a Dress?

In this video, I style and accessorize five outfits and share tips for achieving that classic, refined look. Specifically, I will share how to go about choosing the right accessories for your outfits.

This post is all about how to accessorize your everyday outfits.

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Basic Rules for How to Accessorize Appropriately

Accessorizing appropriately is easier than you think. By following a few simple rules, choosing the right accessories will become intuitive.

The accessories you choose will act in one of two roles. They will be the primary focus of your outfit or serve a supporting role. The key is choosing the right accessories is determining the role they will play and not overdoing it.

First things first. Consider these steps as you prepare for the day ahead:

1. Accessorize For Your Day

Decide what you should wear and how you should accessorize based on the weather and what you have planned for the day. Choose fewer, simpler accessories if you are staying at home or are heading into the office. Alternatively, if you have bigger plans, you may want to glam it up.

2. Choose One Focal Point for Your Outfit

This could be any item, accessories or clothing, that adds interest and personality to your look. For example, you could choose an interesting piece of jewelry, such as a turquoise statement necklace, bold bracelet, or gold statement ring. Alternatively, you could wear a clothing item, such as a patterned blouse, statement shoes, or a statement belt. The key is choosing only one piece as the star of the show.

3. Do Not Over Accessorize

So, how many accessories should you wear? When accessorizing, it is best to choose 1-3 pieces of jewelry that complement your outfit. Typically, it is best to steer clear of wearing matching jewelry pieces – such as matching necklace and earrings. As for other accessories, remember less is more. Based upon your style and personality, choose pieces for the look you want to create. But keep in mind that if you want to achieve a classy and polished look, its very important to keep your accessorize simple and effortless.

Five Outfit Ideas and Tips for How to Accessorize Everyday

1. Dress & Accessorize for Your Day and For the Weather

Get The Look: Black Turtleneck Dress , Check Double-Breasted Blazer, Black Knee High Stiletto Boots, Thick Silver hoops, Snake print bag

A big part of feeling good each day involves dressing appropriately for your day ahead. Comfort matters, so choosing the right clothing and accessories can make you feel like a million bucks, or get in your way and pull you down.

If your day involves going to work, you may contemplate how to accessorize for work. Unless you are in a creative field or have a special day ahead that warrants a fancy outfit, it’s probably best to keep your outfit and your accessories quite simple.

It’s fall in Michigan, so for this outfit, I have paired a black turtleneck dress with a simple, yet charming double-breasted blazer and black knee high stiletto boots. This creates a charming, sophisticated silhouette and is very warm and comfortable for a cooler fall day.

Since I am dressing for the office, I choose to keep my accessories very understated, with a pair of thick silver hoops and a small snake print bag. Although both the blazer and bag introduce pattern to this outfit, since the pattern is small and the colors are common (black and white), they work together well.

3. Accessorize Bold Patterns Sparingly

Get This Look:, Burgundy floral dresses (similar/inspired), Black Cashmere wrap, Black Pointed Pumps, Reversible Omega necklace (Gold & Silver), Thick Gold Hoops, Gold stretch bracelet, Gold statement ring

Wearing color is fun and cheerful, but it’s very important to know how to accessorize with jewelry and capsule wardrobe pieces to achieve a classy and polished look when wearing bold patterns.

Beginning with capsule wardrobe pieces, choose solid color neutral pieces to ground your bold patterns. For this outfit, I have selected a pair of black pointed pumps and a black cashmere wrap to balance this outfit.

As for jewelry, keep it simple when wearing bold colors. Wearing a plain gold omega necklace, thick gold hoops and a gold stretch bracelet with this ensemble adds the perfect amount of shine and interest without overdoing it. This look is classy, polished and sophisticated.

3. Have Fun with Neutral Colored Patterns

Get This Look: Leopard Wrap Dress (similar/inspired), Black Moto Jacket, Turquoise Beaded Necklace , Black Pointed Pumps, Thick Gold Hoops, Gold stretch bracelet, Gold statement ring

Accessorizing neutral patterns may initially seem tricky; however, they are actually quite easy and fun to style. If you are wondering how to accessorize a dress with a neutral animal print, the key is first grounding the outfit with solid color basic capsule wardrobe pieces then adding a pop of color.

The black leather moto jacket and pointed toe pumps that I have chosen for this outfit are sophisticated and refined and create the perfect amount of balance.

While typically when wearing any pattern, by default it becomes the main focal point of an outfit. However, as you can see color trumps that concept. The bold color of this turquoise beaded necklace steals the show, works beautifully with this neutral pattern and pulls this outfit together perfectly.

4. Use Statement Accessories with Solid Color Neutral Outfits

Get This Look: Black Turtleneck Dress, Blue jean jacket, Camel Suede Cowboy Boots (similar), Turquoise Pendant Necklace (similar), Turquoise Bracelet (similar), Thick Silver hoops

Black dresses are a staple in our wardrobes. We love them because they are slimming and easy to throw on to look instantly classy and polished.

Learning how to accessorize a black dress will help you create countless outfit options in your wardrobe. This black turtleneck dress is the perfect blank slate for wearing your favorite statement accessories.

For this western inspired outfit, I have paired these fun camel suede cowboy boots, with a basic blue jean jacket and beautiful turquoise pendant necklace. The turquoise necklace is the main focal point of this outfit. Its charming, interesting and not too fussy.

5. Use Accessories to Accentuate Your Best Features

Get This Look: Black Turtleneck Dress, Camel Moto Jacket, Leopard print pumps (similar), Gold Statement Necklace (inspired by Tory Burch long necklace), Gold Textured Hoop Earrings, Gold stretch bracelet, Gold statement ring

Finally, don’t miss the opportunity to select statement accessories that accentuate your best features, especially if you’re wondering how to accessorize a plain outfit.

For this outfit, I have chosen leopard print pumps to bring interest to my legs, gold textured hoop earrings to highlight my cheekbones, and a long gold statement necklace to add extra interest to the outfit.

While I work hard to maintain an attractive figure, my waistline is not my best feature. So, I have avoided wearing a belt to limit the amount of attention to my waist.

This outfit has just the right accessories to highlight my best features and look classy, elegant and polished.