Must-Have Accessories that Go with Any Outfit

Five All-Purpose Fashion Accessories for Women

Linda Ann Nickerson
How many fashion accessories does it take to complete a well-polished outfit for a stylish woman? How many accessories are too many?

Essentially, five fashion accessories form the basic backbone of a balanced everyday look. What are the top five guaranteed must-have women's fashion accessories that can go with any outfit, from everyday work wear to weekend casual and even dressy ensembles?

Check out these top five all-purpose fashion accessories for women. Of course, many of these all-purpose fashion accessories are also available in more masculine versions for men.

All-Purpose Fashion Accessories: A Basic Leather Belt

A classic, high-quality leather belt is the baseline of a fashionable outfit, tying a woman's entire look together. Even clearance rack apparel in cheaper fabrics can be upgraded by the addition of a sturdy genuine leather belt.

Women may choose from skinny belts to wider cinches, depending on their own style tastes and figure types.

The key is to purchase the best quality belt possible. A woman may skimp on other apparel, but not on her basic belt. A trusty belt can be worn with everything from blue jeans to dress trousers and skirts. In fact, a lovely belt may even go over a billowing blouse, a tailored jacket, a menswear shirt, a stretchy sweater or a figure-flattering dress.

All-Purpose Fashion Accessories: A Great Pair of Glasses

A woman who wears all-purpose or reading glasses may choose to dress up her fashion look with a classic pair of spectacles. A well-crafted pair of stylish eyeglasses can make a true fashion statement.

In fact, some women choose to wear non-prescription glasses simply for the fashion of them, although others may frown upon this practice.

All-Purpose Fashion Accessories: A Quality Wristwatch

When a woman rolls up her sleeves, for work or play, a classic wristwatch can say a lot about her sense of style. A cheap cartoony or plastic digital watch can leave a completely different impression.

A stylish wristwatch need not be costly, but it should be stylish, understated and reliable. Budget-conscious shoppers will opt for basic watches and upgrade the watchbands to match their tastes. (Aren't we all budget-conscious these days?)

All-Purpose Fashion Accessories: Simple Post Earrings

A perfect pair of simple post-style earrings can go with any fashion outfit, from swimsuits to slinky formalwear. Choose from pearls, diamonds or personal birthstones. The stones need not be genuine, if the earrings are made with quality. Many stylish women save their big bling for special occasions, picking their posts for everyday, office wear, recreation and other daily pursuits.

All-Purpose Fashion Accessories: A Sturdy Purse

In past ages, fashionable women used to change their pocketbooks to match their shoes, belts and apparel. Busy, budget-minded women do not fret over this.

Instead, a savvy shopper will choose one quality purse, usually in a basic fashion color (such as brown, navy, black, red or khaki). A woman might choose a white satchel for summer, a brown handbag for autumn, a black bag for winter, and so on. Even so, a best basic bag can go anywhere, from the dining room to the deli, and from the grocery store to the grand opera.

With these five best basic accessories, a fashionable woman can express her sense of style without spending a fortune or too much time determining what to wear and carry. Sometimes, simplicity really is more stylish, after all.

Published by Linda Ann Nickerson - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle and Sports

Linda Ann Nickerson brings decades of reporting and a globally minded Midwestern perspective to a host of topics, balancing human interest with history, hard facts and often humor.   View profile

  • Five fashion accessories form the basic backbone of a stylish woman's balanced everyday look.
  • What are the top five must-have fashion accessories for women, from casual to fancy?
  • Sometimes simplicity really is most stylish, after all.
Linda Ann Nickerson has written and published many helpful holiday how-to's, humor pieces, poems, and informative articles. Click her name at the top to view additional content from this prolific author.

8 Comments

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  • Donald Pennington 6/14/2009

    What's a "fashion?"

  • mayka 6/13/2009

    Interesting suggestions.

  • P V Ariel 6/12/2009

    Ineresting piece Don.
    http://knol.google.com/k/p-v-ariel

  • Wendy Dawn 6/11/2009

    Excellent wrap-up of accessorie that not only tie an outfit together, but kind of tie you together. (I just need a watch.)

  • Phylis 6/11/2009

    Good suggestions. I'm so glad we don't have to keep changing purses anymore.

  • MJ 6/11/2009

    Great article and I totally agree.:)

  • Greenhill 6/11/2009

    Good article, nice read. Thanks!

  • Charlotte Kuchinsky 6/11/2009

    Great job on this. And, by the way, you would die laughing at my happy dance. You gotta remember I'm part Irish and part Native American so it's a cross between an Irish Jig and a Rain Dance. Ha!

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