Your accessories should talk to each other
People can get really overwhelmed with knowing not only which accessories to pair with an outfit, but also which accessories to pair with each other!
The old rule that your shoes and bag have to match can feel a little flat and old-fashioned now. There's absolutely nothing wrong with matching them, but sometimes it can leave an outfit feeling a bit one-dimensional.
Instead, I like to think about how my accessories are talking to each other, or to the rest of my outfit.
Which is a a really simple way of saying is there an element that works with everything else.
Here's what I mean by that…
1. Pick up a colour from your outfit
Your accessories don't necessarily need to match each other. Instead, they might pick up on something you're already wearing.
For example, imagine a patterned blouse with a little burgundy, cobalt blue and black running through it. You could pair it with a burgundy bag and black shoes.
The bag and shoes don't match each other, but they both have a connection to your blouse, so the whole outfit feels considered and pulled together.
It's a lovely way to bring different colours into an outfit without feeling like everything has to match!
2. Look for a common texture or material
Sometimes it's not about colour at all!
A tan suede bag and chocolate brown suede loafers aren't matching, but the suede creates a lovely connection between them.
Or perhaps you've got some woven sandals and a raffia bag. Again, they're not matching, but there's a common thread running through them.
Even something as simple as wearing gold earrings can create a little connection with the gold hardware on your handbag.
These little details might not be immediately obvious, but they can help your accessories feel like they belong together, without needing to be an exact match.
3. Think about shapes and little details
This is one you might not have thought about!
Imagine wearing a belt with a round buckle and a pair of circular earrings. The shapes are repeating, creating a subtle connection.
Or perhaps you've got a spotty blouse and a bag with a circular clasp. They don't match in the traditional sense, but those little rounded details are talking to each other.
You can do exactly the same with angular shapes, stripes, geometric jewellery or even the metal hardware on your bag and shoes.
It's those little visual links that can make an outfit feel pulled together and intentional without being too matchy-matchy.
4. Repeat a colour somewhere else
Imagine a simple outfit of jeans and a cream jumper, with a bright red bag. If it feels a bit random, you could add a red scarf, red earrings or even a little red detail in your shoes (I love using lipstick for this trick!)
Suddenly, that red bag feels like part of the outfit rather than something you've just picked up on your way out of the door!
The colours don't need to be identical either. Similar shades can work beautifully.
5. Or let one accessory do all the talking!
And here's the important bit. Not everything needs to have a connection!
If you've got a fabulous colourful bag, a patterned scarf or a statement pair of earrings, you can absolutely let that be the star of the show.
Sometimes the contrast is what makes an outfit interesting, and trying to match everything would actually take away from it.
So, what does this mean when you're getting dressed?
Rather than asking yourself, "Does my bag match my shoes?", try being really intentional and asking:
"Is there something connecting my accessories to each other, or to the rest of my outfit?"
It could be a colour, a texture, a shape, a pattern or even a tiny detail.
And if there isn't? That's okay too!
This isn't another styling rule you need to remember. It's simply a little trick to have up your sleeve when an outfit doesn't feel quite right, or you're not sure which accessories to choose.
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