A free ride when you've already paid

Cobalt blue blazer from H&M / Striped dress from Vero Moda / Thin black tie (aka. a thick piece of ribbon)

I'm basically a walking Alanis Morissette song. Many things in life are uncertain, but the one thing I can always count on is "irony". 

The other day, I was at my boyfriend's place, rummaging through the cabinets for a snack. The only thing I found was a box of half-eaten expired crackers. Ignoring his warning not to eat expired food, I proceeded to tell a story about how I bought a box of expired crackers right off the shelf last week by accident, and everything was tasty and fine. Two crackers into the current box, I notice a little brown spot on my cracker. Then I noticed its legs. 

It happens with bigger things too. Like, I'm in the communications industry but I don't actually like talking to people. Or purging all my old clothes, only to have the 90s/early 00s come back into style. 

But that's all probably a little too wordy to put into a song though. 

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The ultimate guide to accessorizing

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Accessories are a key part of fashion. So much so that they can make or break an outfit. I like my accessories, but sometimes I feel like I can go a little overboard, especially if my outfit should already speak for itself. Between juggling creative mix-n-match and minimalist trends, accessorizing isn't always easy. So, I've come up with this guide to help ensure that your accessories are on point.

Understand Your Accessories

First of all, you need to understand why accessorizing an outfit is worth it. Many fashionistas think of wearing accessories as a creative process that allows them to give life to their personality. Some even consider it an art form. But that isn’t the main reason why you should be accessorizing. They can help you stand out, sure, but they will also help you save money. How is that possible? If you have lots of accessories that you can pair with different outfits, you won’t have to buy as many clothes so often. You’ll be able to keep experimenting with various items to create a myriad of looks. Being able to be this creative with your wardrobe will certainly cut down on all your shopping.

Start Small

If you have never really accessorized before, it can feel quite daunting at the start. However, start small and you can gradually build up to wearing huge pieces of bling! One of the easiest ways to get into accessorizing is to start off with small pieces of jewelry. They don’t have to be too brash; just some simple stud earrings will work. If you don’t own any jewelry yet, you can take a look at online retailers such as elf925 online sterling silver jewelry. Once you feel confident about wearing jewelry, branch out to other accessories. You could start wearing metallic belts with jumper dresses or top off your work outfit with a sophisticated hat.

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Glam Up Ill-Fitting Clothing

It can be very annoying to get home with some new clothes, just to find that they don’t fit you! First of all, that’s why you should always try on the clothes in the store! Secondly, there’s no need to worry – accessorizing can help you out! Invest in some expensive shoes and handbags. Then all you need to do is add these to an outfit that is slightly oversized or doesn’t look quite right. Glamorous shoes and handbags will take everyone’s attention away from the slightly below-par outfit. You never know, everyone might think you intended it to look that way! So remember this tip next time you think you’ve wasted money on clothes – chances are you can save the outfit!

Use Accessories To Add Colour

If you always seem to wear black or dark shades, accessories are a very easy way to add a burst of color to your outfit. And you won’t have to go out and buy new clothes as colorful accessories always look better against a dark outfit. You can stick to your dark color tones in your usual work outfit. But how about adding some of your vibrant personality by adding a bright handbag? Belts and scarfs are also fantastic for adding colors. And you don’t have to stop there – how about playing with patterns too? You’ll find that animal print is having a moment at the minute, and there are many scarves, shoes, bags, and belts covered in it! You can always go the opposite way and wear plain accessories with a very colorful outfit. Some bold black belts, jewelry, or a scarf can help to break up a vibrant outfit which would have otherwise looked too much.

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Don’t Forget Your Hair

Accessories can go in our hair as well and add some style to our hairdo! If you have ever attended a wedding, then you will know how extreme hair accessories can be. Fascinators are often worn at weddings, but there’s no reason why they have to be restricted to these special days. Just like a hat, you wear them on top of your head. However, they are a lot smaller than hats so will show off more of your hairdo. And the best thing? You won’t get the dreaded hat hair! They are usually very expensive in the shops, but many people choose to make their own at home. If you aren’t feeling too confident about wearing a fascinator, you can keep things simple with some cool hair clips and bobbles.

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How to: Get easy effortless waves with a hair straightener

Having super thin hair, I like having a bit of volume to my hair without a lot of effort. Reading other tutorials, I don't know what their normal routine encompasses, but I don't consider mousse, hairspray, hair pins, and 10+ minutes to be "effortless". So, I came up with my own trick that only takes 2-5 minutes and no extra fuss.

My Irresistable Me professional flat iron instantly heats up, which really helps when I press snooze too many times. With diamond and tourmaline technology, I actually don't need to spray my hair before use because my hair is truly still smooth and not fried afterwards. 

How to get the look: Instead of wasting time sectioning off my hair, I just grab strands and start curling. To do this, clamp the strand of hair between the straightener and pull the hair while curling inwards, holding the straightening iron vertically. I like really loose waves, so curling from the mid-section of my hair to the end of each strand typically takes about 3 seconds at 370 degrees heat. 

The beauty about these messy waves is that it really doesn't matter if you're a little sloppy with the technique. Some waves bigger than others? Miss a few strands? No problem! Remember, effortless waves should actually be effortless. Just run your fingers through your hair a bit and you're good to go. I still have a few fly-aways in my finished photo below, but I kind of like it like that - it really adds to the "I woke up like this" polished messy look.

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How to: Wear a maxi dress

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Maxi dresses are dresses that typically reach all the way to the floor. They can come in different shapes, patterns, and colours, but they can be notoriously hard to style for some people. Some people naturally throw on any maxi dress and incredible, while others need to put a little more thought into things. Here’s what you should know to pull off a maxi dress:

Keep Things versatile With Layering

You don’t have to wear a maxi dress by itself every time. You can keep things nice and versatile by layering your dress up in different ways. You can wear a turtleneck underneath a v neck dress for warmth and interest. Adding jackets and different things will always make your outfits look more interesting.

Add Edgy Accessories

Edgy accessories will give your dress more personality and character. Why not wear your dress with a cool hat, or some statement bangles? You can play around with different accessories you like to see what works best for you. Adding accessories like this will give your dress the wow factor! You can’t go wrong with a black maxi dress. You can pair anything with it and it’ll still look great.

Structured Pieces Make Them Great For Work

Think you can’t wear a maxi dress for work? Think again! Structured pieces make them great for work, so add a nice blazer or jacket to smarten up your look. Although maxi dresses are a good casual piece, this doesn’t mean you can’t find ways of dressing them up. You can wear them any time!

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White Sneakers Make The Perfect Casual Shoe

So many people would have you believe that there are only certain types of shoe you should wear with your maxi dress. Sandals and wedges do look great with maxi dresses. Platforms can look great too. However, white sneakers make the perfect casual shoe. Converse or vans will add a casual element and make your dress more wearable for day to day. Many people wear flip flops with these dresses as a way of keeping things casual, but adding a white sneaker could be a cool way to change it up.

Wear The Right One For Your Shape

Knowing your body shape and what suits it is important when you want to wear something like the maxi dress. They aren’t all created equal. Some are great for straight up and down girls who want to create curves, while others will make pear shaped girls more proportionate. Know what kind you need to look for to enhance your shape and you’ll look a million dollars. You don’t always need to stick to these ‘rules’, but they can flatter you if that’s what you want!

I hope these tips have helped give you an idea of how you can pull off that maxi dress you’ve been eyeing. Remember, wearing anything and pulling it off is about having the confidence to do so. These tips will help, but you need to channel the confidence too. Have fun!

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