HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It has been far too long since I’ve added a new post. Since my husband and I moved in to our new Nashville home in August it has been a whirlwind! We have been busy with large remodeling projects and as of today I am 15 weeks pregnant. Eek! 🙂 I am overjoyed and so blessed to be pregnant, but I am also more tired than I ever could have imagined. That said, I am planning to get back in to a routine and hope to be blogging on a consistent basis very soon.

As I have been going through this transition with a new home, new job and being pregnant; I have found myself becoming much more minimal. {That and the fact that for a few months most of my stuff was still packed.} In the past I rarely left the house without a pair of earrings on…at least. I have always been all about accessorizing with lots of jewelry everyday (earrings, a ring & bracelets), but these days I find my accessorizing coming more from simple details.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love statement jewelry and layering…but tastefully. I also really love and appreciate the beauty in simple elegance. Now, instead of reaching for a piece of everything when putting together a look, I tend to choose one item that makes a statement. This can be a piece of jewelry, a bag, or a clothing item.

Maybe you’re already a minimalist, or maybe you just like the idea of putting an outfit together with less thought but still feeling fabulous. Whatever your style may be, here are a few tips to help you identify how simple details can be the “accessory” and how one key accessory can be enough.

These photos were taken by Bethany Sousa Photography last January, but these are all pieces that are still part of my everyday wardrobe and will be for years to come. They are also the perfect example of simple details. Even if you are wearing all black (my favorite) your detail can come from any of the following.

Tip 1. TEXTURE

Examples: A fur vest or coat, a sequin skirt or jacket, leather, a pair of shoes with a cut out design, a clutch in a material other than plain leather, lace touches, a piece of jewelry that mixes materials (see the tassel necklace below that combines gold & leather).

Tip 2. PRINT/SHINE

Examples: Houndstooth, leopard, stripes, sequins, patent leather, metallic clothing pieces, gold or silver accents.

Tip 3. HARDWARE

Examples: Studs, zippers, buckles, chain handle on a bag, metal heels on your shoes, cap toes, one statement piece of jewelry, or a belt.

All three of these tips are often combined in one look, but by breaking it down with examples it’s easier when you are shopping for new pieces or just madly searching in your closet for a quick outfit. If I throw on black skinny jeans with a simple black turtleneck, patent leather booties, my leather jacket with zippers on the sleeves and my leopard clutch (which is leather & faux calf hair) I’m set. I have texture, print, shine and hardware without even thinking about jewelry. Just add a pop lipstick color and your ready to go! With this look I would probably even throw my hair in to a messy top knot to keep it simple chic.

I love that even though most of my pieces are black in the image of the rolling rack below; I can wear most of them with each other in multiple combinations creating different mixed versions of the tips I listed above. It’s important to shop for pieces that you can mix & match. Always think of three ways you can wear the item before you buy it.

XOXO