The Weekend Read Blog: The Finishing Touches For Your Christmas Outfit

Hello!

Following on from last week's Christmas partywear edition, we're turning our attention to the finishing touches. You've found the perfect outfit. The dress fits beautifully, the trousers are just the right length, and you've finally decided what to wear to the Christmas party. But then comes the question that can bring the whole process to a grinding halt: What on earth do I wear with it? The chandelier earrings or the simple pearls? A necklace or no necklace? Does my handbag have to match my shoes? Can I wear a statement necklace AND statement earrings? And is there such a thing as too much sparkle at Christmas?

We can spend so much time worrying about what we're going to wear that we often overlook the very things that can make an outfit look fabulous. And the best bit? You might already own everything you need. Sometimes the difference between an outfit that looks perfectly nice and one that looks absolutely wonderful is nothing more than a pair of earrings, a clever belt or a beautiful handbag.

Finding the Right Accessories

Let's start with something we tell our clients regularly: Accessories should enhance an outfit, not compete with it. Imagine a simple navy dress. On its own, it's lovely but perhaps a little understated for a Christmas party. Let's try some different accessory options to change the look:

• Add oversized chandelier earrings, a metallic clutch and a pair of elegant shoes, and suddenly it feels glamorous.

• Swap those earrings for delicate pearls, add a beautiful brooch and a structured handbag, and the same dress becomes sophisticated and timeless.

• Introduce a colourful statement necklace, a contrasting handbag and a fabulous pair of shoes, and you've created something altogether more playful.

Same dress, three different looks. The trick is to decide what you want your accessories to say about you. Are you feeling glamorous? Understated? Romantic? Dramatic? Your accessories are an opportunity to express your personality without changing your entire wardrobe.

The Jewellery Dilemma: When is Enough, Enough?

Hands up if you've ever put on a necklace, added earrings, tried a bracelet, looked in the mirror and thought, something isn't quite right. One of the easiest ways to accessorise successfully is to think about creating a focal point. If you're wearing a fabulous statement necklace, perhaps your earrings can take a quieter role. Or if you've chosen dramatic chandelier earrings, you might not need a necklace at all.

But here's something important: there are no absolute rules. Someone with a Dramatic clothing personality might look incredible wearing several bold pieces together. A Classic personality may feel far more comfortable with a simple necklace and matching earrings, while a Romantic might adore layered jewellery, pearls and delicate sparkle. It's about balance, scale and, above all, you.

And don't forget your neckline. A v-neck can look beautiful with a pendant that follows its shape, an open shirt can provide the perfect backdrop for layered necklaces, whilst a high neckline often looks fabulous with statement earrings or a brooch instead.

One little tip we love: if you wear glasses, remember that they're already an accessory sitting right on your face. Consider their shape, colour and scale when choosing your earrings.

Does Your Handbag Really Have to Match Your Shoes?

Goodness, how many of us grew up believing that our shoes and handbags had to match perfectly? Thankfully, those days are long gone. Now, we much prefer accessories that coordinate rather than necessarily match:

• A burgundy handbag with silver shoes can look gorgeous if the silver is repeated in your jewellery.

• A velvet clutch can complement a satin blouse without being exactly the same colour.

• A brightly coloured handbag can become the standout feature of an otherwise neutral outfit.

The secret is to create a relationship between your accessories through colour, texture, shape or finish. And while we're talking about shoes, can we make a plea for comfort? There's absolutely no point looking fabulous at 7 pm if you're desperate to take your shoes off by 8.30! Metallic loafers, embellished flats, elegant ankle boots and low block heels can all work beautifully for festive occasions. Choose footwear that suits both your outfit and your feet. Confidence is considerably easier when you're not in pain.

The Forgotten Accessories Hiding in Your Wardrobe

We suspect that many of you have a drawer, box or cupboard containing accessories you haven't worn for years. Perhaps there's a beautiful brooch inherited from your mother, a silk scarf bought on holiday or a sparkly evening bag that's only been used once. Well, it's time to bring them out!

Brooches, in particular, are having a fashion moment, and we absolutely love their versatility. Try pinning one to the lapel of a blazer, fastening a scarf with one or adding one to a simple dress. You can even use a brooch to decorate a plain evening bag.

Belts are another accessory that can completely transform an outfit. A metallic belt can add festive glamour to a simple dress, while a beautifully shaped buckle can create a focal point on an otherwise understated look.

And don't overlook hair accessories. A velvet bow, jewelled hair clip or elegant headband can add just the right amount of Christmas sparkle without spending a fortune. Our advice? Before buying anything new, have a proper rummage through your accessories. You may be surprised by what you've forgotten you own.

Why The Same Accessories Don't Work For Everyone

Have you ever admired a fabulous pair of earrings on someone else, bought something similar, and then wondered why they just don't look quite right on you? Often, it's because accessories need to work with your individual proportions and clothing personality. Someone with delicate facial features may find very large, heavy jewellery overwhelming. Equally, someone with stronger features or a more dramatic style will find tiny, understated pieces disappear.

Scale matters, and so does shape. Angular jewellery can create a striking effect, while rounded, softer shapes often feel more harmonious on someone with a Romantic clothing personality.

And then there's colour. As colour analysts, we know just how much difference the right metallic finish can make. Warm golds, champagne tones and coppery finishes can be particularly beautiful for Springs and Autumns, while silver, platinum and cooler metallics are perfect for Summers and Winters.

The same applies to gemstones, beads and coloured accessories. Rather than automatically reaching for black or silver at Christmas, why not experiment with the greens, pinks, blues or reds from your palette? Your Christmas accessories don't have to be predictable.

One Outfit, Six Personalities

Let's imagine six women wearing exactly the same outfit: navy wide-leg trousers and a beautiful cream satin blouse. How would our six main clothing personalities make the outfit their own?

The Dramatic: Opt for oversized sculptural earrings, a bold metallic clutch and striking shoes. Your accessories should make a statement, creating an outfit that feels modern and confident.

The Classic: Choose pearl earrings, a beautifully structured clutch and elegant metallic shoes. Your jewellery is refined, with accessories coordinated so the overall effect is effortlessly polished.

The Natural: Choose textured pieces that feel celebratory but never stiff. You could wear a long pendant necklace made of matte brushed metal, a soft suede green crossbody bag, and chic, metallic leather flat mules. Your festive look is effortlessly warm and inviting, perfect for enjoying a cozy Christmas soirée.

The Gamine: Opt for playful, witty holiday details that spark conversation. You could wear mismatched earrings, perhaps a gold star and a tiny pearl bauble, paired with a compact, glitter-injected box clutch and sharp patent leather ankle boots with a metallic heel. Your look is clever, energetic, and brings a punch of festive fun to the party.

The Ingenue: Add decorative metalic earrings, a softly embellished handbag and a delicate bracelet. Perhaps there's a pretty bow or floral detail somewhere. The overall look is feminine and soft.

The Romantic:  Embrace full-throttle holiday glamour and opulence! Style the blouse with dazzling crystal chandelier earrings, a plush, red velvet clutch, and strappy metallic stiletto heels. Your jewellery catches the candlelight beautifully, creating a Christmas party look that is deeply luxurious, sophisticated, and enchanting.

Six women, one outfit and very different results. None is right or wrong. That's the joy of understanding your clothing personality. Once you know what works for you, accessorising becomes so much easier.

Five Styling Tricks That Make a Big Difference

Before you head off to your Christmas celebrations, here are five of our favourite finishing-touch tricks:

Repeat a colour. Pick up one colour from your outfit in your earrings, bag or shoes. It creates a lovely sense of harmony.

Mix your textures. Velvet, satin, metallics and sparkle can look wonderful together, especially when the overall colour palette feels cohesive.

Think about proportions. A very large handbag can overwhelm a delicate evening outfit, while a tiny clutch may look out of balance with a more dramatic ensemble.

Don't forget your face. Earrings, necklaces, scarves and even lipstick draw attention upwards. Choose colours and shapes that flatter your features.

Take one thing off, or add one thing on! Coco Chanel famously advised removing an accessory before leaving the house. We think that's excellent advice for some personalities, but others might benefit from adding that final statement piece. The important thing is knowing which approach works for you.

This week, we're setting you a little challenge. Find one outfit you already own that could work for a Christmas party, festive lunch or evening out. Now, without buying anything new, create three different looks using accessories from your wardrobe. Perhaps one for a Christmas lunch, another for drinks with friends and a third for a more glamorous evening. Try combinations you've never considered before and experiment with different jewellery, handbags, shoes and scarves.

And here's the important bit: take photographs of each look. It's amazing how seeing an outfit in a photograph can help you spot what works and what doesn't. We'd absolutely love to see what you come up with, so do send us your pictures!

Final Thoughts: Your Unique Christmas Flair

If there's one thing we'd love you to take away from this week's edition, it's that great style isn't necessarily about having more clothes, more jewellery or more handbags. It's about knowing how to use what you already have. The right accessories can bring an old favourite back to life, make a simple outfit feel special and help you express your personality without spending a penny.

And if you sometimes struggle to understand why certain accessories work while others don't, that's exactly the sort of thing we explore during our Personal Style sessions. Once you understand your clothing personality, your proportions and your colours, those finishing touches become far less of a guessing game.

So before you rush out to buy something new for Christmas, open that jewellery box, dust off those forgotten handbags and have a little fun. You might just discover that the perfect Christmas party accessory has been sitting in your wardrobe all along.

We hope you enjoyed this edition and we love to hear your feedback. Next week in The Weekend Read we will be discussing hair; haircuts, hairstyles, hair colour and what could look best on you.

Best wishes,

Judi & Jenny xx

Click Here For Our Christmas Accessories Inspiration

Judi Prue

Personal Style Coach

'Knowing is the key to glowing'

Tel: 07904 347847

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