What You Could Wear With That Black Number
I’m your fairy godmother. Make a wish. One of these is yours (or two, if you ask really nicely. No more than three, ok, or you might be pushing accessorising to an all new high).
1) JEWELLERY
How long is a piece of string? There’s a whole range of jewellery you can accessorize a gorgeous you with. You could play around with hooped earrings, or if you’re going for a more elegant look, consider a pair of pearl earrings or long-drop one. Bracelets or beads would look fab – rhinestone ones – or chunky wooden or plastic bracelets. Or you could even try wearing a choker. Or why not grab one of those really long beaded necklaces – pick your colour – then loop it a few times for the ultimate in chic.
2) HANDBAG:
My aunt’s crazy about bags. She’d probably fight in a Gladiator ring if she knew she’d get a handbag if she won. A week before she’s meant to go to any occasion, she’ll spend ages deciding which handbag goes with whichever outfit she plans to wear. Ok, so perhaps she’s arguably a tad obsessed, but she knows how a handbag can make or break an outfit.
If you’re decked out beautifully in evening wear (and you do look beautiful – don’t let anyone tell you different), a good quality small handbag or clutch bag would look very Hepburn, dah-ling. For casual wear, a larger over-the-shoulder bag or purse would look fab – one with a good degree of texture and colour to it.
3) BELT:
A bright chunky belt can work wonders on a simple black number (as well as bringing out the waist). Red, yellow, baby blue – take your pick. How daring do you wanna be, hmm?
4) SHOES:
When I say ‘high heels’, you say ‘yay’. High heels. Yay! High heels. Yay! (Who watched Britain’s Got Talent? I’m afraid the unbelievably talentless but loveable DJ Talent rubbed off on me).
Nothing beats black high heels for a sexy look and to make one’s legs look longer and more toned. However, do consider going all out and sashaying in a pair of bold-coloured numbers such as gold, silver or red ones. For example, you could team up a nice pair of red heels with red & gold bangles (or red hairpins) and you’re good to go.
For a more relaxed look, a good pair of low heels like strappy sandals or sling-backs can still make you feel richer than Richard Branson. Consider knee-high boots too.
5) TIGHTS:
I don’t know if you’ve watched a music video called ‘Up’ by a new all-female pop group called The Saturdays, but in it they were all in little black dresses with brightly coloured tights. I think it really worked on them. Worth experimenting with if you have the legs for it.
You don’t have to wear bright tights, of course – you could wear: thick or thin sheered black ones, opaque tights, patterned ones, etc.
6) SCARF/SHAWL:
Scarves are as timeless as black dresses, so experiment with different ones – different colours – to see which one sits well with you. A scarf tied round the neck can look very elegant indeed. Instead of a scarf, you could try a shawl as well, a wrap or a little light cardigan to achieve diverse looks in the click of a finger.
Accessorising your black dress is down to experimentation. Play around and see what suits you – what you feel comfortable in. Most importantly, have fun while you’re doing it.