Whether it's this festive season, or any old night out, I do sometimes struggle with turning an outfit into something special. I'm a jeans and jumper girl at heart, and although I love a bit of glitz, it's something I often drop into my casual daily outfits - meaning I don't have many "dressy" clothes. When it comes to dressing up, sometimes it isn't all about going for a killer dress. For me, the key to amping up an outfit is the accessories worn with it, so here are my favourites...
This Zara bag (here's the same version in black) is my newest bag purchase and one I'm totally in love with. The teal colour is so gorgeous (and on trend) and the silver hardware is perfect for me. I almost exclusively wear silver jewellery so although I don't mind having the more common gold hardware on bags, it's lovely that I know have the option to match a bit more. I used to think coloured bags were hard to work, but this gem colour is so rich that I find it just makes an outfit look more luxe immediately, no matter what colour palette I've got going on.
Another bag option is this little red velvet bag from Topshop (similar). In the same way as the Zara bag, this one adds a little luxe to a look, and the cushioned effect with the tiny gold embellishments makes it look like a sweet vintage number. Again, the deep gem colour goes with so much, and it looks way more expensive than it actually is.
To move on from bags, I'm obsessed with this pair of tassel earrings right now. I haven't worn dangly earrings in years, but after seeing these all over Instagram I headed to my local Topshop and picked out this rose gold pair. The colour is actually quite close to my hair colour, so I love that there is a subtlety when I wear it - but the shimmering thread still adds glitz and the shape is pretty statement. I like that with a big pair of earrings you don't need to wear much other jewellery, and just let them do the talking.
And finally, we've got to talk shoes. I'm a little obsessed with these Topshop sequined heels, and so happy I took the plunge and bought them. As much as I love sparkle, I really do avoid buying fancy shoes because I just don't get lots of wear out of them - but I couldn't resist these, and my shoe wardrobe was calling out for some colour. The great thing about these multi-coloured shoes is that they will go with any outfit as there's bound to be a complimentary colour in there! I can't lie, they're not the most comfortable heels I own, but they don't kill my feet and they've scratched my itch for jazzy shoes.
Accessories like these, even though they are pretty simple, are excellent ways to step up any outfit, even taking some from daytime to night. Think how much a jeans and tee combo would change with those heels, earrings and a killer bag! I've been in such a casual rut recently that I'm enjoying experimenting with more glamour in my life, even if it's just throwing on a cute pair of earrings when I head out to town. What accessories do you love to amp up your outfits?