Why Thou Shalt Accessorise
[ 12 February 2008 ]
[Guest post by Audrey.]
There is a Latin phrase that goes, ‘Vestis Virum Facit’. Translated, it means, ‘The Clothes Maketh the Man’.
Personally though, I think there needs to be a second point added onto that: Accessories Maketh the Outfit. Now I have no idea what the Latin for that is going to be, but my point is that dressing well is not just about what top and pants you’ve decided to pick up off your floor, shake off and put on. It’s vital that you understand the importance of accesorising. To add the finishing touches — a little tweak, a point of difference. Think of it as crossing your t’s and dotting your i’s before you leave the house in the morning.
Good accessories, when worn well, do a number of things. For starters, accessories are surprisingly practical. Your biggest accessory will be your trusty man-bag, but it goes further than that. A nice wrist watch will make sure you’re never late for meetings and appointments. Scarves and gloves will keep you warm. Hats and caps shade you from the sun. Sunglasses protect your eyes and stop you from getting crinkly eyes later in life, and belts stop everyone from seeing you in your tighty whities. Without the basic accessories, we’d barely function as fully-clothed human beings. They’re important!
On the sneaky side though, they can also hide a multitude of sins. A well proportioned neck tie can elongate your body (or shorten it if you need it). A nice, fashionable hat will help you survive a bad hair day unscathed. Or imagine it’s winter and you had a hot date last night but the girl bit the hell out of your neck while you made out at the cinema. A spiffy scarf will make sure nobody sees it, and make you look quite distinguished, when secretly you’re sporting the tell-tale sign of a fun-filled, naughty evening. That, my friend, is the wonder of accessorising.
A picture paints a thousand words, and likewise certain accessories can communicate things to everyone without you even having to speak a word. How many girls do you know that will wear a ring on their wedding finger just so guys won’t hit on them? That’s a perfect example of accessories at work. A button badge of your favourite band tells everyone in a five metre radius about your musical taste. You’d be surprised how much something like a small pin or kerchief or some other small addition to your outfit can communicate to your surrounding public.
They can even be a conversation starter or ice breaker. An interesting necklace from your trip to Zimbabwe or impressive technological watch that translates English into a fun foreign language can be quite the conversation piece at a party or bar — or give someone who’s taken a fancy to you an excuse to come up and talk. Accessories can also give an outfit just the tweak it
needs to change it from one occasion to another. A quick change in belt and shoes can change a work outfit to a going-out-for-drinks outfit without you having to take a change of clothes and lug a bag around for the rest of the evening like the rest of the suckers from your office.
Now, Johnny Everyguy, just TRY and tell me you don’t need accessories. They’re so versatile and important. I’m sure now you’re wondering how exactly you’ve managed to cope so long with nude necks and boring, bare wrists. The time to accessorise is now! You just need to know how to really work them.
There are so many different options out there as far as accessories go. You just need to find something that fits you, your life and your own personal style. What sort of items or look do you you think you want to focus on? Do you prefer silver or gold? Does a necklace with charms sound good to you? Or perhaps a leather wrist cuff and a diamond stud in your ear? An old-school trucker hat and wallet chain? A sharp, skinny tie and braces? Shiny rings? Exquisite cufflinks? A felt fedora?
Just remember the main rule about accessorising yourself: less is more. Accessories are made to be little accents, and designed to be a point of difference. It’s vital that you don’t over do it — a striped scarf, some fuzzy mittens and a colourful, pom-pom beanie all worn together might make you look like you’re eight years old. A cowboy hat, snakeskin belt and bolo tie is a bad combination too, because you don’t want to look like you’re playing dress-ups. We’ll leave that to Vince Noir.
Personally, I like clean lines, robust shapes and simplicity. I’m a big fan of silver, black and white for accessories, so naturally I think Nixon’s range of men’s watches are incredible — particularly the “Metal Dork“ which is equal parts shiny and technological. I think jewellery should be sentimental, so I’m a firm believer that you should rarely buy it for yourself, and instead let others come to the party. Whether it be a beautiful ring from your significant other or a plastic heart pendant your best friend got for you from a gumball machine, I love the feeling you get from having something sentimental around your wrist or neck.
If you’re lacking inspiration though, just have a look around. Accessories are huge for guys right now and there’s an infinite number of places to get ideas. I’ve always been a fan of scarves but I doubt anyone really pulls off the scarf-and-blazer combo better than Jude Law in ‘Alfie’ — a look I decided last winter to make my own. There’s nothing wrong with taking a cue from
somebody. Grab some magazines, watch some video clips or just have a look around your local coffee shop or record store.
Inspiration is everywhere, boys! So don’t be too scared to get out there and try something new. Trying new things is always tricky, particularly if you’re easing into the world of accessories after years of your life without them. Give things a shot, ask your friends or lovers what they think. It might take a few tries but I’m sure you’ll find something that fits. And when you do, you’ll wonder how you ever dressed yourself without it.
Audrey xoxo
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i think this definitely applies to women to. personally, accessories are the most important part of my outfits. accessories are what make outfits interesting. & that’s why more men need to accessorize, my man included.
I really, really like Audrey’s articles, even if they are guy-centric. It shows another side of this crazy world of fashion, and almost everything he says applies to us ladies too!
Thanks Audrey
boys in hats, boys with random bits of jewellery like necklaces or cool wristbands (not those horrible rubber things!) & boys who rock the flair (my word for scarves) are AWESOME.
x
Brilliant as always A.
I’m so glad my new Valentines Day date knows how to accessorize – a guy that will wear accessories makes it easy to pick out quirky gifts that he will actually use, instead of the guys that watch you spend $80 on a scarf and then use it to bandage a dogs sore leg one day sigh.
PS: so is perfume considered an accessory? Because I’ve love to hear your take on all things scent-sual. (very bad pun)
Song – a scent is an essential, not an accessory. But stay tuned, I’ll share some thoughts on THAT very soon.
Oh yes, a hat, a nice pair of (leather) gloves and some timeless, bold-framed glasses will get a fellow a long way indeed.
Nice one Audrey! And to the girlies out there:
Check out Bobbi Brown’s website. At the moment she had a video on her site about her inspiration for her Spring ’08 makeup palette. It features this amazing raspberry pink blush.
She said that she was in Prague at a market and bought a pink raspberry coloured pashmina, and when she, or indeed anyone else, is wearing it, it brings out amazing tones in their skin and gives them a healthy flush. All in one scarfe!
So yes- My point is that I agree with Audrey. Accessories make all the difference!
So true! Although for me, I always pick at things like clanky bracelets, which makes it more difficult!
(Psst: Adiuncti apparatum facit, I believe)