Autumn Accessories

Accessories are outfit-finishers that add a splash of style, trend and just enough accent to polish any outfit. In fact, a great wardrobe is humdrum without them. They also let you embrace seasonal trends without breaking the bank, ensuring investment pieces remain trend-proof. Refreshing your accessory wardrobe seasonally is a good practice, so start the habit now by considering these key pieces for fall:

1. Crossbody bag
   Autumn is the season of layers and boxy silhouettes which can be minimized with a crossbody bag. From messenger to bucket to hobo-style, crossbody bags are catch-all, lifesaving everyday purses that get the job done in style. Invest in a quality woven leather crossbody for a luxury statement, a grab-and-go ripstop nylon or cotton canvas one for a casual, sporty vibe, or make a trend statement with accents like buckles, fringe or a drawstring cinch. You can’t go wrong with a crossbody — they manage to keep any look dressed-down and polished at once.

2. Envelope clutch
   A Friday night out on the town is when you want to feel unencumbered by responsibilities, obligations and, yes, even wardrobe. Lighten the load with a simple, sleek envelope clutch just big enough to fit the essentials — smart phone, keys, lipstick — while keeping the look polished and chic. Try matte leather to look understated, patent leather to look sexy, metallic to look flashy, brocade to look sophisticated or sequined to look fancy. Pull the look together by matching jewelry to the clutch to ensure a cohesive style statement.

3. Chelsea boots
   Fall is when life is back to business, schedules are compressed and deadlines loom large. Everyday is a race against the clock which means footwear can’t slow you down. Enter the classic Chelsea boot, which goes with absolutely everything. From wide leg to flared ankle crop to bootleg cut, there’s not a pant leg it doesn’t look good with. Same goes for dresses and skirts, thanks to the hosiery opportunity Chelsea boots present. Shop opaque statement tights in bold solids, fun prints or geometric patterns to add texture, color or both. Remember statement tights count as an accessory, so don’t go overboard with jewelry or makeup.

4. Bracelets
   Fall’s mild temperatures allow for cropped styles everywhere — pant legs, hems and sleeves — so enjoy them before it gets too cold. Bracelet sleeve jackets were built for fall, so use them to showcase a stack of arm cuffs, cluster of bangles or mashup of chains and charm bracelets in your best metal — gold or rose gold for warm temperatures, silver or gunmetal for cool ones. Or build a color story in glamorous gemstones — turquoise, lapis or tigers eye — with a mixture of beads, cuffs, bangles and bracelets to telegraph you’re just as exotic as the stones.

5. Sunglasses
   The most chic outfit-finisher in autumn is a pair of statement sunglasses. Swap out your summer sunnies for something more substantial and sophisticated like oversized tortoiseshell frames, cat eye Havanas or mirrored aviators. Look for thick, heavyweight materials like acetate and quality, high polish metals and consider a fun lens for a fresh, new look — blue, yellow, green or ombré. Statement sunglasses not only elevate your look, the upgrade in quality is appropriate for fall’s heavier-weight fabrics.

See BestLifeOnline.com press feature here.