Fall’s Favorite Accessories Inject New Life into Your Wardrobe

When fall fashions hit the stores, sorting through the looks that will work for you can be difficult. Even when you just don’t feel your best, you can always count on accessories to liven up your look, fit in your budget and rarely make you concerned about whether you have gained weight or not. Here’s a look at accessories, or what can be considered accoutrements, that will have you looking like a fashion plate.  

A love of gloves
Your cropped jackets and short-sleeved sweaters will appreciate elbow-length gloves, either in leather or wool. Think of them as equivalent of last year’s layered Henley.

Great Opaques
Get tight with opaque stockings for day or night this fall. Pair them with sandals or peep-toe shoes, or to freshen up your little black dress, wear a pair in black or a bold color for a fresh take.

Hue New?
Not ready to commit to the bright jewel tones coming out for fall? Take them to your hands or feet in the form of handbags and shoes. Vibrant shades can add a punch of color to a neutral palette.

Girls in the Hoodie
Don’t think of the hoodie as just a look for the gym. This look can advance your fashion sense threefold when you choose a bright color (no grays here) and a luxurious fabric (think cashmere). Then wear it on top of your cocktail dress as a coat, or over a pair of skinny black pants with heels for an elegant look.

Go Hands-Free
Your cell phone has gone hands-free, so why not that one accessory that always seems to be in your hand, your handbag? Messenger-style bags draped across your body add a distinctly sporty twist to your outfit.

Shoe-ing Off
One of the quickest ways to update your wardrobe — shoe boots, the hottest accessory for feet this fall. They wear well with everything from skirts to wide-legged pants, and they may become best friends with your opaque tights.

Tough Girl
If the hoodie with your cocktail dress seems like too much, the leather jacket with a super-feminine dress may be a stretch. Try it; you might like the contrast of tough and soft.

Pile It On
Maximizing your jewelry should be no problem. Opt for layers of jewelry or just super-size your key pieces, such as bangles and rings.

Turn It Around
Do you remember wearing your Benetton cardigan backward in the ’80s? The look returns this fall. Give old cardigans or even V-neck sweaters new life with this look. Just make sure the sweater is long and pair it with leggings.

It’s a Cinch
Keep the same winter coat as last year for those chilly days, but update it with a wide belt cinched around your waist; it just adds ladylike flair to your outerwear.

Your Handbag Guide
Every season seems to feature some kind of “It” handbag – that piece you want to be seen carrying no matter what the expense. This season, handbags have grown to the point that you can opt for color, texture or style and still end up with the most enviable bags on the street. Consider this your guide to building your handbag portfolio.

Crayola Color
Whether it’s royal blue, electric lime, neon carrot, shocking pink or outrageous orange, eye-popping colors have shown up on the one accessory you can interchange easily to make a statement. Handbag designers such as Fendi, Miu Miu and Mulberry have dropped the blacks and browns for color this season. Add a jolt to your outfit in a very now way. Try wearing bright colors with the gray palette that is dominating fall fashions.

Clutch Play
The clutch has come a long way from being just an evening bag. Now, oversized styles in leather show up by day, while boxy versions bedecked in jewels turn up at night. Designers such as Chloé, Marni and Jimmy Choo have opted for these designs. Go for an understated oversized clutch that you can carry from the office to evening.

Chain Gang
Go uptown with chain details in either delicate or chunky links. Designers such as Marc Jacobs and Dolce & Gabbana like this rock-star enhancement on their handbags. Whether you go subtle or outrageous, chains add a touch of luxury to your look. Pair chains with a contrasting fabric such as tweed.

Patent Pending
Good old patent leather has grown up, taking on more colors than just black. Navy, gray, red and brown all show up in this shiny fabric. Look to designers such as Alexander McQueen or Anya Hindmarch when you want to add a dash of gloss to your wardrobe. You’ll have the perfect amount of polish.

Shouldering the Weight
Elongated shoulder straps have made the messenger bag a bit more sophisticated. Marni, Miu Miu and Marc by Marc Jacobs all took this collegiate look and made it work for the sophisticate. Wear this style across your body with a skirt suit.

Metal Head
Metallics have gone from punchy trend that lasts one season to essential in your wardrobe, and handbags are the perfect way to inject some metal into your closet. Designers such as Bottega Veneta and Roberto Cavalli have become fond of the antique golds, silvers, coppers and bronzes that find a home on your shoulder. Look for antiqued finishes to add to sophisticated energy to your wardrobe.

Susan Stapleton is LifeStyle Magazine’s fashion editor.