Jenny Larson
Embellishments are always welcomed in the fashion world. You can find any type of clothing with sparkles, lace, large and bright prints and embroidery or appliqués that shine. If you add too much bling in one outfit you can come off looking like a birthday cake covered in flowers that is starting to melt. In other words, a hot mess. Follow some tips to wear your bling in the correct manner to draw attention to your unique style in a good manner.
Embellished Clothes can Make or Break Your Look
Embellished clothing can add a sparkle to your outfits with bling. However, if you overdo it in the wrong manner, you will attract attention for sure–but maybe not in a positive manner.
Less is More
This is the golden rule of embellished clothing. If you choose one item of clothing with embellishments then don’t pair it with another eye opener or you will look too busy and overdressed. Say you choose a top with big lace ruffles, don’t pair it with a matching skirt that is also full of ruffles but instead go for a simple pencil skirt to match with clean lines and in a solid color.
Choose a Darker Fabric
If you are buying embellished clothing for the first time, it’s best to stick to a darker fabric such as a navy blue or black with sparkles on it. This trick will tone down the sparkle and shine a bit so you won’t light up a room with your appearance. Lighter colors tend to make people think your embellishments are larger and busier than they really are.
Choose a Top First
Choose a top or shirt when you are first experimenting with embellishments. If you decide you look a bit more overdressed that the other people you are around, you can always cover up with a jacket to distract from the print or sparkles.
Use Embellishments to Your Advantage
This is a win-win situation of embellishments. You can use the bright or shiny piece of your outfit in the area in which you want to draw attention and it will distract the eye from the area, which you don’t want to play up in your outfit. For example, let’s say you have ample hips but a small bustline, if you add fullness to the bustline with an appliqué or lace, and pair your outfit with simple clean lines in a dark color on the bottom, and then your upper body will get all of the eye-catching attention.
Watch Your Accessories
If you are wearing an outfit with embellishments, be careful with your accessories. The point of the embellishments is to attract attention to them and if you add a lot of large or bright accessories, you will defeat your purpose and look way too overdone for any situation. Choose smaller accessories and don’t layer necklaces and bracelets to appear over dressed. You can still layer your rings without appearing too dressy, but maybe not your earrings and don’t wear super long earrings either.
Where are you Going?
When choosing your outfit you always consider where you are going and how everyone is expected to dress for the occasion. For example, you don’t need embellished clothing to go to court, as a judge will not think highly of you wearing something so bright and colorful. Some workplaces where employees wear business suits and women wear skirts, jackets and high heels may not appreciate too much bling in the workplace to distract from the task at hand. Now a party of any type is a different situation in which you can bling it up or on a girl’s night out–then you can do just about anything you want.
Short All Over Sparkle Dress
A short dress that is entirely made of sparkly material with sequins is fine to wear in a semi-casual setting. You want to keep it on the sophisticated side of sexy though. So you can simply add some black accessories to your outfit so you don’t overdo it. Choose a higher neckline on your all over sparkly dress and then you don’t even need a statement necklace or dangling earrings to go with it. This allows you to look party ready easily without a lot of other items to consider. You can add a simple black clutch, solid black booties and a gold and black ring for your accessories.
A Glittery Metallic Jacket
A shimmer and shine glittery metallic jacket is a great embellished item to add to any wardrobe. You can pair it with a simple one-color dress in an easy to wear style and wear the jacket on your shoulders without your arms in the sleeves to act as a shiny accessory all on its own. You can look hot but chic in the same outfit by adding a large statement necklace to this look.
The Shiny Beaded Band
A shiny beaded band is a great accessory to add to your wardrobe in one simple piece for embellishing any outfit you already own. It will emphasize your curves and define your waist whether you are wearing a dress or a jumpsuit of any type. This works especially well on a dress that is slim and close fitting but not on a loose fitting shift that would have rolls of extra material on top and below the band or belt. Using this as your embellishment will allow you to emphasize your outfit with all the other accessories you decide even if they are a bit large or bright.
Patent Leather Booties
Try adding patent leather booties to your sparkly outfit to look sophisticated without adding extra shine to distract from your outfit. You can find these types of booties in any heel height from flat to quite tall to match to the type of occasion where you will be going.
Metallic Shoes and Handbags
Some people just don’t want to pull off the sparkly appearance and think it doesn’t suit them. You can accessorize a plain black dress or jumpsuit with metallic and shiny shoes and handbags to dress up your outfit without breaking the bank.
Looking Cool but not Overly Sexy
Try a darker metallic fabric and more matte finishes to make an all over sequins with exposed skin to look nice and not overly sexy. You can also add a bit of black leather accessories to tone down the all over sequin appearance. You can choose a darker metallic or sequined blouse and pair it with a simple black leather skirt for a wow factor.
Following these simple tips and tricks will help you to wear your embellished clothing to attract attention where you want it and not to look overdressed.
