accessories that carry the day (and evening)

Chanel classic flap, AG Stilt jeans, Eileen Fisher top, French Kande necklace

When relying on a wardrobe composed mostly of basic neutrals, it’s important to have a few accessories that can do some visual heavy lifting.


I really like the lightweight Eileen Fisher top for casual-with-oomph looks. It’s made mostly of hemp, so very cool and breathable, perfect for our still-warm-to-slightly-cool evenings. I’ve also seen it styled with a maxi skirt which looked amazing.

Chanel and Pearls

The necklace is from French Kande. More pearl options. You can read the stories of the different medallions featured in the pieces here.

The bag is a VERY vintage Chanel Classic flap that I purchased several years ago. You can see she’s softened up over the decades (as we all tend to do 😉 ) and the quilting isn’t as perky as with a new bag, but that’s part of her charm. Her skincare routine consists of some gently applied leather conditioner a few times per year.

I think both the necklace and bag are such standout pieces that I didn’t want to clutter up the look so stopped with those two plus my engagement ring which I wear daily (custom design by Wendy Brandes…you can see a great shot of it here).

Sam Edelman ankle strap heels
Sam Edelman “Okala.” Something about the ankle strap makes these feel very stable on the foot.

Which accessories do you rely on to kick it up a notch?

MORE ACCESSORIES WITH OOMPH:

Will be linking up with Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style, linked up with Throwback Thursday at Happiness at Mid-Life.

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19 Comments

  1. Absolutely in love with the necklace!! Just went to their website and everything is gorgeous! Your accessories are always standout pieces. I think I get the most comments on my necklaces…though I do love scarves! Have a wonderful Monday!

  2. I love this look! Classic pieces and I am swooning over that Chanel bag!
    Looks like a fabulous date night outfit or drinks with the girls.

  3. Since I’m in jeans daily, I generally rely on shoes, handbag, watch and jewelry to add on if we’re going out. Usually switch from a large handbag, to either a clutch or a small cross body bag for evening.

  4. Hemp is a lovely fabric; I have a long-sleeved hemp top and would like to find hemp garments more often. Perhaps its “hippie” image is detrimental? I don’t mean anyone seriously thinking low-THC hemp is something you can smoke to get high, but often rather slapdash designs.

    It is also much more sustainable than cotton, and can be grown in a wider range of climates.

  5. Thanks for the link to your engagement/wedding ring saga. Your jeweler is so talented. Love it– the chunkiness, the pivoting rings, the two-tone, different textures, etc. Looks stunning on your hand, and fits beautifully with your personal style!

    As a jewelry nut, I have always been fascinated by what people choose for their wedding rings. There are some super on-line blogs devoted to nothing but people’s wedding ring stacks, celebrity and otherwise– I can never get enough!

    Twenty-two years ago when choosing mine, I knew exactly what I wanted! Wanted a colored stone, some “chunkiness”, and definitely some suggestion of two tone, since I wear more silver and white metals than yellow gold. Also wanted a cushion-cut central stone, which back then was a lot more unusual. So, I got a cushion cut rhodolite garnet, (my favorite stone) set in yellow gold with a halo of small diamonds (set in white gold, hence the two-tone) all around. Wedding band also yellow gold with small diamonds. Then another plain yellow gold band to stack. Finally, I stack the above three rings with a slim carved sterling one, or a polished slim steel band, to enhance the two-tone look. I’m always switching around the order in which I stack them, according to mood. Sometimes will substitute some other ring in, like a gold love knot ring, or a sentimental favorite from my husband with small cabochons.

    I love to hear what other people wear on their fingers, and drool over their choices!

  6. I actually prefer a softer quilted look on the Chanel bag. I have no idea why, but I associate heavy poufy quilting with cheap children’s blankets and less poufy quilting with high quality Mennonite quilts. Maybe that’s why I don’t like Chanel bags. But I do like yours.

  7. I love wearing scarves all the time. If I wear a necklace it’s is not long so that it doesn’t emphasize what doesn’t need anymore emphasis. In fact Betty Halbreich has just the right necklace in photos of her. It just cushions the neck like a ruff. I need a ruff around my neck to soften the whole look. Oh, I also LOVE bracelets. Big chunky arty bracelets. So it’s scarves and bracelets everyday. My purse? Vintage Marco Polo Bottega Venneta. But I wouldn’t mind a Chanel. Maybe if I stopped buying so much makeup I could buy a Chanel instead.

  8. I had a Chanel bag just like yours. I sold it last year as I never used it, thinking it looked dowdy. However, you look fantastic with yours, so now I have some regrets.

    1. Alice, I was very lucky to have found this one before the prices went crazy (even on pre-owned bags). It’s nuts what they’re charging for bags now!

  9. Scarves are my most consistent way to kick up an outfit, either Hermes or a great vintage YSL scarf that I got for a song on eBay. LOVE your Chanel bag, I am liking the vintage ones more and more, not only for their looks but because Chanel has lost its corporate mind over the price increases on a new bag in the past 3 years. Great post, as usual! XO, Jill

  10. So elevated! This combination elevates everything but my physical height! So get why you like it.
    Love the shoes so much (surprise!) and envy the bag, too. Never have wanted an inspired version since my youth … a similar style was hot when I was a teen, but I never got one of those either. I’ve missed so much!
    You look ready for anything!

  11. Oh, just stop it already, Sue 😉
    You just never, ever, ever, get it wrong. Elegant, simple, and sophisticated without being stuffy or pretentious. I’m taking notes, I promise you!

    Alicia
    spashionista.com