How to Accessorize: A Formula for Success

Fashion / Black & White / Portrait by CubaGallery

Miss America once let us in on a little secret. It was a numbering system to determine what and how many accessories you could wear at one time without overdoing it. (Brilliant, right!?) A necklace counted as two. Each earring counted as one, as long as it was a stud, otherwise each was counted as two. A bracelet on the wrist counted as three but on the ankle (anklet) it counted as five...The max number for an entire ensemble alludes me now. The point is: Miss America, with her numbering system, was trying to make clear for the rest of us what works every time in accessorizing. She conceded to the masses of closely tuned-in tweens with rings on fingers and toes that it really is hard to get it right. (Our heads cock to the right.) That she uses a formula. (We lean forward and begin salavating.) That she would let us in on it if we would give her the crown. So what did we do? We gave her the crown!

There is a fine line between Trendy and Contrived, Effortless and Sloppy, Georgous and Gaudy. How can we know we are making the right choices in accessorizing our lives? Here is how:

(And I ask for nothing except that you continuing reading my blog posts.)

1. Follow the rules. And then break one. 
There are rules but we have seen countless examples where you can break all the rules and that is a hit too. You just have to know your place. You are probably not famous in Fashion or Design so heade the rules like the freshmen that you are and then go Teretts on just one thing. One thing. This is where Overboard lives. Consider yourself warned.

2. Love it or loose it.
Be honest with yourself. You have heard this before but how?

a. ) Set-Up
For clothing: get a full length mirror and bright light and put it on.  For housewares: take a picture of the item in question in the place it is intended. Ex. Bed in the bedroom. For some reason, editing is most effective when done by picture--another post altogether.

b.) Identify
Ask yourself: Do I love this? If you are not in the mood to make major cuts to your wardrobe/ household you can start with Do I like this? Answer No: Immediately place the item in a box marked Toss, Store, or Sell. If the item cannot fit in a box, move it away or at least make arrangements for it to move out of your immediate life. Answer On The Fence: Write it down and move on to the next item. Answer Yes: Excellent. Move on.

c.) Vet (It really is a process!)
Chances are you have a bunch of stuff that you are On The Fence about for one reason or another. Ask yourself Why? Answers that would move an item from On the Fence to Yes include: "I can wear this to x event this year." Or "If I bought x, I could wear this almost everyday." These are the only possible answers I could come up with that justify something retaining it's position despite your initial doubt.

Answers with But in them: As a general rule, ignore everything you said before the But because it is what is after that you really mean.

It may be helpful to include a trustful friend at this stage, to talk you down from stage fright and encourage your performance. Whatever choices you make at this stage, be deliberate and wear it with pride. This is where Grace lives.

Other clichés that are encouraging: If you can't hide it, feature it. Let lemons be lemons.

d.) Go shopping
It is the patriotic thing to do. And well, you probably garnered a few extra bucks from your sales. Never mind, you have some sharp new skills to wield in public. Try listening to the Sex And The City Soundtrack at this stage to get you in the mood.

3. Remind yourself what is at stake.
This could have been subcategory d.) to the point above but I have given unto it a lone category because THIS will single-handedly keep you on-course, riding the fine line between right and wrong, fancy-free. (Oh fancy me!)

Ironically, how you look is not the most important thing at stake but rather a consequence of the choices that you make. What is at stake for you could be not loving much of what you have (and then what's the point?) Or $300 per month storage unit expense that you could use on vacation. What is at stake if you don't give your stuff a one-over is the You that you want. You are who and what you are around so don't forget the What.

What is right in accessorizing our lives changes with the seasons and your stage in life. Consider any change in your life an opportunity to check what is working for you and what is not. Always make an effort to make more room in your life for what is right.

Eat your heart out Miss America.