If you have any interest in jewelry, hats, shoes or hair accessories then you'll know that it's easy to overdo it and easy to get accessorizing completely wrong. Here are the more useful secrets to accessorizing and how to throw something on whilst still making it look great.

Firstly, make sure your accessories match, but don't blend into your clothes. For instance, a red top worn with a silver necklace with a red stone is not going to make a statement. A better choice would be a black stone so it doesn't clash, but compliments the color well. This way if you're wearing black shoes, the whole outfit ties together. Colors to avoid wearing together are red and green, red and pink, green and blue, orange and pink and yellow and pink.

Secondly, don't ever mix silver and gold together. In general this looks tacky and you should stick to wearing one type of material with one outfit. Chunky distressed gold chains are very popular in high street stores at the moment, particularly when worn with lots of layers and slightly boho clothing. This relates to another accessorizing tip: don't stick to your gender specific accessories. Boys can wear necklaces, bracelets and rings, just as girls can wear cuff links. Cuff links are especially good if you're going to go for the brogue heels with trilby hat, skinny jeans and waistcoat look. The great thing for women here is that they can choose outlandish cuff links that men would have to avoid.

The fourth accessorizing secret is the most important and it's called the 'rule of three'. That is, only ever wear 3 pieces of jewelry or accessories at one time. The classic combination is a necklace and matching earrings with a bracelet or ring. You might choose a big belt with a hat and earrings instead, or an outlandish fascinator with a big vintage ring and a medallion necklace hanging around your belly button to make more of a statement. The 'rule of three' is all about not making yourself look too busy. Accessorizing should be simple and each piece should stick out in its own right. This means that if you have curly hair then wearing a nose ring, earrings and a big hair clip is going to be far too much to take in. Curly hair is an accessory in itself so concentrate further down on your body by choosing a great belt or bracelet instead.

Next time you're planning an outfit take into account its individual features. Does it have a built in belt? Or an outlandish pin? If your shoes have jewels on the them then bear in mind not to wear an anklet. Oh and tattoos and piercings count as accessories too! There's a lot to remember, but keep the rule of three in your memory and you'll never have a wardrobe accessory malfunction again.

Stan Tian

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