Elevate your Unique Style with Carefully Curated Accessories

ByCindy Hattersley Hours Posted on Hours Updated on
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Today I am joining my friend Kim for our monthly edition of Signature Style. This month we thought we would talk about our Summer wish list. I look to my accessories to create my own personal style in my wardrobe and in my home decor. I prefer a collected look that tells my own story. To be honest there is not a lot I want or need, but I am always on the hunt for a great accessory. Let’s chat about how to elevate your unique style with carefully curated accessories.

ELEVATE YOUR STYLE WITH CURATED ACCESSORIES

I have written about the importance of accessories often, but it continues to be a favorite topic. You can read my former posts below on the subject:

How to Make Your Style Your Own with Unique Accessories

The Power of Accessories

Do you often feel like your outfits are missing that certain something? Maybe you have a closet full of clothes, but you still end up grabbing the same safe choices every day. Do you find that you are buying less but choosing more high quality investment pieces? The right accessories can provide a range of options for your capsule pieces. Whether you are on a casual outing in jeans and a shirt, or dressing more formally for an event great accessories can be your best friend.

How to Elevate your Unique Style with Carefully Curated Accessories

I may get some heat for this one but don’t go for a look that anyone with money can achieve. Instead of a purse, belt or shoes emblazoned with the maker’s initials, opt for your own. Steer clear of overly trendy accessories unless they are really reasonable. Try to buy the best you can afford by shopping vintage and resale. I am a huge fan of resale and vintage.

Opt for Artisanal or Vintage Jewelry

If you are searching for bracelets, statement necklaces, delicate necklaces, or earrings for different occasions you can find them at your local small boutiques or online at eBay, etsy, and other outlets. This necklace and bracelet are from Parham and Co Studio. I purchased it several years ago at Round Top.

Cindy Hattersley in Eileen Fisher and Hannoh Wessel Dress
horn necklace with eileen fisher on cindy hattersley

Shop the Look

A Great Scarf or Wrap

I love the timeless elegance of a great wrap this time of year for the cooler evenings. A colorful wrap can be the perfect finishing touch to a column of color. They add a touch of sophistication that will allow you to take an outfit from daytime to a more formal event. A silk scarf, cotton scarf, or linen scarf is the perfect accessory this time of year.

This necklace is from Paula Carvalho Designs. The scarf is from Etsy.

cindy hattersley in dylan t shirt dress and scarf

Shop the Look

You can find great linen and cotton scarves on Etsy here. There is no need to purchase expensive designer options for solid colored scarves. Epice makes gorgeous scarves here. The prices are a bit out of my range so I search the resale sites. You have to be patient.

This seller on eBay has some beautiful epice and other designer scarves for less here.

Velstaire Collective has some wonderful epice scarves here.

Poshmark epice scarves here.

A Unique Handbag

Stylish handbags can be found everywhere. Something in straw or raffia , or a (statement piece) colorful embroidered artisanal bag that could be worn with a solid ensemble. If you covet a particular bag, search the resale sites first. You can often find new or nearly new options. Just be sure to read the descriptions carefully.

cindy hattersley in Eileen Fisher tunic, leggings, helen kaminski hat and leggings

This Janessa Leone bag (a splurge) was on my wish list and I sprung for it on sale. It can be carried as a backpack or a sling. I love the combination of the raffia and the leather. It is also big enough to carry all my essentials and more.

Frank and Eileen white shirt dress with Angela Mara openwork sweater

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An Interesting Belt

Ebay, poshmark, thred up, the real real and velstaire collective are great places to find interesting belsts for different ocassions.

Frank and Eileen Shirt Dress with mersea sweater and Eric javitz accessories

The necklace I am wearing was an inheritance from my mother in law. The belt I have owned for years. These are investment pieces that you can wear for a lifetime. I have linked similar below the graphic.

Frank & Eileen shirt dress with utility jacket and native american jewelry

Shop the Looks

A Great Hat

It’s no secret I love a great hat. This hat was gifted to me last year by Janessa Leone. J Crew also has a very similar one for less. I really like this Gigi Pip hat. I am also on the hunt for this Helen Kaminski hat in black. FYI Hats.com tends to offer designer hats at better prices than most retail outlets.

This Xirena dress was on my wishlist. I don’t normally wear a lot of pattern but this dress caught my eye. I spotted it at a boutique in Los Olivos. I found it on sale at Nordstrom here for half off.

Xirena Midi Dress in black and brown

Shop the Post

A carefully curated selection of accessories can be a powerful tool for expressing your unique personality and taking your outfits to the next level. Have fun building your collection, and experimenting, don’t be afraid to unlock the full potential of your wardrobe.

Thank you for reading Elevate your Unique Style with Carefully Curated Accessories. Are you an accessories junkie? What are some of your favorites? Let’s pop over and visit Kim and see what is on her wishlist.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE

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41 Comments

  1. Cindy! Your accessory game is strong and I’m in awe of your unique sense of style. You always finding the perfect pieces to complete your looks. I’m honesty terrible with accessories and I need to follow your advice. xo

  2. Have you ever done a post on your glasses? Are they prescription or readers as you always seem to have different ones on? I love different styles.
    Enjoy your ideas and styles!

  3. Hi Cindy, I always enjoy your posts n clothing suggestions but I’ve noticed you frequently wear long sleeves. It’s 90 degrees in Colorado this week and long sleeves just doesn’t cut it. I understand as we age, even if we’re slender and work out, our arms can be crepey and unflatteringly however I’ve reached the point where comfort is more important to me. Any suggestions? 🙏

    1. Hi Kathryn

      I wear linen or gauze and roll them up. If you research tribes in hot climates this is what you will find “The fact is that when the sun is shining and temperatures rise, UV protected long sleeves keep you safe from sunburn and keep you cooler”. I have found it to be true.

  4. Cindy I adore all your accessories and how you pull things together. This was a great reminder, we don’t need a lot, but a nice collection of cool pieces to make our looks our own. That Xirena dress is gorgeous on you! I love that brand. The Janessa bag is also so you.. and adorable.
    Fun post Cindy! Maybe we should have done accessories instead of summer wish list! Though mine aren’t nearly as cool as what you have and how you style them. Going to check out those scarves too. xo

    1. Thanks Kim

      I LOVED your post! I always find something that I could spend my money on. You have great style!

  5. I love your style and always look forward to your posts. Your taste is one that I can only aspire to duplicate . Fashion and decor are my favorites.

  6. Fabulous accesories. I do love the navy t-shirt dress with the clever Schiaparelli-pink diagonal scarf.
    I just love your belts. I’m a belt (and really elegant shoes) kind of person which makes dressing really hard just now as I’m three weeks past a bowel resection.
    I’ve been lucky with belts on e-Bay: ie, I see a belt with a buckle I like (the belt might be awful itself) and I buy it by making the lowest possible offer, get a very clever leather artisan in my hometown to remake it to my specs for a remarkably reasonable price and bingo. Every belt I wear usually gets a compliment.
    Wish me luck getting back to belt-wearing. Maybe in a couple of months…

    1. Hi Prue

      I am glad you are on the road to recovery. I adore belts and shoes as well. Ebay is fabulous for belts. I think every belt I own has come from ebay etsy or poshmark! Have you tried any of the travel sets? They are loose at the waist and hide a multitude of sins.

  7. You are dangerous to my checkbook. My goodness I’d never heard of those Epic scarves. How could I have missed them. They are gorgeous. I will join you in the hunt. All of your accessories are just wonderful. Very excited by them all. I ove how you give us ideas of where to shop.I appreciate that.

  8. Ok – I know you steer towards solids and neutrals, but you CAN wear prints and colors and you look GREAT in them.
    So THERE! I command you to WEAR THEM! 🤣 😬
    And you have the best accessories of anyone I know…..❤️
    Although the Contessa has some cool stuff….

    1. Hi Gray

      You can rock the patterns…me not so much!! I do like that Xirena dress!!

  9. I love your style. It’s an enviable, timeless collected style that cannot be bought by throwing money at it. Of all the people who do clothes on the internet your’s is the only one of interest.

  11. I am slowly rebuilding my wardrobe since retiring. It’s taken me awhile to figure out what my casual style is but I am having fun doing it. Your posts encourage me to think outside the box and play with what I have. Keep inspiring us all!

    1. Hi Harriet

      I think most of us have a more casual lifestyle now. I know mine is super casual. Thank you so much for the kind words.

  12. Cindy, I love what you said about finding your own style and personalizing your accessories. And in particular, I love what you said about designer logos and trends here: “Instead of a purse, belt or shoes emblazoned with the maker’s initials, opt for your own. Steer clear of overly trendy accessories unless they are really reasonable.”

    I’ve never been impressed by logos and status accessories … in full disclosure, I am turned off by these items and don’t like the subtle “message” they’re trying to convey. On the other hand, I’m truly drawn to one-of-a-kind artisan jewelry, inherited items, vintage finds, or special accessories that tell a personal story about the woman wearing them. I’m always impressed by and drawn to beautiful things that I’ve never seen anywhere else … Thanks for illustrating that so artfully in your post today!

    1. Hi Cindy

      I couldn’t agree with you more. I have never understood why we pay someone to have their logos emblazoned on our garments!

  13. I have had great luck with Nearly New Cashmere out of the UK. Wonderful vintage scarves beautifully reconditioned. Shipping was very quick and reasonable.

    1. Hi Susan

      Thank you for the tip!! I will check them out. I love resale. I always feel better getting a bargain and keeping things out of the landfill!

  15. Love your accessories. And, I can certainly relate to “To be honest there is not a lot I want or need, but I am always on the hunt for a great accessory.” Accessories are such a great way to have fun with and elevate a look! Also, love the Xirena dress, but why-oh-why are designers putting these low necklines on everything???

    1. Hi Barbara

      Accessories tell our stories! I do not understand the plunging necklines either. They require a cami if we don’t wont our bust showing!

  16. Wonderful ideas thank you! Love following your advice Cindy! Have a gorgeous week with Scout.

    1. Hi Francesca

      Scout got his last vaccinations today. We can take him more places now as long as he behaves ha ha!

  18. I LOVE the white pants, white top and shorter gray top you are wearing in the second picture under vintage jewelry. Can you provide links for this outfit please? Your style looks so comfy but yet very stylish.

    1. Marsha, if you tap the pictures below and it takes you to the links.
      I love that look, as well.

    2. I Marcia

      They are at the bottom of the photos. Look for Shop the Looks. I had a couple of problems with links early this a.m. Sorry about that!

  19. I need print outs of your outfits to hang in m closet-so I can remember! Your style is my favorite. You look great. I love the Xirena dress. Do you mind sharing what size you are wearing? Nordstroms has a small left on sale

    1. Hi Sandy

      I have to remind myself too. You guys keep me on my toes. I have to go back and look at combinations as well.

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