Kia Exclaims:
"Oh thing one. Oh thing two. Accessories - Accessories! Oh, where are you?"
As holiday time approaches, I begin to get giddy inside when I think of My Favorite Things. Majority of this list, will be filled with - you guessed it - accessories! Imagine a 13 year old girl walking down Stuyvesant Ave with a huge green flower in her hair, dangling emerald earrings, and two costume green necklaces. That was me - in all my glory. Before my style awareness awoke my mind, I was already creating and engaging with it. Brooklyn Circa 07' & 08' was more about name plate belts and 8 ball jackets, but I was an active church girl and catholic school kid. Oftentimes, I turned in my track suit in for a dress suit - as a very plump tween, my visits to Dr. Jays and Brooklyn Ladies', usually turned into shopping sprees with my mother at Macy's and Lane Bryant. As a child, I was opened to a grown woman's shopping experience and I took full advantage of the opportunity - accessories were used as my muse to stand out from the crowd. Thirteen year old Kia believed, in field of uniformity - I need to stand out! Here's some insight on my own accessory evolution and I hope it helps you to find your balance.
The Breaks: BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST
Once upon a time, all of Kia's jewelry needed to be big - dangling earrings with rhinestones bigger than Bam Bam's bat. Big is no longer my fashion choice, but there is still a place for big, bigger, & the biggest statement pieces.
Here's Kia's take: When going BIG - find a balance. If the earrings are 6" long, wear a simple choker or signature charm bracelet. This will accent the earrings, but tone down the distraction. Costume jewelry should be fun - don't be afraid to play around with color! My motto: if you're going big, mine as well, go all the way. Big bangles, with sparkly studs, accompanied by an embellished necklace will break even the biggest of hearts.
Subtle Me Down: Don't Shut me UP!
Earlier, I said, "Big is no longer my fashion choice." But, boldness will always remain a major part of a "Kia Slay Day." Firstly, I have blue hair - I don't want my accessories to clash with my hair color. Bold is prints - floral and animal - that catch the eye but do not distract from the main attraction. When putting together an ensemble, choose the main attraction - whether a dress, shoes, or necklace; then, build everything else around that. Also, fur, embellished floral necklaces, and signature stones exude elegance and edge. Classic color coordination with a hint of Naomi Campbell will subtle me down, but never shut me up!