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Move an Outfit from So to Oh with Five Essential Fashion Accessories

This summer’s fashion is fun: huge floral prints, hot neons, pastels and neons mixing, and tribal patterns are just a few of the new styles on the block. Despite an outfit’s unmistakably 2012 look and a certain casual aspect of summer life we adore, don’t forget to accessorize your outfit! There are simply too many options available to take a pass on these finishing touches. If your life was too busy earlier in the season to properly prepare for summer, accessories are a great way to update an old outfit.

Five Accessory “Must Haves”

Floral Fetishes

In addition to the big floral prints blooming on tops, skirts and dresses, the 2012 floral craze also includes outfits of three-dimensional crocheted flowers, floral flourishes to decorate strappy summer sandals and floral hair accessories including headbands with an attached mum, barrettes topped with huge and bright floral blossoms, and even ponytail holders disguised as daisies.

Tribal Touches

Tribal patterns are hot this year with oversized patterns on fabrics and accessories to match. Headbands and barrettes with long strands of beads and feathers get the point across. Native-inspired earrings, necklaces and bracelets made of wood, seashells, cording, beads, leather and other natural materials are popular and have the power to pull a piece into the present. Tribal accent patterns on sandals, shoes and belts abound. Tribal patterns have also been used with clutches for day or evening use.

White Ankle Socks

Although this is not an accessory suggested for the office, it’s turning up enough and turning heads enough to mention. Unlike the 1950s, when they were worn with saddle shoes, or the 1980s with athletic shoes for your aerobics class, these are meant to be worn with high-heeled sandals and a mini dress or miniskirt. According to HarpersBazaar.com, you get extra style points if your ankle socks are adorned with cartoon characters.

Earrings

Earrings are back. Related in part, perhaps, to this year’s tribal influence, earrings are larger and longer. “Dangle” would be the operative description whether they are tribal in influence, strands of tiny flowers or futuristic metal pieces. Put your stud earrings away for the summer and look for longer earrings made of a mix of materials that dance as you walk.

Bracelets

Bracelets, or wrist candy as Harper’s calls them, are also back on the catwalk and should be on your wrists as well. Again, as with the earrings, the return of the bracelet could be to complete a tribal look. Then again, many of this year’s bracelets are wide and bright and colorful, so it could just as well be related to the neon fad. Summer 2012 bracelets are meant to be noticed and are often stylishly mixed together the way a six-year old rummaging through your jewelry box might choose to wear them.

The wonderful thing about many of these accessories is the variety of outfits, styles and social situations in which you can wear them. Furthermore, they not only have variety, they have punch and can update an otherwise boring outfit quickly and effortlessly.

Image by …love Maegan