A New Take on Your Classic Shoes

I am so obsessed with metallic cap toe shoes right now because I think they are the perfect way to update classic shoes.  You can wear the pumps with your favorite dress to add a little bit of edginess or the flats with your favorite jeans and t-shirt to add a little pizazz!

You can find the versions pictured by clicking the links below, but they are everywhere right now.  Grab a pair or two!

Jeffery Campbell Bullet Pump

DV by Dolce Vita Smoking Flat

Go Jane Chain Link Flat

Ecote Metal Chelsea Boot

Funny Face: Mustache Ring Set

When I saw this quirky ring set in Forever21 today I couldn't resist buying it!  Once I got it home I was so tickled with the fact that I could wear the rings separately or combined and all the looks were equally as fun. The ring comes in gold or silver, get yours here for $5.80.

Jewelry Raid: My Grandmother's Jewelry Box

I definitely get my love for fashion from my grandmother and mother. So its no surprise that when I go home to visit I usually go through their jewelry boxes and handbag collections. I've gotten so many items over the past few years but it seems like every time I take another look I always find something new. 

Today I went through my grandmother's jewelry box and here's what I found.

• This silver necklace has a great color combination of turquoise and purple, what makes this even better is that you can remove the chain and the pendant is a brooch!
• Brooches have regained their popularity over the past few seasons and this one is beautiful. A classic yet modern heart shape in a beatuiful brassy gold. I think I'll put this on my favorite blazer or coat!
• This gold necklace matches perfectly with some gold, black and pearl pieces I alreay have so I definitely had to have this. 

Genius Idea: Convertible Necklace

Of course, there are necklaces that can be worn different ways...but this Mi Asunta necklace takes that idea to another level!  This necklace comes with pieces that you can add, remove or invert to give it tons of different looks.  What's even better is that it comes in a mix of silver and gold so you can wear it with almost anything. 

This version can be found at sucrenyc.com 

A Little Fun With Fur

Yesterday, I experimented with a different type of accessory: a fox fur stole. Of course, the color got my attention but once I tried it on I loved it! I envision it over a long navy blue wool coat or over a leather jacket for something a little more funky. Since this was the real thing the price point was in the $500 range but there are plenty of faux versions out there. I saw a few at topshop.com and on etsy.com. So have fun with a little bit of fur this winter!

The Truth About Hats

I rarely wear hats, but always love the way they look on others.  So since fall has officially arrived I thought it would only be appropriate to feature a few styles for the upcoming season.

Beanies and Berets: The perfect casual hat. Pair this with your favorite jeans and leather jacket. 

Cloche: An ultra-feminine nod to the the 1920's flapper era.  Wear your cloche with a flirty dress and heels. 

Fedora: Great for your work wardrobe, but not limited to 9 to 5.  Fedoras look great with a trench coat or structured blazer. 

Floppy Hat: A chic hat that instantly goes from day to night.  Looks great with your long wool coat and booties. 

Turban Style Hats: I think of this as a twist on the beanie.  The turban gives off a "tough but girly" vibe that anyone could easily pull off with a chunky sweater, maxi skirt and boots. 

Here are a few sites where you can find plenty of hats at any price. 

Hats at Asos.com

Hats at Forever21.com

Hats at Zappos.com

Shop the Trend: Jewel Tones Under $20

Rich jewel tones are all the rage for the fall/winter season! Here are a few inexpensive ways to incorporate the deep, luxurious colors into your accessory wardrobe.

Top Row

Stud Earrings: modcloth.com $12

Bracelet: wallisfashion.com $7

Necklace: forever21.com $16

Middle Row

Necklace: modcloth.com $18

Stackable Rings: wallisfashion.com $5

Earrings: lanebryant.com $15

Bottom Row

Ring: pinkmascara.com $12

Bracelet: forever21.com $11

Ring: dorothyperkins.com

Closet Feature

I got these INC almond toe pumps a few weeks ago from Macy's and I can't wait to wear them! The color, called "Cherry Pink", is stunning and the calf hair adds texture without making things too fussy. I envision wearing these with a flirty black and white dress or a chunky sweater and some boyfriend jeans.  They also come in a great deep teal and a studded version.

Click here to take a look at them on Macy's website!

Fab 5: Fall Nail Trends

Nails definitely count as accessories!  With the ongoing trend of nail art and new colors constantly being released there are tons of options to express yourself with nails.

Metallic Nails: Futuristic yet so current, metallic nails have been around for quite some time but were in the spotlight on the runways this fall. Essie has a great metallic collection, including this color "There's No Place Like Chrome".

Nail Art: This fun trend isn't going anywhere any time soon and I'm ok with that!  If you haven't mastered the Do-It-Yourself aspect of this trend (I know I haven't!) Sally Hansen Salon Effects are still a great way to incorporate nail art into your wardrobe.

New Neutrals: Pick a color a few shades darker than your skin tone to make the polish stand out more while still staying neutral. This trend is great for those who are in more conservative settings but just can't let go of their nail polish! Try OPI's "Berlin There Done That".

Multi-Color French Manicure:  A colorful twist on the traditional French manicure. Try complementary colors or keep the base neutral and add a colored tip.

Embellished Nails: Jewelry for your nails, how great! Put it on one nail for a subtle accent or go all the way and put it on all ten. Kiss has a "Nail Dress" line that offers affordable options.

My Spring 2013 Fashion Week Favorites

There were so many great accessories on the runway last week (as usual) but I narrowed it down to a few of my favorites.

Handbag: I am in love with animal print and also love the look of structured bags so this marriage of the two at the Jason Wu show is perfect!  The bag is also big enough to actually carry your personal items which makes it even more alluring.

Shoes: This sandal from the Monique Lhuillier show is feminine yet sexy and with a hidden platform they look like they can handle a night out!

Belt: Simply gorgeous! A great neutral color and an up-to-date shape lend to this Donna Karan belt's appeal.

Bracelet: This lucite, oversized cuff from the Michael Kors show would go with everything.  I'd like to buy one as soon as possible!

Necklace: The color combination and style make this the ideal statement necklace, shown on Oscar de la Renta's runway.

Today I Love...

This Pour la Victoire "Butler" large tote spotted in Bloomingdale's for $495. I think the fabulous mix of leather, suede and pony hair and neutral color palette make it a perfect go-to bag for the upcoming fall/winter season. It definitely reminds me of the Celine tote...but for a fraction of the Celine price.

Mix Your Metals

You can revamp your current accessory collection by mixing different metal colors. I found these earrings at Forever 21 for $4 and combined them with some stackable rings and two sets of bangles I already owned. The new mixed metal bangle set is a departure from the monochromatic look the bangles had before. So the next time you look at your accessories and say to yourself "I'm so tired of the same old thing" mix it up!!

What A Difference...

a statement necklace makes! I LOVE statement necklaces because they can easily take any outfit up a notch. They don't have to be expensive either! I got the one I'm wearing at Charlotte Russe for $5 and I included a few other suggestions for under $20.

Tip: If you are wearing a large necklace such as this one your other jewelry should be simple (especially your earrings).

Forever 21 - $14.80

Arden B- $14.40

          JcPenney - $13

Quick Peek: Anna Dello Russo's Accessory Line for H&M

I find a lot of great pieces at H&M for fabulous prices so I'm thrilled about their new accessory collaboration with Vogue Japan's Editor-at-Large Anna Dello Russo.  I really love the suitcase and the duffle bag and I definitely need that turquoise stone cuff in my collection! The line comes out on October 4th and I'll be waiting.  Check it out!

A New Take on Feathers

I love feathers, but can't quite commit to the ongoing trend of earrings with real feathers. So I've been finding alternate ways to incorporate feathers into my accessory wardrobe. Here are some earrings that I took from a dear friend of mine who wore them once only to never wear them again. However, I do know that they came from Forever 21 and were about $5.

Fab 5: Jewelry

Fab 5 is a weekly post featuring my pick of five accessory items that are must-haves for the current season or your permanent collection.  This week's feature consists of jewelry that every girl should have in their accessory collection. Whether you are just starting to love accessories or your love for them is overflowing (like me!) these five pieces will take you any and everywhere and here's why.

Hoop Earrings are an easy way to add flare to your outfit. Hoops can be worn with a t-shirt and jeans or your favorite party dress.  One of the best things about hoops is that they come in a variety of sizes and styles to fit different face shapes and personalities. Once you find the ones that are perfect for you I recommend buying them in silver and gold!

Studs are useful in situations where you may need to keep things simple. For example, pearl studs look stylish and professional with a suit and metal studs are great for those weekend errands. However, with so many styles available studs are also a great way to express yourself if you just aren't committed to dangling earrings. 

An Oversized Bracelet is a no-brainer.  All you need is one and you've got instant arm candy! 

The Statement Ring, also known as a Cocktail Ring, adds on-the-spot glamour to any ensemble.  Wear one with your favorite bracelet or alone and you're sure to make an impact. 

A Long Necklace can be worn a variety of ways so it's great piece to invest in. Wear it as one strand, knot it, double it or layer it with your other necklaces.  

To find the accessories featured in this post click here!

Why Accessories?

Simply put: I LOVE fashion.  For many of my readers, this is not a newsflash!  Over time, I've found that fashion has so many different elements.  As I've grown in fashion and starting identifying where I fit in the fashion world - I found accessories!  After I've put an outfit together, I find that my favorite part of getting dressed, and of fashion as a whole, is accessorizing.  I love and believe in accessories so much, I bring you Piece, Love and Sole.

How I arrived to this love for accessories: Over the past few months my love for accessories has exploded!  The dress code for work is black.  ALL.BLACK.  Black is chic, it's slimming and I love how it looks, but it can quickly become very boring.  I'm not a head-to-toe, "All Black Everything" type of girl, so I'm constantly looking for ways to add color, personality and character to complete my outfits.  The dilemma: How do I break up the monotony of an all black dress code?  Resolution: Accessorize! Finally, I can express myself!  I found that putting the finishing touches on an outfit doesn't have to cost much and it doesn't have to be a difficult task either.   The final touches can pull an outfit together and complete a look.  

My plan is to show you how to put looks together, where to find unique and essential accessories and have fun along the way!

To start, I wanted to give you guys a peek into my accessory obsession.  On one of my many trips to Marshall's I found a Metal Dress Form Coat Rack.  I altered the intended purpose of the coat rack and turned it into an accessory stand.  I use the inside of the dress form to keep my bracelet collection organized and I've used each arm of the coat rack to organize my necklaces by metal, color or stone.  I thought the dress form style was too cute to be hidden and covered by coats and because I was running out of storage room for my accessories "Suzy" was born!  As if that weren't enough, I was gifted a "Little Black Dress" jewelry organizer.  The jewelry organizer keeps my ring and earring collection organized and displayed nicely.   

I'd like to welcome you to Piece, Love and Sole! I can't wait to share my accessories with you.