First off, you should all know this now- I am a sequin whore.  And it makes sense with gold being my favorite color.  Which also might explain why I’m so obsessed with accessories.  And gowns.  And have absolutely zero fear of standing out in a crowd.  I adore shine.  Glitz.  Glamour.

“The next day I was in The Village looking for the perfect $7 dress to go with my $300 shoes…”

This quote from Sex & the City summarizes my style perfectly.  And it has very little to do with price.  Instead, its about the hunt.  The desire to find something unique and personal to define…..ME.  MY style.  Because ideally that’s exactly what fashion should be about.  Different and special to each individual.  Sure, we have trend reports and fashion weeks to help set the stage for us, but ultimately its up to YOU to put your own spin on things.  To take trends and incorporate them into your already existing style.  Not to follow the masses.  That would make you….a basic bitch.  Unless, of course, your goal is to blend in?

No darling.  Trends come and go.  But style?  That’s forever.

And so with that, comes the time of year fashionistas defy limits (if they ever really set any).  Because with colder temps comes maximum opportunity to play with and layer pretty much anything.  Chunky cable-knit sweaters would be ridiculous in the summer- but a barely there dress works fine in December…. with the right accessories.

Which brings me to my point.  Accessories are life to the fashion-obsessed.  They are the signature tools that uniquely define, and therefore separate us.  And signature is key.  They should be bold.  Eye-catching.  Different.  Strategically placed creative spins on classic theories.  Or classic spins on modern theories.  That’s the creative beauty of the whole thing- anything goes.

SATC is probably one of the most widely known ways things were worn in ways that were considered [at the time] different.

For example, remember the giant, oversized flowers?  Exactly.  Or when she wore the dramatic ballgown skirt to dinner with The Russian.  Or paired one with a Dior tee in the 2nd movie.  The odd crown-like headband while trying on wedding dresses?  From leather gloves, to fur coats, to headwear, Patricia Field knew how to add a totally unexpected pop to any outfit while maintaining balance.

 

If you aren’t excited yet by the ideas already running through your head, you’re doing it wrong.

Either way, here are some of my favorite looks I plan to capitalize on over the next few months.  With trends already heavy with 70’s swag, we have every reason to cash in on anything that shines.  Think over-embellished.  Plunging necklines.  Come hither boots.  Bold prints.  And with Christmas and New Years just around the corner, you literally will have zero reason not to shine exactly like the diamond you are…

1. SEQUINS

If you’re a girl that likes to be seen, much like myself, then this is for you.  You might not be the first one on the dance floor- but you know how to make an entrance.  You like to look, and FEEL, glam.  And with the holidays approaching fast, you’re free to wear them anytime, day or night.  The key here is balance.  For daytime, stick to one adorned piece- a mini skirt, top or blazer.  Any color works.  But if you’re going to go sequined, go all the way and choose something in a jewel tone.  SO.  PRETTY!  Now for night- anything goes.  Free People has a STUNNING collection of dresses available right now.  Starting at $98, they are the epitome of perfection.  And with their iconic soft neutral hues, low necklines and backless cuts, it will be hard to find a reason NOT to wear them.

Below are a few notable pieces that I’ve personally scored, for ALL budgets:

Balmain for H&M, $199

Forever 21, $38.50

(wear it backwards for a plunging neckline instead)

Free People, Tarnished Gold Tunic ($298) and Sexy In Sequins Slip ($98)

And with mini dresses comes maximum accessories.  Any of these pieces can be dressed up or down by adding things as simple as a leather jacket.  Or a blazer.  Wear thigh high boots.  Or add a simple heel.  A thicker heel will make it more daytime appropriate.  Heading to the office?  Throw a pencil skirt on over it.  You will literally have zero excuses not to work one of these gorgeous numbers into your daily wardrobe.

2. ITS ALL IN THE DETAILS

Did you ever find yourself looking enviously at women from the past, perfectly put together from head to toe, dripping with lux and class?  It was a common standard to be perfectly groomed.  From driving gloves to hats, they made a basic trip to the grocery store look like a glamorous adventure.   Today, we’re lucky if women put on pants.  No, really.

Well this is your chance.  Thanks to the rebirth of vintage, nothing is off limits when it comes to accessorizing.  Recently I set out to on a mission for such pieces.  And for this kind of mission, vintage truly is best.  And fortunately for me, I have a gem of a store literally right down the street.  A darling shop by the name of Retro Rosie’s, they wont take a thing made after 1975.  The owner combs other shops, homes and yard sales to salvage the best of the best.  I’m talking items like prom dresses from the 50’s.  Shift dresses from the 60’s.  Bell bottomed Levi’s from the 70’s.  And statement jewelry from literally every era.  Bags… shoes… hats… its ALL there under one glorious roof.  This place is my nirvana.  When I visit, I literally spend hours transforming myself into every generation.  Last hull scored me my best finds yet, scoring several sets of white leather gloves, shag wraps and some costume jewelry.

I imagined the gloves had been worn by some fierce glamazon at Studio 54, holding a glass of champagne while dancing with Andy Warhol.  Probably not…. but still.  I bought them in 3 lengths, planning to wear them all scrunched a bit.  Add a few cuffs on top for some extra drama.  But I’ll warn you- these are not for those who cannot be without their cell ph0nes for long spurts of time.  Touchscreens and glove-covered fingers just don’t agree.

As for the brooches, we’ve discussed this cant-live-without fall accessory for some time now in other posts.  But I wanted to add that the beauty of these pieces is you can usually find vast amounts, in varying sizes and colors, for next to nothing. I paid about $8 a piece, picking ones that reflected my personality.

Lastly- SHAG COATS.  If there was ever a heaven for these pieces, vintage shops would be it.  But they are also the hardest piece to find.  Mainly because they get scooped up so quickly.  Sure, you can buy a new one online for practically nothing.  And you may have to.  But if you have the patience, go for authentic.  I promise the quality and overall look with be worth it.  And you probably wont pay much more for it.  I would also advise checking local thrift stores.  Same thing- they go fast, but it will broaden the possibilities.

Above I showed you some of the different pieces I’ve collected over the last few weeks.  And today I want to try something different.  Something more personal.  Something that I do everyday with my wardrobe.  So I selected a few of the aforementioned pieces, and styled them multiple ways, for multiple occasions.  And the best part?  Every look was under $500.  1 was even under $50 (thank you H&M!).

The first two pieces were scored at H&M.  Available now.

Top $9.99, Skirt $14.99, Vintage Belt/Gloves/Clutch

There’s so much to love about the versatility of both pieces.  Wear together for a show-stopping effect, or tone it down with a solid tank or leather pencil skirt.

Next was the ultimate score.  The possibilities are endless with this stunner.  And considering the dress was just under $40, you’ll have plenty of cash left over to discover them…

It starts off simple enough.  One bold number, flipped backwards so the plunge is in the front.  A set of vintage gloves ($10), my favorite Chanel cuff ($350) and a vintage clutch is all a girl needs to turn [more than] a few heads.

But I didn’t stop there….

Remember the H&M shirt?  Mmmhmmmm….

Perfection.

Now lets edge things up a bit, shall we?

Swap the gloves for a fitted lather jacket.  This particular one is vegan leather, from American Eagle (no longer available).

Oh, but you’re fancy, huh?  I got you covered too…

My personal favorite look, and the one I’ll most likely rock first-

And for even more style inspiration on both casual and killer ways to rock sequins this season, visit HERE.

So go ahead, dolls….  Whether your look is classic, rebel or bombshell, dare to stand out this fall in the most beautiful way a girl can.  AND do it without sacrificing your rent.  And don’t forget to show me how you’ll be rocking this trend- tag me in your pictures on Instagram (@LiberataDolce).