I absolutely love accessories. All kinds of accessories. They can add the color that you need to that favorite piece of yours that just happens to be the wrong shade for your pallet. Accessories can add variety to an efficient capsule wardrobe when traveling. They can enhance your personal brand message, as well as add to your equity. If you couldn’t tell - yes, I am a fan of accessories!!
Throughout history, accessories have played a significant role in the expression of identity, culture, and social status in various civilizations across the globe. In many ancient cultures, adornments served as more than just decorative pieces; they held profound symbolic meanings and were imbued with spiritual significance. Think of amulets and bracelets that were believed to possess protective powers. Gold, lapis lazuli, and turquoise were broadly used in ancient Egypt to demonstrate power and status in society. Ancient Greeks and Romans used accessories to symbolize victory and achievement with cameos or laurel wreaths. Accessories were used in religious ceremonies since beginning of cultures such as in Aztec and Mayan cultures. In many cultures accessories are passed through generations, along with stories of fame, achievement, amazing encounters and love. Accessories are all those things still today. Sports watch that sends a message of your active life style, your mother’s ring that tells a story, a statement necklace that helps send a message of power to the conference room you are presenting in… Accessories still play all those roles in our lives! This post and the next few will be about my passion for accessories and how you may chose to use them!
Accessories at work
I am working with an amazing client at the moment. Imagine a petit young woman who works in a men-dominated field. She is soft-spoken and her features are soft and light. She is an aspiring leader who gets overlooked, overheard and taken for granted. I am sure you met ‘her’ before. She is your devoted friend, so sometimes gets very tired of doing it right for everyone. She is your colleague who will run copies for the whole department although it’s not her job. How to break free from the image? While accessories is not the only answer, it is part of the answer to a personal image and style. If your message is that of professionalism, ensure you wear sophisticated but clearly visible professional accessories. These include your watch, your pen, your work bag, your shoes. Consider wearing glasses even if you don’t need them - a classic frame sends a message of professionalism and even adds age that may be helpful to a young woman in working in men-dominated field. It will be important that they make a statement but not overpower you. Here are few simple steps to pick your work accessories:
Define your brand image. What is your equity at work today, and what do you want it to be? For example for my client - today she may be invisible and easily ignored. Tomorrow, she wants to be professional, quiet but powerful leader, resourceful. Ensure your brand image is not only a collective adjectives of a professional ad extreme, but human elements that others find as connectors. What is your humor? What is your way of dealing with stress or conflict? Your image shall be human and genuinely you. Sustaining an image that isn’t you will not only cost a lot of energy but also not work as people will feel lack of authenticity.
Go over each piece of accessories you use for work. This includes your usual rings, bracelets, necklace etc, but also your hair accessories, your watch, pen(s), bag, belts, shoes, notepads, phone cover etc. Assess them vs your brand image - do they carry your message forward? Put aside anything that is clearly off equity. Consider what items can enhance your desired image. Consider your human side - are these authentically you? Do they give you a sense of professional confidence? If not, try again!
Introduce new pieces gradually, but consistently. Ensure you have a variety for business travel, business dinner, and a usual day at work.Professional accessories can be pricey, but they don’t have to be - consider second-hand items, and consider quality over brand. Enjoy! #LoveAccessories #StylingInsight #ConfidenceInStyle