Fashion Accessories

JEWELLERY

I.        Categories

a)  Classic – Everlasting – classic jewellery is a must in ones wardrobe. E.g. string of pearls or diamond studded earrings.

b)   Modern – dramatic – modern jewellery makes a strong statement. It should always be focal point of an outfit.

c)   Ethnic – Belonging to a particular race, group, and culture. The looks vary from soft to exotic to high fashion.

d)  Antique – highly valuable – these are collectors’ items & are heirloom quality pieces. Their value increases over the years.

II.      Kinds

a)  Precious and semi-precious jewellery – precious jewellery is made from precious metals and stones. The various metals that can be used are platinum, gold & silver; mainly with precious stones like diamonds, pearls, rubies, emeralds, turquoise etc. Semi-precious metals are usually silver & gold plated, based with stones like sandstone, cat’s-eye, onyx, American diamond, garnets etc. Gold is the most sought after for its warm, rich and glowing appearance. It brings light to the face, softens it and makes it look younger. Silver is the next to gold with two distinct moods – polished and matte.

b) Junk jewellery – usually made of semi-precious or easily available material like synthetic diamonds, metals, stones, glass, leather, papier-mâché, plastic, bone, shells, clay etc.

III.    Types

a)  Earrings – studs, circles, square, hoop/ ring, drops or danglers.

b)  Necklaces – choker, medium length and long.

c)  Bracelets, bangles – slipped, pulled on & clasped or hooked

d)  Cufflinks – stud or twist bar

e)  Anklets – traditionally called payal or paajeb

f)   Rings – nose rings, toe rings, finger rings

g)  Armlets

h)  Tikkas

i)   Tiara or crown

j)   Tie-pin or brooches

BELTS

Belts are worn around the waist for various reasons. Initially it was to hold the loin cloth in place & later became an accessory in fashion. Belts can be worn either on the waist or can be placed on the hips called hipsters or low-slung. They can be for functional as well as decorative purpose. They add interest to the waist.

Buckles play an important role in a belt; they are used to fasten the belt as well as give some decorations. Fabric belts are called Sashes. Belts range in width from under an inch to as much as 10-12”, forming a girdle or inch-type belt. Ideally the width should range from 1 to 1 ½ “ so that the belt can go through the loops of the waist band. The broader belts can be worn outside the loops or at the hip level straight or on a slant.

Belts are not a must have, one should determine whether or not to wear it. Tall people can wear wide belts, wraps, tie-ups & sashes to emphasize the waist; it will also cut down on height.

Materials: leather, fabric, metal, cord, rope, elastic, flat cord, plastic etc. a number of trims can be attached to a belt to enhance its appearance.

BAGS

The main purpose of a bag is to carry goods or items from one place to another. The additional use is to protect goods from stains, seepage, damage & spillage. They are used in every sphere of life by almost everybody – age, strata of society and profession. They are two basic areas of use – casual bags for outdoor use and formal bags for indoor use.

I.    CATEGORIES

a)   Handbags – They are usually bags used everyday e.g. over the shoulder style, pack-mates/ back-packs, satchels & totes. An everyday bag should be practical & have maximum utility space. Too large or too small a bag must not be considered. Too large a bag may give a dragged appearance & too small a bag will look stuffed as days go by.  A belt-bag is another option as it gives direction to the waistline but must never be too big, just large enough to carry essentials.

b)  Work-bags – if one carries work home or from appointment to appointment, you would need a good quality tote-bag, big enough to hold files, notebooks etc. A tote is modern answer to a briefcase. Earlier the briefcase was a very stiff bag made in heavy leather. Today it is more light and elegant to carry. A briefcase calls for attention & respect from an onlooker, it lends a sense of authority & command from others. An option to consider is also the backpack. It is stylish and very practical in the career world. A neutral shade of brown or tan for workdays is a best choice along with black. Avoid shine and eye-catching finish or details.

c)   Evening bags – preferably a no colour metallic is a best buy, to suit almost all formal outfits. The shine will enhance & make the outfit look dressier. This is an area where one can indulge in any colour to add fun and vibrancy to the costume. It should usually be a small bag – clutch or envelope; with or without shoulder strap, preferably in silk, satin or brocade.

d)  Travel bag – when going on a journey or while staying away from home/office for a few days. One would need a bag that accommodates personal as well as professional items of use, depending on the journey undertaken. Travel bags would involve suitcases, hold-alls, have-a-sack/ back-pack, lightweight travel bags with compartments or a Pullman.

II.  OTHER VARIETIES

a)   Wallet – for money, credit cards, license

b)   Cases – for mobile phone, spectacles, pen/ pencil, travel (toiletries/ cosmetics/jewellery)

c)   Quilted bags – children’s items

III.  MATERIALS – Fabric, canvas, jute, straw, leather, grass, plastic, Rexene

WRAPS – SCARVES/ STOLES/ SHAWLS

They are all just a piece of material cut to a particular shape which can create a look almost without end. They have to skillfully be coordinated to result in a brilliant display. A scarf can be used to introduce colour, to provide contrast, to create shape & to make bold brilliant colour themes. They are easy to wear; loosely around the neck or shoulder, draped, tied etc. Scarves are also classified into woolen & knit mufflers, winter warmers like shawls and bright to luxurious printed stoles in cotton, chiffon, silk and viscose.

Scarves are usually squares in differing sizes – smallest 12-15” squares up to 36-45” scarf being the largest in size. The small ones can be worn around the head called bandana. 24-30” squares can be folded diagonally & worn over the forehead & around the head tied down at the back, called head-wrap.

Fabric plays a very important role in scarves. They have to be soft & supple so they can tie and drape easily and feel good against the skin. Natural fibres- cotton, silk & wool are the best, but with change in fabric & introduction of blends they make them even more affordable & low on maintenance. One could add tassels, bows, insert a string of pearls, a brooch or a simple knot can enhance & change the way the scarf looks after being worn.

HATS

The hat was long considered an essential in the wardrobe of the well-dressed women. In 1960’s a new breed of designers emerged & turned the traditional fashion world upside down. Hair became the fashion headliners. By the 1070’s hats were a low priority, it was Diana – Princess of Wales who brought it back into popularity.

A hat is a cover for the head, it can be in any form – soft or structured, smart, casual or practical but it has a shape given to it, as opposed to a simple wrap or scarf. It is an article of clothing worn most closely to the brain. It can be used both, to hide the face or frame it and can change the total look of the wearer.

Hats can be worn for various reasons: to show status, as part of a uniform, to act as a sun shade, for reasons of hygiene, for protection, to enhance height, to convey a message, religious, political, head warmth, accessory to clothing or to hide hair or lack of it.

The different types are: Cloche, Beret, Fedora, Pill Box, Pull-on, Boater, Floppy or Flapper, Steadsons, Crownless, Sports hats.

HAIR-ORNAMENTS

Hair ornaments have long had their place in fashion. They were once considered an essential with formal evening attire, when a hat would have been decidedly inappropriate. Today they are not necessities but, like hats, are chosen to suit a particular mood or to accessorize a certain look. They can be as plain and pretty as a simple bow or as ornate & intricate as a richly jeweled hair comb or clip.

Hair decorations in any form add a touch of glamour to a look or complete a colour story from top-to-toe coordination. The variations are endless. Most are made in a breath-taking choice of colors, sizes & shapes like the traditional comb with decorations, the brightly coloured hair elastics either with cloth wrappings (Scrunchies) or embellished with studs or flowers, just right for ponytails, slides which pick hair away from the face, lacquered chopsticks worn as singles or in a set of 2’s, the banana clips which hold all the hair up in a flowing pony tail, the snap clips in metal & hair bands which encase the hair around the face and push it back from the face.

TIES & CRAVATS

These are accessories worn around the neckline to give extra fullness or a classic touch to an outfit. Ties are long stitched-up piece of fabric, usually on a bias grain. This enables it to mould and fit around the neck properly & smoothly. The front is knotted at the base of the neck in various kinds of knotting techniques and the length can be held in place with a tie-pin for an additional touch.

Cravats are ‘T’ shaped, which can either be fastened by hook ’n’ eyes, Velcro or press-buttons at the back of the neck. The vertical length is sometimes with or without gathers and tucks into the shirt or blouse and gives the fullness to the neck area. Bow-ties are stitched bands with a bow shaped piece attached in the front, which tucks under the shirt collar. Cravats and ties were used mainly by men whose coats were open at the neck as fill-ins.

GLOVES & MITTENS

A glove is a garment covering the whole hand. Gloves have separate sheaths or openings for each finger & the thumb; if there is an opening but no covering sheath for each finger they are called ‘fingerless gloves’. Gloves which cover the entire hand or fist but do not have separate finger openings or sheaths are called ‘mittens’.

Gloves protect & comfort hands against cold or heat, damage by friction, abrasion or chemicals, and disease; or in turn to provide a guard for what a bare hand should not touch.

The different types include ones for commercial & industrial use like disposable gloves, welder’s gloves; for sports and recreation like boxing gloves, cricket gloves, ski gloves and fashion gloves which come in three lengths – wrist ‘matinee’, elbow and full length ‘opera’ worn as part of dressy outfits such as for church and weddings or formal ceremonies such as confirmation.

FOOT WEAR

Footwear refers to garments worn on the feet, for fashion, protection against the environment and adornment. Some cultures chose not to wear footwear, at least in some situations. The Roman’s saw clothing and footwear as signs of power & status in society and most Romans wore footwear, while slaves and peasants remained barefoot.

Types of footwear categories would include boots, shoes, sandals, indoor footwear, specific footwear and traditional footwear; that can be made of leather, plastic, rubber, textiles, wood, jute or metal.

Refer the link for up-cycling of shoes.

HOSIERY

Hosiery, also referred to as leg-wear, describes garments worn directly on the feet and legs. The term is also used for all types of knitted fabrics. Most hosiery garments are made by knitting methods. Modern hosiery is usually tight fitting by virtue of stretchy fabrics and meshes. Due to its close fit, most hosiery can be worn as an undergarment, but it is more commonly worn as a combined under/outer garment.

Common hosiery includes body stockings, compression stockings, thigh-high stockings, knee-highs, leggings, socks, stockings, pantyhose, toe-socks and leg-warmers.