Accesso-rise to any occasion

You know I’m a hardcore accessories girlie – I cannot fathom leaving the house without some form of extra outfit embellishment, be it jewellery, a statement bag or a hat. Some people might favour an extremely pared back minimalist look but for me the joy of dressing is adding those sartorial sprinkles on top.

This season accessories have come into their own and the more maximalist the better it would seem. Accessories are a great way to have fun with your outfit, give your look an update and by and large is much more budget friendly. These are my favourite accessories of the season:

It will come as no surprise that top of my list is the scarf: silky, bandana print or fringed, there are so many options out there at the moment and about a thousand different ways to style them. I recently bought a khaki green bandana print scarf that has long white fringing from Irish designer Threads and Tantrums. Jen does a limited run of each design, so be quick if you see something you like.

I have worn mine tied round the waist of a long white silky shirt, around the waist of my barrel leg jeans and also over the shoulders of a black coat. There are so many different ways to style a scarf and each one instantly jazzes up your outfit. If you’re not a fringe fan, then something like a bold red or blue triangle scarf will instantly add colour to your wardrobe.

Brooches are another great way to add your own signature style to your wardrobe. I’ve spoken before about wearing multiple vintage brooches on your blazer lapels and it’s lovely to collect these as you go, but lots of places like Dunnes already do them in packs that are styled together if you don't fancy looking for vintage brooches. I have also seen the most amazing feather brooches online – think bright or pastel coloured marabou style feathers in a really oversized style.

I have been trying to source one for myself and there are lots on Etsy that vary in price but I’m also wondering if I could get creative and make one myself with a visit to Vibes and Scribes. I always think a feather makes everything instantly glam, so you could just pop one of these brooches on a blazer, on a simple LBD or on a silky matching set and you've got an instant party wear look with minimal effort.

More often than not all you need is one standout accessory to elevate your outfit and that could also be something as simple as an embellished handbag. I love a statement bag and I have been seeing so many gorgeous pieces out there. Asos are doing some inexpensive ones with beading, tassels and velvet which will last you for years to come as they aren’t going to be your everyday bag.

I’ve spotted a really fun red beaded one with a dalmatian on it. I also have seen a lot of beautiful bags from independent designers that are around the one hundred euro mark but again I think that's ok for a bag you’ll use forever. I’ve got evening bags that I’ve had since my twenties and they still look as good as new and haven't dated.

I’m particularly taken with handbags with embellished fringing on them and currently have my eye on a zebra print bag with electric blue, beaded fringing. The beauty of accessories is you can go as over the top as you like or dial it back down but it’s ever so easy to completely change the feel of an outfit with one piece.