Love ‘em or hate ‘em your fashion accessories say a lot about you, your style and your personality. Abu Dhabi Week’s fashion expert Dawn Williamson explains how to get it right
Let’s start by identifying what constitutes an accessory in fashion terms: an accessory is basically anything that you wear additional to your clothing and falls into five main categories; shoes, bags, jewellery, sunglasses and hats.
Women are no strangers to shopping for shoes and bags but an increasing number of men are turning to accessories, particularly of the designer origin, to spice up their looks.
For the male species we can also add belts, socks, wallets and watches to the accessories family. Men do get the short end of the stick when it comes to fashion – there’s hardly the same length and breadth available as there is for women. But accessorising for men is generally a much easier task.
The watch – for the average working man who spends his days in a classic suit, my recommendation would be simple works best. A statement watch is a must have, it’s an aspirational piece that speaks volumes between men that women will never understand. The watch says a lot about his character: poser, sugar daddy, sports enthusiast, diver, computer geek – so from Rolex to Casio what is your watch saying about you?
The rise of the man bag – I’m a big fan of these, why shouldn’t the guys get to own a piece of arm candy. Bags are now evolving to include the iPad case, the updated briefcase, laptop bag and as men will always choose functionality and practicality this new technology allows the perfect excuse for owning a man bag. For men you can never go wrong with a classic piece from Louis Vuitton in the Damier Check or Epi leather, not as obvious as the monogram print but just as respected.
One big tip for the men; invest in good shoes! Women always check out a man’s shoes, it can be a deal breaker, keep shoes clean and polished and preferably from a reputable brand, we totally get the trainer/converse obsession but if they look like they’ve been down the park playing footy one-too-many times it’s probably time to buy a new pair.
Men’s shoes are getting a lot more interesting these days, but you still can’t beat the classics; the Gucci loafer, Dolce & Gabbana trainers (the off duty footwear of choice for most of the UK’s premiership footballers) and a pair of bespoke leather formal shoes from Oliver Sweeney or similar.
And for the ladies
I’m a big fan of the statement necklace, this is by far the best way to update any look in your wardrobe. Collars and chunky necklaces transform a simple black dress or top.
The best accessories retailers by far are from Aldo, got to love a high street brand that was savvy enough to open standalone accessories stores. For cheap and cheerful head to Claire’s. For those with deeper pockets my personal favourite is Chanel for costume jewellery, niche brands Lara Bohinc and mainstream favourites Kenneth Jay Lane.
For watches go for an oversized masculine timepiece in chunky gold and rose gold, the perfect accessory for a sharp suit. For the ‘man watch’ head to Marc by Marc Jacobs or Michael Kors.
Invest in one or two classic bags that will never go out of style: something from Hermes, Chanel, Bottega Veneta or Vuitton, they grow in value over time. For trend-inspired pieces head to Zara for quality catwalk-inspired bags.
Shoes – one of my favourite subjects as I am certifiably shoe mad! While I love Louboutin’s I’m more obsessed with quirkier fashion brands such as Isabel Marant and Brian Atwood.
Every good wardrobe should have the following: one pair of perfect black stiletto-heeled strappys – on the high street head to Zara, or for designer Jimmy Choo is the best bet. For nude heeled sandals, Christian Louboutin are my favourite. You also need a pair of statement wedges – super high in either white, black or navy and lastly a pair of classic flats whether, ballerinas float your boat or loafers (Ferragamo does the best).
But ladies, look after your shoes; scraped heels, missing heel tips, scuffmarks… NOT a good look!
One last tip; avoid over-accessorising. Accessories should enhance but not over-power an outfit, so the more interesting the clothes the fewer accessories you need.
This seasons must-have accessories
An oversized tan leather bag, one that fits in everything but the kitchen sink.
An oversized gold necklace – pair with an all-white outfit for Abu Dhabi Glamour at its best.
One pair of high nude sandals.
Need some style tips?
Fancy a make-over or some fashion tips for yourself? Then why not get in touch with Dawn. For one-to-one personal styling appointments, with a discount for Abu Dhabi Week readers visit: www.dawnstyle.co.uk or call: 050 572 8643 or email
