The power of accessories Pt. 1
There is an easy parallel between the art of cooking and style. Each starts with basic components and the magic is all in how you combine (or even omit) these components.
When it comes to accessories, I’ve observed two primary schools of thought - they are the finishing “salt” or they are first thing you reach for and design around. Personally, I fall into the latter camp more often than not. Why? Because I have always found power in accessories and their ability to truly define and articulate my own unique taste.
Cooking and style have been my creative outlets for most of my adult life. While I have to be creative in my work, what I do does not offer tangible results or satisfaction in quite the same way as feeding those I love or donning the “most perfect” outfit for that day. And like anything - what generates that unique perspective is in the combination. Recently a new friend recommended a vodka sauce recipe to me (I am a self-acknowledged pasta fiend) which honestly became the inspiration for this post. The one she shared is actually deemed spicy - but is spicy not a spectrum? And what are accessories but not the spice of fashion? We all eat and we all wear clothes and the components of a vodka sauce dish or an outfit are more or less the same at the fundamental level, so how do we make them unique to ourselves and more importantly to our own evolving tastes?
For the vodka sauce recipe specifically, I adapted it to my taste and to what I had in my fridge and pantry - it called for 3 garlic cloves but I adore garlic and so that became 1.5 heads of garlic instead. It called for rigatoni but my father had recently made some fresh fettuccini.
On making this dish, it made me realize what I’ve long known in my personal cooking taste is also what I’ve subconsciously done with my personal style… take inspiration but adjust to what you have and especially to your taste. There is no magic recipe for all but there is magic in how we make a dish or outfit our own.
I have subconsciously gravitated primarily to accessories over the course of my life. And likely because they are more interchangeable in their uniqueness and that a dash or overindulgence of them can really transform any uniform. I tend to wear a lot of gold earrings but my new (and already cherished) Bottega Veneta tear drop earrings give a different flair than my vintage tiny gold hoops from my grandmother, Beatrice.
Wanted to introduce this concept and explore it more this year as I’m entering week 3 of my 75 Hard Style Challenge. Maybe this will resonate, maybe this is just for me to muse on. But personally I am excited to put myself out there and find kindred spirits who prefer well made, treasured clothes that they spice up with an amazing variety of accessories they’ve curated over the years.
Below are the 5 accessories on hard rotation this month per Whering (cost per wear isn’t quite accurate since the bracelet was a gift from my late grandmother, Grandy + I’ve owned most of these items for much longer than when I started cataloguing my closet on 1/3/24) . However, in an effort to be honest with myself about the $$$s I spend on my never-ending quest for my own perfect wardrobe here you go…
18k Gold link bracelet (vintage gift from my late grandmother, Grandy)
Bottega Veneta Small gold tear drop earrings
Janessa Leone Lennon wool hat in dark olive (this is a few years old but this is one of many I own from the brand)
Toteme t-lock leather shoulder bag in black with gold hardware