We turned to Gretchen Hollingsworth, founder of INK+ALLOY, to get her easy-to-implement tips.
‘Throw-on-and-go’ type accessories.
“As a mother of two and a business owner — I don’t have time to put a ton of thought into each and every piece I select in the morning. I like to have a handful of ‘throw-on-and-go’ type pieces that can pull together a last-minute look with ease. So, whether it’s a classic pair of brass hoops or a neutral beaded pair of earrings, I can top off my look in a breeze + make my morning hustle look more intentional. My favorite go-to earrings for this are my linear brass hoop earrings + my citron solid petite fringe earrings. Citron is a neutral color in my world + one that always keeps my outfit on the edge of chic/modern + boho/cool.”
Car jewelry.
“Yep, it’s exactly as it sounds. I got in the car after work one day and ditched my go-to bracelet stack + earrings in my cupholder and once I arrived home, I simply left them in the car. The next evening after work I was meeting a friend for happy hour + realized I didn’t have on earrings — you know that weird ‘naked’ feeling you get when recognizing a missing piece? It was at that moment that I looked down and saw my forgotten accessories. That ‘oops’ moment turned into a happy little accident that I now do on purpose. Keep a pair of earrings + a few bangles in your car – your future self will thank you.”
Color blocking and contrasting color trends.
“The next time you step out in your favorite denim jacket, be sure to throw on a pair of contrasting coral earrings! That go-to pink-striped button-up? Accessorize boldly with green statement pieces. It’s a fun way to keep your wardrobe feeling fresh + on-trend while simply using that handy-dandy color wheel we all learned about in grade school.”
Mix metallics.
“Mixing metallics is FUN! Those classic bronze + silver hues of the 90s are back and they are even more fun as a professional woman. It’s a great way to keep your heirloom pieces in rotation alongside fresh new finds you fall for in stores now. I love that this trend highlights my white gold wedding band while allowing me to mix+match my go-to brass bangles + shimmery gold beaded bracelets. It’s a throwback trend that I’m thankful has resurfaced.”
Pick an accessory that has ALL the colors in your closet.
“You’ll reach for it time and time again. It seems like an obvious tip, but not everyone is daring enough to reach for a necklace or bracelet or earrings that are jam-packed with punchy colors. I realized though once I started collecting multicolored accessories that they really are just as versatile as a neutral piece! When in doubt, grab a bright rainbow accessory and a more muted rainbow accessory and you’ll be amazed by how often you reach for them. They’ll quickly become jewelry box staples.”
Find something to reach for in a pinch on a bad hair day.
“They’re inevitable. Whether you slept on wet hair or don’t have time to tame your frizz, you’re sure to have a bad hair day at least a couple of times a month. When you have a go-to hair accessory in your arsenal, bad hair days are a nonissue. My favorite is a classic brass hair stick! It’s a damage-free way to tame your hair in a pinch and always makes it look like you tried harder than you did. Simply twist it up and top it with a bit of shine. My personal favorite is this brass hair stick that adds a bit of modern boho flare to any outfit.”
