Ways to Add a Touch of Class to your Evening Outfit

When you think of the word, “elegance”, an expensive designer dress and flashy jewelry come to mind. However, you don’t have to buy a dress worth thousands of dollars or wear heavy jewelry to look elegant and glamorous for an evening out. Adding one or two items to your outfit can add some much-needed oomph to your outfit. The key for style – less is more.

All you need to nail your look are some accessories. As Michael Kors himself puts it, “I’ve always thought of accessories as an exclamation point of a woman’s outfit.”

So, if you’re looking to add a touch of class to your evening outfit, here are a few tips that you should follow:

Add a dash of pearls

You can never go wrong with pearls. By adding a string of pearls to your neck, you can instantly up the ante of your outfit.  Audrey Hepburn, the fashion icon of the 20th century, wore a pearl necklace with a simple black dress, and it is one of her most famous photographs to exist.

In fact, many celebrities and style icons, such as Coco Chanel, have been huge advocates of pearls. If you’re not into necklaces, then maybe a pearl bracelet or some pearl earrings can also do the trick. Having some magnificent pearl jewelry, like these high quality Japanese pearls can be everything you need for a classy and stylish look. 

Wrap a scarf

If you feel you are wearing only one color and need something to add color to the look, a printed scarf can always turn things around. There are abundant ways to style a scarf. For instance, it can be wrapped around the neck or wrapped around the shoulders. All you have to do is look up tutorials on YouTube and be overwhelmed by the number of choices you have.

Moreover, a scarf can be tied around the head, in a typical Audrey Hepburn style, or on your purse’s handle. You just have to make sure the scarf’s color and print are complementary to the dress and handbag and do not clash. If the dress is one-color, then a printed scarf works, and vice versa. The point is to always let the outfit shine in the spotlight.

Wear a handbag or a tote

If you still need some color to your outfit, and a scarf is too much, then a handbag or tote is the way to go. This bag can be printed or in color in contrast to the outfit. For example, if the color of the dress is in one shade, then the handbag can be printed, or if there are designs on the clothing, then the bag should be plain. 

Either way, the focus should always be on the dress, and not the accessory. The accessory is supposed to complement the overall look. The trick is not to have too much happening with the outfit at the same time. On the other hand, handbags are not for everyone. Some girls also feel comfortable in holding sleek and trendy clutches to complement their evening attires.

Wear some heels

It might be surprising to hear, but six inches’ pencil heels are not always the answer. Yes, they definitely look good, but again, less is more. Smaller heels, maybe those that are two to three inches high, can also have a similar effect or even small wedges.

Similarly, with the handbag or the scarf, the heels do not have to be the same color as the outfit. If the dress is blue, the heels can be silver or black, maybe even red. Nude colored heels go wonderfully with every combination.

Glam up your hair

Small accessories such as a fancy hair clip or a scarf around the ponytail can also provide the desired classy effect. A pearl adorned headband or a little tiara might do wonders too. Adding a touch of something to one’s hair can polish off the complete chic look.

If you do not want to add any accessory to your hair, then a simple hairstyle in the form of a sleek chignon, or a braid or even a simple high ponytail will add a touch of class. This is not to say that keeping your natural hair is a bad idea, but styling it gives a classy effect.  

Use jewelry the right way

You’d be surprised how many people go wrong with jewelry. The trick is to find the perfect set of earrings or a necklace. As mentioned above, pearls can never hurt. But if by some chance you are not a fan of pearls, then a necklace with a small pendant or some exquisite earrings can also work like magic to provide a classy touch. The length of the necklace can vary depending on how long you like your necklaces, a choker, short or long to the middle of the chest.

Furthermore, hoop earrings are a simple, yet classy accessory. Or you know, a pair of diamond studs. If the sleeves are short or the dress is sleeveless, then a single bracelet can add the finishing touch to the whole look.

Tie it all together with a belt 

Belts can be pulled off in the right way on the waist of a dress, in case you want to add something to accessorize the dress itself. It gives an hourglass shape, but it has to be styled carefully, though, as not all dresses look good with belts.

Coco Chanel’s most famous advice is to look in the mirror and lose one accessory before stepping out of the house, so you should ensure you’re not overdoing it.

Add a dash of red

The best thing about wearing red lipstick is that it goes with every color and every evening outfit. It is a bold look, but it works! Again, the outfit should be simple for the red lipstick to provide a complementary look.

Conclusion

For an evening outfit, the choice of color matters the most. The tone of dresses is usually dark, but that does not mean the accessory has to be. The separate embellishments, like your handbag or scarf, can be of bright contrasting color. Wear your outfit with a winning smile, and you’re bound to turn heads wherever you walk in.