Are You An Excess-ory Girl?

Lili Tan

You've seen her before: the party girl in her black dress teetering down the street in metallic gold stilettos, dangling gold multi-chains across her decolletage and monstrous gold hoops while adjusting her woven gold belt and futzing with gold bangles all down her arm. Unfortunately, an outfit like this is anything but golden.

From your hair to your toes, what's the right way to accessorize for a special event without losing control? "Don't overload on one trend," says Elaine Francisco, former accessories market editor for People StyleWatch, Cargo, InStyle, and YM magazines, and owner of the trendy Los Angeles boutique, ecookie ny, opening later this year. "Simplicity is always best." And Francisco is here to tell you how to keep your accessories from becoming excessive.

Miss Matched
According to Francisco, one piece makes a statement, and that's all you need. "I scream when people wear the same exact color accessories in the same exact hue." Not everything has to be so matchy-matchy. Francisco suggests mixing it up. Instead of gold everything, you can wear your favorite brown leather belt with your hot jeans and still carry the gold purse. Now you're on your way to a rock show, not just off the plane from Vegas.

Style Sessions Tip: If sending a message is your goal, send one that says you're stylish, not spend-thrifty, about couture. "The head-to-toe designer look is horrible," Francisco says. "Christian Dior top, bag, shoes, and jewelry all from the same collection and season? You spent $80,000 on your outfit -- we get it."

Too Much Of A Good Thing
The fashion rule about taking off one accessory before you leave the house endures for a reason -- it's the safety net for not excessorizing. It's as easy as stepping back from the mirror to really look at your combination. "As long as you look at it and it blends, you're good," says Francisco. "Keep it all within the same feeling of the dress you have for that big date, awards banquet, or some other special event. If you have all earth tones like beige, brown, and greens, go ahead and wear gold shoes but top off your ensemble with simple earrings. "You can pull off wearing accessories in the same hue," Francisco adds. "Just choose different shades to keep the color scheme flowing."

Style Sessions Total Look: Your hair is not immune to excess. For example: rhinestones and ringlets? Unless you are in a fourth grade beauty pageant in Texas, please simplify that updo.

Weave A Look Into Your Own
"The spring collections have some great trends in accessories coming up," Francisco says. "And I really like the crochet jewelry." There's everything from crochet necklaces and earrings to yarn-wrapped beads. You'll only need one because the crochet is so unique and bold.

Style Sessions Tip: Yarn accessories for a formal event? Totally. It's high-fashion juxtaposition. "Say you're going to something formal, just one crochet necklace would be a great conversational piece," Francisco says. "You can wear it with anything because they come in different shades and colors. You'll definitely keep the party talking."

When Excess Is Exciting
Layering lots of accessories can and does work, but the trick is to focus on one area, and leave all your other accessories at home. "If you want to keep your look accessory-heavy, stick to the simple rule," Francisco says. For example: "If you want to wear multi-chains or multi-bangles, wear multi-chains or multi-bangles -- not both." There should only be one focal point on your outfit. Like Francisco always says, "One necklace is louder than ten bangles."