Introduction to Fashion Accessories

Clothing, in general has come a long way since man donned a shoddy bear skin in order to save himself from the bitter cold. Even throughout the infancy of fashion, however, accessories played a crucial role in turning a simple outfit into a glamorous get-up, worthy of royalty.

Indeed, throughout history, kings and queens have used accessories to literally wear their aristocracy on their sleeves. Honoured Zulu tribesman in Southern Africa was granted permission to wear the hides of sacred animals on their shoulders and a Zulu warrior’s rank would be indicated by the number of claws on his necklace. Henry the 8^th wholeheartedly embraced the power and presence that fashion accessories can wield, spending the equivalent of the annual earnings of an average citizen every month to ensure that his royal fingers sported only the finest jewellery. Indeed, Henry the 8^th could very well be regarded as the father of bling.

Fashion accessories haven’t lost any of their appeal in modern culture. In fact, accessories are more of a status symbol in the modern world than ever before. Just ask any lady lucky enough to own a handbag designed by the now almost legendary Louis Vuitton. She will no doubt relay stories of how bored teenage shop attendants seem magically transformed into the world’s most diligent salespeople, and how other women she meets seem to treat her with a silent but profound respect, all a result of the power of the leather and gold that she proudly hangs from her shoulder.

It has become impossible to deny the importance of accessories in mainstream fashion, and the rebirth of glitz and glamour in contemporary clothing design has truly brought this essential fashion element to the fore. New materials, in combination with revolutionary techniques, equipment and design, mean that now, there truly is a perfect accessory to complement every outfit. From shape changing silicon composite bracelets from China, to 1940′s era inspired crystal necklaces by Sweden’s Swarovski. Smart shoppers can add a touch of panache to brand new looks, or even complete a classic ensemble with a timeless piece of jewellery. What’s more, as a result of the quality of synthetic crystal and far more cost effective production methods, gorgeous jewellery is now affordable to everyone.

So the next time you spend hours picking an outfit for a special occasion, and find yourself standing in front of the mirror asking yourself; what is missing? Think accessories. Thankfully, worrying about being executed for wearing a bracelet in the wrong colour is a thing of the past. So your choice of accessories is truly only limited to your imagination. Just remember the immortal words of Giorgio Armani when he said “it’s all about taste”.

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