Women's Accessories Buying Guide

All clothing can benefit from accessories to complete the look. But since accessories tend to be more of an afterthought than your clothes, you'll want to have them ready in your closet so you can add them right before you run out the door in the morning. Use these tips to build your accessories wardrobe and you'll always have those last-minute touches when you need them.

A wardrobe of belts

Whether you're using them to hold up your pants or to cinch in your waist and create curves, women's belts are one of the most important women's accessories. Here's what you need in your belt wardrobe:

• Black belt: A black belt with a subtle buckle will be perfect with the black and gray trousers you wear to the office. Black leather belts make an excellent professional looking choice.
• Brown belt: You need a brown belt to wear with khaki trousers, and a brown belt also works well with navy pants and jeans.
• Wide belt: A wide belt can be worn over dresses and tunics when you want to accentuate or create a waistline. Choose a wide belt in a neutral color or your favorite accent color, like vibrant red or metallic silver.
• Fashion belts: When you want to dress up a little bit more, you can let fashion belts be a fun accent. A rhinestone belt or a bold belt buckle would dress up your waist for an evening out.

Most women's belts are available in sizes small, medium and large. These sizes correspond to the women's clothing sizes. Refer to the Overstock.com sizing guide to see how the measurements work.

Wallets you'll love to use

When you're shopping for wallets, you're most likely replacing an old wallet. To figure out which wallet is right for you, follow these tips to figure out what you like to carry along with you on a day-to-day basis:

• First, empty out your current wallet.
• Now is a good time for a little housekeeping: throw away old receipts and stamp cards you don't use and file away any business cards you still need.
• Decide if you like to carry along all of your credit cards or just a one or two so you know how many card slots you'll need.
• Do you like to carry cash and change? You may need a wallet with a coin holder.
• If you don't like to leave home without your checkbook, opt for a checkbook wallet that has a place to hold it and everything else.

After you've decided what you want to fit into your wallet, you can choose a style. Pick a wallet that matches your handbag, or pick a wallet that you just love the style of. You may even want to choose a wallet stylish enough that it can double as a clutch for evening.

Carry your keys in style

Leave nothing unadorned and choose a fashionable key ring. When you have more than just a metal ring for your keys, it's easier to find your keys at the bottom of your handbag. A key holder that closes around your keys can help protect a delicate handbag lining, so if you're handbag is lined in satin, you may want to consider one of these. A stylish key chain is more fun to carry around than a plain key ring, so you'll have something lovely to look at when you set your keys on the counter when you're checking out at a store or at the salon.

Fits like a glove

Gloves are the best protection for your hands on a cold day; gloves also let you continue to use your hands better than when they are tucked in pockets or covered by long sleeves. For warmth and flexibility, lined leather gloves are an excellent choice. When the temperatures really start to drop, you'll need winter gloves or mittens to stay warm. You can choose colors and styles of gloves that match your winter coat, or you can let your gloves be a pop of color.

Whether you want gloves for style or warmth, you'll want them to fit correctly. To determine your glove size, use a tape measure over your knuckles and around the palm of your hand.

• Extra-small: about 6.0 inches
• Small: about 6.5 inches
• Medium: about 7.0 inches
• Large: about 7.5 inches

The best hats for your face

Hats for warmth, hats for sun protection, hats to cover up your hair and hats for style: women's hats are available in several different styles. When you're choosing hats for yourself, keep these guidelines in mind:

• If you have a round or square face: choose hats with a large brim, either straight or floppy.
• If you have a long, narrow face: choose hats with low or flat crowns and wide brims to de-emphasize the length of your face.
• If you have a heart-shaped face: try an asymmetrical hat.
• If you have an oval face: you are lucky enough to choose any hats you please.
• If you are tall: you can get away with a large hat.
• If you are short: choose a small-scale hat so it won't overwhelm your figure.

Wrap yourself up in scarves, shawls and wraps

Adding a little extra warmth and color to your outfit is easy to achieve with scarves, shawls and wraps. Wrapping these accessories around your neck or shoulders personalizes your outfit and keeps the chill away. Here's what to look for when you're shopping:

• Scarves: If you're looking for a scarf to wear with a particular outfit, be sure to consider the seasonality of the clothing you'll be wearing it with. Wool scarves are perfect for winter wear, while silk scarves are better suited for chilly evenings in the spring, summer and fall.
• Shawls and wraps: Shawls and wraps (two names for the same thing) are larger than scarves so you can wrap them around your shoulders, torso or waist. Like scarves, you'll want to consider what the wrap is made of before you buy, so you'll know if you're choosing the right amount of warmth for the season when you want to wear it. Silk shawls will be more lightweight, making them perfect for beach cover-ups. Wool shawls and pashmina shawls are better suited for cool weather.

With scarves, shawls and wraps, the most important thing to consider is the size. When you're online shopping, be sure to check the dimensions and ask yourself if that size will suit the way you want to wear your scarf, shawl or wrap.

Under an umbrella

One of the bright parts of a rainy day is a stylish umbrella. With all of the different colors and prints, you're sure to find an umbrella that will brighten up a cloudy day. Other than the design, there are a few things you'll want to consider when selecting an umbrella:

• Straight handle versus curved: The shape of an umbrella's handle will affect how you hold the umbrella as well as how you store it.
• Arc versus dome: The arc is the more common style of umbrella, while the dome shape has a playful feeling. Dome umbrellas are usually clear because they come down farther over your face, while arc umbrellas are available in more pattern and color options.
• Overall size: Do you want a large umbrella to keep the rain--or the sun--off your face? Or are you more concerned that your umbrella can be shortened enough to fit into your handbag? More than any cute design, the size of your umbrella will determine whether or not you love to use it and remember to bring it along.

Back to the top

Back to the top

Back to the top