The Best Ways to Accessorise (Part 4): Shoes and Bags

As well as being everyday staples, shoes and bags add so much character and they are usually what people notice first. Plus if you live in the Arab region, they’re the best way to mark your style when you need to cover your clothes with an abaya. There are so many different types of shoes and bags, it’s impossible to get into them all, but here are a few general guidelines.

When choosing shoes, avoid those big platform pumps, especially in the evenings, they’re just not doing anything flattering. If you’re looking for added height without having to wear stilettos, try a sculpted wedge or a shoe with an understated hidden platform. On the other hand, one must-have in your closet is a nude pair of shoes, which makes your legs look longer as there’s nothing highlighting where they end. Black pumps should also always have a place in your wardrobe as they are elegant, useful and timeless. Special evenings out call for finer silhouettes, with stilettos and peep-toes being a top choice.

If you’re looking to invest in a handbag, make it an ‘everyday’ one that goes with everything. Since you are spending a significant amount, don’t go for an ‘it’ bag you’ve seen everywhere you go. It will be out by next season, so instead go for something you feel can be timeless. Another thing you need to consider is the size, you need it to fit all your things yet not let it dominate, so don’t keep it wider than the width of your body viewed from the side. Plus, detachable shoulder straps are always practical. For evening bags, think of something on a smaller scale like a clutch around the size of your palm.

Combining Shoes & Bags
If you are wearing something with bold prints, it’s better to don a bag and shoes with natural colours, allowing your clothes to stand out. Conversely, wearing solid coloured clothes is an invitation for you to be more creative when choosing the colours of your shoes and bags. And they definitely don’t have to be matching! Carrying a bag in a bright colour like red can work perfectly with footwear in darker shades or animal prints. If you go for light shoes, a handbag in a contrasting light tone does the job. Aiming for a coordinated effort rather than a matching set increases visual interest and even makes you look younger. For the evening, consider metallics as they go with anything, even other metallic tones, and they look great in vibrant hues too.

Click Begin Slideshow to see some of the hottest shoe and bag combos to come from fashion week’s street style crowd.