How to Accessorize a Plain Outfit: The Only Style Skill You Actually Need
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The most stylish women you know aren't wearing complicated outfits. Look closely the next time someone walks into a room and you think "she looks amazing." Nine times out of ten, the outfit itself is simple — jeans and a top, a solid dress, a neutral sweater. What makes it look intentional is what she put on after the clothes. The earrings. The necklace. The headband. The ring she chose for that finger. The accessories are doing all the work.
That's the real style skill nobody talks about. You don't need a bigger closet or a better eye for fashion. You need to know how to take the plain clothes you already own and make them yours with the right accessories. One piece can do it. Two pieces and you look styled. Three and people start asking where you shop.
Here's exactly how to do it — organized by the plain outfits you're probably already wearing.
Quick Picks: Best Accessories for Plain Outfits
The instant outfit-maker: Gold Puffy Heart Charm Necklace — $118 — one necklace, plain outfit solved
The $34 transformation: Gold Cherub Angels Red Heart Brooch — $34 — pin it on anything, everything changes
The earring upgrade: Red Crystal Heart Dangle Earrings — $78 — swap your studs, change the whole outfit
The wrist statement: Rainbow Ombre Crystal Cuff Bracelet — $138 — color and sparkle on one wrist
The hair game-changer: Floral Knotted Crystal Headband — $78 — takes 3 seconds, looks like you tried for 30 minutes
White Tee + Jeans: The Classic That Needs One Thing
A white tee and jeans is the most common "I have nothing to wear" outfit in every woman's closet. It's comfortable, it's clean, and it's boring — until you add one piece that gives it a personality.
SHOP Gold Puffy Heart Charm Necklace — $118
The Gold Puffy Heart Charm Necklace ($118) against a white tee is one of the easiest style moves in fashion. The white fabric acts as a blank canvas and the gold pendant becomes the only thing anyone sees. No layering required, no styling tricks — just a plain shirt and a necklace that does everything. The puffy heart charm has enough dimension and weight to read as a real statement without being oversized. This is the necklace you grab when you have five minutes and want to look like you thought about it. For more on styling gold necklaces, see our necklace layering guide.
Add earrings and you're done. A gold necklace with plain studs looks fine. A gold necklace with earrings that actually move? That looks styled.
SHOP Red Crystal Heart Dangle Earrings — $78
The Red Crystal Heart Dangle Earrings ($78) add a flash of red that turns a white-tee-and-jeans outfit from "running errands" to "meeting someone for lunch." The red crystal catches light, the dangle creates movement when you turn your head, and the heart shape ties back to the necklace for a coordinated but not matchy look. This two-piece combination — necklace plus earrings — is the minimum effective dose of accessorizing. For help choosing earrings that flatter your face, see our face shape earring guide.
Want to push it further? Add a ring. When your outfit is this simple, every piece of jewelry is visible and intentional.
SHOP Baroque Pearl Gold Cocktail Ring
The Baroque Pearl Gold Cocktail Ring on your index or middle finger with a white tee and jeans is the kind of detail that makes someone look at you and think "she has great style" without being able to pinpoint exactly why. The baroque pearl is organic and irregular — it doesn't look precious or formal, it looks like a woman who knows what she likes. For more on styling rings, see our cocktail ring guide.
All Black: The Canvas That Makes Everything Pop
An all-black outfit is the easiest foundation to accessorize because literally everything shows up against it. Gold glows. Color pops. Crystals catch every bit of light in the room. If you default to black when you don't know what to wear, you're already halfway to a great outfit — you just need to add the other half.
The key with all-black is going bold. Subtle accessories disappear against dark fabric. This is the time to reach for the piece you think might be "too much." It's not. Against black, it's exactly right. For a deep dive into this, see our full post on the best jewelry for black outfits.
SHOP Rainbow Ombre Crystal Cuff Bracelet — $138
The Rainbow Ombre Crystal Cuff Bracelet ($138) against a black sleeve is a showstopper. The ombre crystal pattern transitions through a spectrum of color that pops against the dark backdrop. Every color in the gradient becomes more vivid against black than it would against any other outfit. This is the bracelet you wear when your clothes say "simple" but your energy says "I'm here." For more on styling bold bracelets, see our statement bracelet guide.
Add a headband. On an all-black outfit, a headband introduces texture and visual interest at the top of your frame — right where people look first.
SHOP Floral Knotted Crystal Headband — $78
The Floral Knotted Crystal Headband ($78) with an all-black outfit is like putting a frame on a painting. The floral pattern and crystal detail create a focal point at the top of your look, drawing attention to your face and making the black outfit feel deliberate rather than default. It takes three seconds to put on and looks like you spent thirty minutes on your hair. For the complete guide to headband styling, see how to wear headbands.
Neutral Sweater + Jeans: The Brooch Trick Nobody Expects
A beige sweater, a gray pullover, a cream knit — these are the coziest, most comfortable pieces in your closet and also the most forgettable. They're warm. They're easy. And they look like you gave up on getting dressed. Unless you know the brooch trick.
SHOP Gold Cherub Angels Red Heart Brooch — $34
Pin the Gold Cherub Angels Red Heart Brooch ($34) on the upper left chest of a neutral sweater and watch what happens. A $20 sweater suddenly looks curated. The gold cherubs and red heart add romance and personality to something that had none. At $34, this is the most affordable outfit transformation in our entire collection — and it works on sweaters, cardigans, blazers, denim jackets, even the collar of a button-down shirt. For more placement ideas, see our guide on how to wear a brooch in 2026.
Want even more impact? Try clustering multiple brooches together.
SHOP Love & Luck Brooch Set — $88
The Love & Luck Brooch Set ($88) gives you five brooches — the cherub, a poodle, a ladybug, a bee, and a rose — that you can cluster on a lapel, spread across a jacket, or mix and match depending on your mood. The set includes the cherub brooch, so if you love the single pin, the full set gives you even more value and versatility. Five brooches for $88 means each one costs less than $18 — and any one of them can transform a plain outfit on its own. Cluster three on the collar of a denim jacket and you've just created a look that belongs in a magazine. For more on clustering, see our brooch stacking and clustering guide.
Basic Dress: Add Sunglasses and Suddenly It's an Outfit
A solid-color dress — black, navy, tan, whatever your go-to is — can feel like a uniform when you wear it every week. But a dress is actually the easiest piece to accessorize because it's one item doing all the clothing work, which leaves all the visual space for your accessories.
SHOP Oversized Round Sunglasses, Caramel — $78
The Oversized Round Sunglasses in Caramel ($78) pushed up on your head or worn on your face instantly add personality to any basic dress. The caramel color is warm and flattering, the oversized round shape is retro-modern, and sunglasses are the one accessory that changes your entire look without touching your outfit. On your head, they function like a hair accessory. On your face, they add mystery and confidence. Either way, they take a plain dress from "I just grabbed this" to "I have a whole thing going on." For more sunglasses styling, see our sunglasses style guide.
Pair the sunglasses with the Gold Puffy Heart Charm Necklace ($118) and the Baroque Pearl Cocktail Ring and your basic dress just became three accessories away from being the best outfit you wore all week.
The Accessory Math: How Many Pieces Do You Actually Need?
There's no magic number, but here's a framework that works every time:
One accessory = "I didn't totally give up." A necklace on a plain tee. Sunglasses with a dress. A headband with a ponytail. It's the minimum — and sometimes the minimum is all you have energy for. That's fine. One piece is infinitely better than zero.
Two accessories = "She looks put together." Necklace plus earrings. Headband plus a ring. Brooch plus sunglasses. Two pieces at two different spots on your body creates the perception of a coordinated look even if you grabbed both in thirty seconds.
Three accessories = "Where does she shop?" Necklace, earrings, and a ring. Headband, earrings, and a bracelet. Brooch, necklace, and sunglasses. Three pieces is where people start thinking you have a personal stylist. You don't. You have a jewelry drawer and three minutes.
The trick is placing accessories at different heights — something near your face (earrings or headband), something at your neck or chest (necklace or brooch), and something at your hands or wrist (ring or bracelet). That vertical spread makes the eye travel the full length of your outfit, which is what makes a simple look feel complete.
The Five Accessories Every Woman Needs for Plain Outfits
If you're starting from scratch and want to build a collection that transforms any basic outfit, here's where to start:
A gold charm necklace. This is the single most versatile accessory you can own. The Gold Puffy Heart Charm Necklace ($118) works on every neckline, every color, every occasion. It's the piece you put on when you don't know what else to do — and it's always the right answer.
Statement earrings that move. Dangle earrings change the energy around your face in a way studs can't. The Red Crystal Heart Dangles ($78) work from office to weekend to dinner without looking out of place in any setting. For more options, see our statement earring guide.
A headband. The most underrated accessory for plain outfits. A headband changes your entire look in three seconds without changing your clothes. The Floral Knotted Crystal Headband ($78) works with every hair type and length. For styling ideas, see our complete headband guide.
A cocktail ring. The accessory most women forget and the one that gets the most compliments. The Baroque Pearl Cocktail Ring works every day, not just for events. Wear it on your index finger with jeans and a tee — it reads as confident and intentional.
A brooch. The most affordable outfit transformer. A single Gold Cherub Heart Brooch ($34) pinned on a sweater, blazer, or jacket changes the entire piece. Or invest in the Love & Luck Set ($88) for five brooches that give you endless combinations.
Try Everything On in Charleston
The best way to see how accessories transform a plain outfit is to try them on with what you're wearing right now. Come visit our full collection at Maris DeHart, 32 Vendue Range, Charleston, SC. Wear your most boring outfit — we'll make it interesting.
SHOP All Jewelry | SHOP Headbands
Frequently Asked Questions About Accessorizing Plain Outfits
What's the easiest accessory to add to a plain outfit?
A necklace. It sits right in the center of your outfit where everyone looks first, and it requires zero styling skill — just put it on. A gold charm necklace on a plain top is the fastest style upgrade that exists.
Can you over-accessorize a simple outfit?
It's harder than you think. A plain outfit gives accessories room to breathe. Where a patterned or detailed outfit can start feeling cluttered with too many accessories, a white tee and jeans can handle a necklace, earrings, a ring, a bracelet, and sunglasses without looking overdone. The simplicity of the outfit is what makes the accessories work.
Should my accessories match?
They should feel coordinated, not matching. Gold earrings with a gold necklace and a gold ring is great. But they don't need to be from the same collection or have the same design. A heart necklace with butterfly earrings and a pearl ring all in gold is perfectly styled because the metal ties them together. For more on this, see our mixing metals guide.
What accessories work with a white t-shirt?
Everything. A white tee is the most accessory-friendly piece in your closet. Gold necklaces pop against white. Colorful earrings frame your face. Brooches pin directly onto the fabric. Headbands add structure to a casual look. There is no wrong answer with a white tee.
How do I accessorize an all-black outfit without looking overdone?
Go bold with one or two pieces and leave the rest alone. A statement cuff bracelet and earrings. Or a headband and a ring. The black handles everything else — your accessories just need to provide the contrast. See our jewelry for black outfits guide for specifics.
Is it OK to wear statement jewelry with casual clothes?
That's exactly when you should wear it. Statement jewelry with casual clothes is the definition of effortless style. A cocktail ring with jeans. Dangle earrings with a sweater. A crystal headband with a plain tee. The contrast between casual clothes and bold accessories is what makes the look interesting.
What's the most affordable way to upgrade a plain outfit?
A brooch. The Gold Cherub Heart Brooch is $34 and completely changes any plain top, sweater, or jacket. If you want more options, the Love & Luck Set ($88) gives you five brooches for under $18 each.
Do I need to buy new clothes to look more stylish?
No. That's the whole point. The clothes you already own are fine — the accessories are what make them yours. A $15 white tee with a $118 gold necklace looks better than a $200 designer top with nothing on it. Invest in accessories, not more basics.
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