by Francesca Pawlak

Created on: September 15, 2010

The hottest fall fashions normally come with price tags to match, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Now, you can update your fall wardrobe rather inexpensively, with just a few items, but the key is that it’s all in the accessories. Here are a few steps to update your fall wardrobe without spending a fortune.

First, add a new fall color to your nails. Deep chocolate brown, plum purple, or slate gray are great colors for fall. Having your nails polished is a small detail that can help make an outfit pop. Keeping your nails short and well manicured is also a great way to pull a look together, add a clear coat and go.

Second, purses, shoes, and jewelry are where people tend to go overboard when it comes to accessorizing. The trick is to buy pieces that can go with anything and are not outfit specific. Have a special even to go to? Don’t buy a clutch or heels just to match the outfit, think past that event. A great pair of heels can be paired with jeans and a tee or be taken to the office with a knee length skirt and blouse.  Don’t forget a pair of mid-calf boots can also take an outfit from day to night and workday to the weekend. The same can be said for a purse, two purses are all you really need for fall, one that dresses up an outfit and one that dress it down. A fun, flirty bag in great fall colors with some rhinestones or ribbon can you can carry day to day for work, meetings, shopping, etc. will go with just about any outfit. Pick a bag that is multicolored, then you can choose a color to match a piece of your outfit with for a cohesive polished look. The second bag should be more rugged, corduroy and distressed leather are extremely trendy this season and always look great with jeans and a tee or a knit sweater dress and boots. As for jewelry, a few key pieces and you’re all set in this department. Gold tones are always great for fall, but two-toned jewelry can go much farther, giving you the best of both metals. Gemstones are also a great way to accessorize and be stylish yet not spending a lot of money.

Third, with sites like online item swapping websites and discount stores you can find styles to fit your own personal taste and be stylish and ready to shine for fall. Looking fabulous for fall doesn’t and shouldn’t cost you a lot, being thrifty and careful to buy only key pieces that can be worn with just about anything is sure to have you looking your best. Love your girlfriends necklace? Another option is to swap with friends, set up a weekly swap day to share jewelry and purses. It's like getting  something new every week without paying the price. 

Add some color, two great pairs of shoes, two purses, and a universal piece of jewelry like a necklace or bracelet and you can be runway ready for fall, without the runway ready price. It doesn’t take much to spice up an outfit for fall, even clothes you’ve had stashed away because you aren’t sure what to wear them with. Just remember, accessories can make or break an outfit. Too much or too little can leave you looking overdone or just plain boring. Don’t forget, if you shop with more than one outfit in mind and you’ll be ready to style an outfit, day or night.

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