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Patent leather opens a whole new door of possibilities. Add it to any outfit and go. It is so versatile, with all the bold colors and styles it comes in. However, mastering the art of wearing patent leather is tricky. It's easy to overdo, but there are ways to get it just right.

Lets start with shoes. Most stores boast shiny, colorful flats. As you walk by, you can't help but to try on a pair; then, you can't help but to buy them. So now you're stuck with cute shoes but don't know what else to do with them. Whether heeled or flat, these types of shoes, usually bright, need to be paired with a more toned down outfit. They are that "it" piece that provide a fresh burst of color. You can't have more than one attention-stealing piece on you at a time. Therefore, skip the fancy lace trim on the top, or the highly detailed pants. Your shoes are the focus. Tone everything else down. An exception to this rule is that if you have a bold accessory (that is not a bag of any kind), patent leather, or not. This accessory must have almost the identical hue as the one on your feet. It can be paired with the shoes to create a matching effect. If your shoes are more toned down, like classic Mary Janes, still keep the outfit minimal. The shininess of the shoe attracts the eyes. If there are too many other details and colors going on, it will just look like a mess.

Patent leather handbags offer more choices. Regular black, brown, gray, tan, or white handbags have no limit. They can be worn with anything. Colorful bags can also be worn with most things, even a colorful outfit, as long as the bag is in the same color family as the garment. For instance, if you are wearing a yellow shirt, it is acceptable to have a orange or red leather bag. On the contrary, if you have a green vibe within your outfit, pairing it with a purple bag would be a no.

Last but not least, are the many varieties of patent leather accessories that are available, like belts, headbands, etc. These can be contrasted with colors, like red and black, and still look good. Just try not to wear too many at one time. The rest of the outfit should be less noticeable than the accessory. The shine of it makes up for the lack of detail on the rest of the body.

Patent leather is easy to wear once you get the gist of it. The fact that it is so shiny and usually colorful means that everything else has to be played down. If in the mirror your eyes wander all over the place trying to absorb it all in, it's a good indicator you have on too much.

Learn more about this author, Jana Walters.
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