Accessorize in the Summertime

With the ability to make or ruin an appearance, accessories should always be a top priority when putting together any ensemble. Whether you want to dress something down or elevate a staple you’ve grown tired of, the addition of a few fashion pieces you need can help. And, what better time to accessorize than the summertime. So, here are our ten essential accessories for this summer.

1. Beret – This season, the fashionable and straightforward item has received a makeover. Add a netted beret to your wardrobe to transport yourself to Paris without leaving the country. Place it on your head, covering most of your forehead and an inch behind your ears, thus achieving the look of a true Parisian. Pull one side down to create a tilt.

2. Beach Bag – Returning to the beach? You’ll need a bag big enough to hold your water bottle, headphones, lunch, wallet, keys, lip balm, etc. Designers are presenting large comfy bags instead of stuffy and stiff folios or leather totes.

3. Bucket Hat – The bucket hat made a spectacular reappearance during the pandemic. While some felt it was a passing fad, the distinctive headwear is now considered a necessary accessory, both in street-style circles and on the runways of the world’s finest design houses.

4. Bucket Bag – This is the bag for you if you’ve already embraced this season’s throwback styles. Its old style would go well with your most cultured outfits.

5. Personalized Jewelry – Custom-made jewelry is trendy right now! It has been a mainstay of the accessories market for a few years now. So, grab a beautiful name necklace that may create a great fashion statement. After all, they’re a terrific way to glam up your style. Personalized jewelry can also be used in different ways. Maybe you want your children’s names on your necklace, your partner’s initials, or even a memorial for a departed loved one. There are numerous ways to customize jewelry to make a meaningful and trendy statement.

6. Platform Shoes – Platforms are massive this season, just like last. If you don’t already have a pair, I recommend purchasing one to give you all the inches you may or may not desire in your life. Platforms are being worn in various hues, styles, and voluminous sizes to suit any aesthetic.

7. Visor Hats – So, when the sun shines, it’s recommended that you SPF your scalp, so those who are more prone to burning may wish to avoid this trend. But, in terms of fashion, visors, polos, and other throwback uniform elements are making a comeback.

8. Headband – Beach accessories will also be popular this summer, so consider investing in a bright headband to keep you stylish and comfy.

9. Panama Hat – A Panama hat is a popular summer accessory. It’s highly adaptable because you may wear it with a classy look or a chill and easygoing style. Whatever you choose to wear it with, it will make you appear more stylish and lovely. A Panama hat is ideal for hot summer days because it is lightweight and breathable. That’s the best of both worlds: stylish and comfortable! A basic white or cream color is the most popular this summer, but if light colors aren’t your thing, you can buy Panama hats in all shades of brown and even black.

10. Scarf – There is a fine line, but that is the essence of the accessories game – it’s about subtle power moves, finesse, panache, flair… whatever you want to call it. The instructions are simple: avoid anything that may be classified as ‘jazzy’ or ‘statement,’ and instead pick breathable fabrics in neutral tones, such as cotton, silk, or linen, and wear them beneath the lapel of a jacket.

Remember to modify things in the way that makes you the most comfortable. Your style must be noticeable; now that you’ve learned about the latest fashion accessories, there’s no reason not to change your outfit. We can’t wait to see what the new you looks like!

Fast fashion has become all the rage over the past decade, with franchises learning to provide cheap knock-offs which actually look good. This has certainly made the fashion world more egalitarian, but it has created its own problems. The environmental impact of fast fashion is catastrophic.

But beyond the drawbacks of fast fashion, it simply does not match up to the fashion created by the best designers. On the contrary, if you really want to look good, individual pieces or outfits that cost a bit extra are what will turn heads. Ideally, you’ll want to fill your closet over time with a range of exciting items.

At some point, the contents of your wardrobe may cost thousands of dollars. Now, with expensive items like jewelry, insurance is a no-brainer. Getting extra coverage for your jewelry on your homeowners or renters insurance policy will save you financially if an expensive item is snatched. You can check out various insurance at Emerald Life Insurance with extra inclusions. But there is a difference between an expensive piece of jewelry and an equally expensive outfit – one is far easier to steal and offload.

Still, the thought of paying thousands of dollars for a designer dress and leaving it uninsured will make anyone uneasy. Is it worth adding extra coverage? Or is that too extravagant?

Here are some of the considerations.

You’ll almost never claim

The reality of getting insurance for your designer clothing is that you’re unlikely to ever claim. The chances of your clothing being stolen in a break-in are minimal and these items will rarely leave your home. When they do, you are likely wearing them, in which case they will not be stolen and any damage is unlikely to be covered by insurance.

If something happens to your home, however, your contents insurance may not be enough to cover these items. So, your insurance will be significant if there is a fire or flood.

The fact that you are unlikely to claim may not be an issue, though, because…

Low risk means low cost

Insurance is priced according to risk level. As such, a designer dress will not cost nearly as much to add to your insurance as a ring or necklace. The fact is that because the risk is so low, adding your designer clothing to your insurance may not have much impact on your premium, especially if you only have a few items to add.

Certain items will, of course, be at higher risk of theft. A designer bag, for example, can be easily snatched or simply left behind after a long night out. Losing your designer bag can be taxing financially and emotionally. Adding it to your insurance may be a bit more expensive but is not a bad idea.

Large wardrobes

For some people, the number of expensive designer clothing items they own can be counted on one hand. These have been bought individually over time and are cherished. However, their theft or destruction will not be a huge financial loss.

Others may have large wardrobes with dozens of expensive items. These can add up to a significant value that far exceeds your home contents coverage. In this case, adding up the value and getting specific coverage for it is highly recommended. Rather than risking losing tens of thousands of dollars (or more) worth of fashion in a house fire, it is worth paying more for scheduled personal property insurance.

Should you insure?

Ultimately, whether or not you should insure your fashion items has nothing to do with extravagance. On the contrary, it depends on what you own and how much it will cost to add extra insurance. Try and determine how much you have to lose and what you’re willing to pay to prevent that financial loss. In some cases, extra insurance is highly recommended.

Whether you’re going on your blissful post-wedding honeymoon or enjoying your vacation together where you’ll pop the magical question, you’ll want to make sure that the high-value engagement ring stays safe. Read on to learn nine ways to keep your engagement ring safe on vacation.

1. Insure and Inspect Your Ring — If you haven’t already purchased jewelry insurance for the engagement ring, make sure you do so before you and your partner go traveling together. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that your investment and symbol of forever love is protected in the event it’s ever lost or stolen. Make a checklist and take photos of any and all precious jewelry you’re taking with you on vacation. If you have to report anything to your insurance company, you’ll already be prepared with documentation. You should also have your engagement ring inspected regularly by your jeweler to keep it in pristine condition. Wedding bands and engagement rings are jewelry that are meant to be worn as part of your everyday routine. Do everything you can to make sure it fits properly before going on vacation.
2. Ensure Your Engagement Ring’s Stone Is Tight — Another reason why you’ll want to insure and inspect your ring is to make sure the center stone on your engagement ring is tight. You don’t want to be on vacation and accidentally see your diamond come loose or get lost on the trip.
3. Don’t Wear Your Ring in the Water — If you plan on snorkeling, swimming or being anywhere near water, it may be best to skip wearing your wedding rings altogether. If you’re swimming with your ring, the cold water of the ocean can cause your fingers to shrink. That means your ring is more likely to slip off. The chlorine in pool water can damage your ring, too.
4. Don’t Wear Your Ring During Outdoor Activities — Outdoor activities, in general, can accidentally damage your engagement ring. Your perfume and sunscreen can reduce the sheen of your diamonds. The grime, dirt and sweat of any outdoor hiking adventure can rub off on your shiny ring. Consider using a jewelry cleaner as well to keep diamond engagement rings nice and shiny.

5. Lock Your Ring in the Hotel Safe — Trust your instincts. According to a study from Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group, 20 percent of people have experienced loss or theft of fine jewelry during their travels. Don’t leave anything to chance during your vacation. If you’re planning on being out all day for activities outside of the hotel for your vacation, be sure to lock your ring inside the hotel safe. Alternatively, you can decide to leave your engagement ring at home in a lockbox or secure hiding place.
6. Just Wear Your Wedding Band — You don’t have to wear your engagement ring during vacation. You can leave the shiny rock at home and just wear your wedding band instead. While unique engagement rings are meant to be worn and shown off, it’s not always worth it to take the risk when you’re traveling.
7. Don’t Take Your Ring Off at the Airport — There’s no need to take off your engagement ring or wedding band at the airport. Your ring made of gold, silver or platinum won’t set off the alarm. When you’re busy and distracted trying to get through the airport security line, it’s easy to accidentally lose your ring or for a swiper to take advantage of the moment.
8. Clean Your Engagement Ring — Whether you’re on vacation or not, you should clean your diamond engagement ring. You can get a special jewelry cleaner to do the job, or you can make your own DIY engagement ring cleaner. If you’re on vacation, you can even make this DIY cleaner at your hotel. All you need is a bowl with warm water and then add some dishwashing soap. Let the ring soak for about half an hour, and then gently brush the ring to remove any dirt, oil and grime with a soft toothbrush.

9. Put the Ring in Your Carry-On Bag — Let’s say you’re going to propose to your significant other on vacation. You want to bring the ring with you, but you don’t want to sound off any figurative or literal alarms at the airport. Keep your ring in the carry-on bag. You can keep the ring in the box that it came in and consider wrapping it in a soft piece of clothing that your significant other won’t think to open if they peep into your bag. In the event that an airport security officer does need to search your carry-on, put a note on the engagement ring box that says something like, “Engagement ring — shhh!”

You may have heard the troubling stories of rings being stolen or lost in the ocean. No one wants to lose a ring when they’re ziplining on their honeymoon. However, with all of these tips in mind, you’ll be able to travel with ease on your vacation. When in doubt, trust your gut and err on the side of caution.