Susan Street is one of my favorite style bloggers. You can find her at Susanafter60.com. The other day, I read one of her posts that reminded me of Chapter 5 in Quintessential Style–“Wardrobe ABC’s.” The “A” in that acronym refers to “Accessories.” And Susan noted how a great outfit can express individuality simply by combining a well thought-out set of accessories.

What is a “Set of Accessories?”

“Accessory Sets” as described on page 53 of Quintessential Style, refers to “a combination of accessories that relate well to one another either by color, mood, texture, style, or print. Together, these pieces make a good team and present a cohesive look. The items do not have to be the same color, although they can be (and this is probably the easiest way to pair them).“

This is the photo that sparked a reminder about how important accessory sets can be.

Susan is wearing a casual denim skirt and button down shirt, but it is the accessories she has chosen that truly elevate her look:

Without these accessories, her outfit could look quite uninteresting. But, by adding jewelry, shoes, a belt, and a bag that all have a cohesive feel, she elevates her style tenfold.

You do not have to have a lot of accessories to create a great look. Simply shop your closet and see if you can put together your own accessory sets–using items you already have. Consider your lifestyle and the occasions you might wear different sets of accessories:

Here are some of the accessory sets I put together using items from my closet:

For a glam night out, I could wear this accessory set with an off-white pair of slacks. (I’m not adding a necklace, because the top is already a focal point with its gold-sheen pattern.) I could even casualize this outfit (for a party or concert) by wearing a pair of dark jeans. (The shoes and bag don’t match in color perfectly, but they go together because they have the same sophisticated look.)

Here is summer-day sophisticated, I could wear this accessory set with just about anything: skirt, shorts, jeans, or capri pants. (Dog not included.)

A beach chic evening out might incorporate items from this accessory set. Wear them with any simple dress. Notice how the cork shoes and straw bag have a natural feel, as does the shell necklace. You could even wear this to a summer wedding.

I hate to say this, but this is usually the accessory set I wear for a funeral or somber occasion. I want to look appropriate, but never flashy.

Here are a few more accessory sets I put together:

Above is a “preppy” accessory set you could wear with a dress, jeans, or a pair of khaki slacks. And of course, you probably already own a sporty accessory set for your favorite team.

There are so many more combinations of accessories I could have put together using scarves, belts, hats, other jewelry, and even eyewear.

By now, you get the idea. See how easy accessorizing can be? When you combine items in sets, you can simply grab a set out of your closet and your outfit is complete!

On the back flap of our book QUINTESSENTIAL STYLE, one of our reader points says, “Q Style will help solve your fashion dilemmas using Sets of Accessories.” And Janna writes on page 56: “It wouldn’t matter if someone was wearing a dress identical to yours–if you accessorize differently, the look would truly be your own.”

That is signature style.

And thank you, Susan Street, for sharing your valuable insights into style with us.

Find out more about Susan here. And here.