Show Accessories – What are your show accessory essentials? 🕶
Hello! Welcome back to another blog post at Country Classic Lucinda. We are in full swing of the show season now so I really wanted to share with you some summer show accessories that I love to use to finish off my outfit!
I absolutely love accessorising outfits and I believe that your accessorises can really complete your outfit, as well as adding a colour pop or special touch.
I hope you find the information helpful when planning and accessorising your own show outfits!
Sunglasses …
Sunglasses are an absolute essential in general throughout the summer. Alongside being a great summer accessory, sunglasses are protecting our eyes against UV rays from the sun.
I’ve struggled with sunglasses previously as I have quite a small head. More often than not, sunglasses slide down my face and I just end up finding them irritating to wear. Properly fitting sunglasses are much more comfortable and will look and feel so much better. Sunglasses come in all different shapes and sizes. I find it helpful to try them on to check they suit my face shape, and don’t slide down!
I’ve fallen in love with the Sporting Hares Fenston Sunglasses. These are the perfect summer sunglasses, with a premium wood frame. The Fenstons comes fitted with blue polarised lenses. These sunglasses are unisex- so would also make a great present!
Jewellery …
I love jewellery. I have my staple jewellery that I don’t actually take off, and wear pretty much every day. I then have lots of other jewellery that I dip into to create various different outfit looks.
Pearl jewellery will always be my favourite (hopefully you read my recent blog about the beautiful snaffle and pearl bracelet by County Equestrian Jewellers!). I am nearly always wearing some sort of pearls with my outfit. They are so classy and classic, they can be dressed up or down, and they match pretty much everything I wear.
Another piece I really love is the Running Fox necklace by County Equestrian Jewellers. This is such a country piece and it looks great with everything. I have worn it to the races, on holiday, out for meals…. it is so versatile!
I love stacking bracelets. I think this has more of an impact, but it is more commonly because I just can’t decide on an individual item to wear! Don’t forget you can stack and layer your necklaces and rings, as well as bracelets.
Jewellery has the ability to dress an outfit up or down, and can really have a lasting effect. Don’t be shy when playing around with what jewellery works!
Watch …
My watch is by Morris Richardson. I am sure if you follow me on Instagram you will have seen it appearing countless times!
I love to accessorise this watch with my outfits, tassels and jewellery! The watch straps are interchangeable with many beautiful Harris Tweed designs to chose from. This is my go to accessory and it is vital when your days are as jam packed as mine seem to be at the moment!
Belts …
Not just practical, belts can also add the finishing touch to an outfit, and they are a great way to accessorise. I will nearly always be wearing a belt with my outfits!
I have a variety of different belts, leather, suede and hair on hide. I like to buy a size that can fit around my waist as well- so that I can wear with high waisted clothing or dresses.
Investing in good quality belts is well worth it. Cheaper quality and poor materials can start to look shabby quickly.
Use your belts to add colour to your outfit, you could match with your tassels or by picking out a specific colour within your outfit, or opt for a classic coloured belt to bring your outfit together.
Bags …
Your handbag is an obvious essential on any day out. If you’re anything like me, then you probably have several to chose from! I like to have something that can go over my shoulder on show days, this helps to keep your hands free for your shopping bags, and tasting food samples!
The Henrietta Spencer bags are the perfect summer accessory. I love the design with the leather detailing, they have become a firm favourite of mine! This bag is so spacious that it’s perfect for a show and taking all those additional items with you for your full day out.
Grays produce some really beautiful, timeless leather handbags. I have been a fan of this brand for a long while now and they have a bag suitable for every occasion. The Alice Handbag is large enough to fit everything in that you need to take with you, but it isn’t too bulky and still fits comfortably over your shoulder.
For me, I like my handbag to be big enough to carry absolutely everything I could possibly need with me on a day out! Bags with internal compartments can also help your to organise your belongings for ease of access!
Scarves …
Again, I am rarely seen without a scarf. I like to wear something around my neck, whether it be a necklace or a scarf.
Scarves are perfect for adding colour to your outfit, and they can be tied in so many different ways that it offers an opportunity to change up your outfit in a variety of different ways.
Despite it being summer, there can still be a real chill in the air and a scarf is also perfect for adding that extra little bit of warmth to your outfit!
I particularly love silk scarves. These have such a lovely feel, they are easy to style and they add such a stylish and classy look to your outfits. My go to silk scarves are of course from the Clare Haggas Fine Art range. The colours, designs and sizes of these scarves are what make them stand out miles above the rest, they are pretty much all I wear and I couldn’t recommend them enough! If you haven’t shopped for silk scarves before I would recommend looking at Clare Haggas Fine Art or Joules if you are wanting something with a country theme and at an affordable price.
Don’t forget you can also attach a scarf onto your handbag, to add some extra colour to your outfit that way instead!
I have a blog post already published, which suggests lots of different ways to style a scarf, so if you need some inspiration, then please do have a look.
Hats and Hairbands …
I love wearing a hat or hairband, I think it helps to take pressure off your hair looking perfect, and they are a great accessory to your outfit.
Fedora hats are really useful in the summer, the help to shield the sun, and keep those unexpected summer showers off your head. A fedora hat can add a real statement to your outfit, I am rarely without one, and even more so during the winter when National Hunt season is upon us.
Don’t forget that hatpins added to your fedora can help to create a totally different look- I am a fan of big pieces!
You may have also noticed that Hairbands have made a huge comeback and boy am I pleased about that! Hairbands are a great addition to your outfit and can add to your already styled hair, whether that be styled up or down, or throw one on to create a stand alone style.
Penelope Henderson on Instagram offers a stunning range of Hairbands, and there really is one for every possible type of outfit!
Tassels …
Aren’t we all lovers of Fairfax and Favor? I probably own far too many of their shoes and boots. However, being able to change the tassels on their boot range is a brilliant way to co-ordinate or change up your look!
I love coordinating my outfits and tassels to match. I also like my tassels to pick one colour in the outfit to create a colour pop. Experiment with different colours to create your ultimate look.
Footwear
Comfortable footwear is absolutely vital for a long show day. You are most likely going to be walking around a lot, therefore you do not want to be wearing anything uncomfortable, or that is likely to rub.
I love the Fairfax and Favor Rockingham boot as a summer footwear option! These boots are really comfortable, they are shorter so they do save your legs from getting too warm, and they look amazing with everything! I love pairing them with a summer dress for a really summery look!
The second footwear go to is the Salcombe Deck Shoe by Fairfax and Favor. I think a deck shoe is probably considered the ultimate summer footwear by those of us styling a country look. These decks are really comfortable and they will help keep your feet happy when walking around a show all day. These deck shoes come in either Tan or Navy, perfect colours to match all of your outfits.
The last shoe I’m loving at the moment are these patent snaffle loafers from Rydale. They have a comfortable sole which again ensures that your feet stay happy on those long days walking around. The colours of the loafers are lovely and they can be dressed up or down to create some really summery looks.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this show essentials blog! I love accessorising for a day out and these few pieces can really help to pull your outfit together and create the final desired look.
Happy outfit planning, and hopefully I will see some of you at The Game Fair next week!
Until next time,
Lots of love, Lucinda xo
‘Put your money into accessories, you could create a million different looks’ – Iris Apfel
