Let’s chat about work outfits, and more importantly, how to accessorize your work outfits! I consider myself the queen of the boring work outfit. I have a couple of different uniforms I lean on, and I wear minimal accessories in my day-to-day life, including in my workwear outfits. Putting together work outfits with tasteful accessories will help you look professional!

In this post, I rounded up six tips for accessorizing your casual work outfits as well as a list of the 10 best accessories you can add to your outfits no matter your office dress code. Add variations of these accessories to show your personality and give you confidence in the workplace!

READ NEXT: How to Accessorize a Black Dress

How to Accessorize for Work

1. Consider the setting

Your accessories might vary based on your environment. Will you be attending important meetings with external stakeholders, or sitting at your desk in a cubicle? Will you be walking from building to building downtown? Interacting with the public? Your accessories may change based on your work setting. I recommend dressing up for more important events, meetings, and conferences—putting your best foot forward with your outfit will boost your confidence!

2. Choose one statement piece

Make one statement accessory the focal point of your work outfit. This will keep your outfit from looking too busy. You don’t want to wear more than one statement piece and then have them compete with each other! That might mean picking a statement necklace and wearing more understated earrings or vice versa. Or, you might play things up with a scarf and lipstick but keep your hair styled simply.

3. When in doubt, match!

I love a matchy-matchy moment with my accessories! If you’re not sure where to start with accessorizing, try matching your belt to your shoes (or your shoes to your bag). It’s the most basic of combinations, but it’s so easy, and once you feel confident doing that, you’ll be inspired to branch out and play around more with colors and textures.

4. Play with colors and patterns

There’s no need to wear all neutrals to work all the time, especially if wearing colors and patterns fits your personality! If that’s more your jam, you can pick a fun blouse or jacket as the focal point of your outfit and keep your accessories subdued. I love wearing bright colors to work and keeping my jewelry and work bag simple.

5. Spend more for quality pieces

If you can, spend a little more money to get truly quality accessories instead of buying cheap. You’ll end up needed to replace less expensive accessories more frequently, leading to more money and time spent (and more waste). This is especially true for jewelry and work totes that you’ll wear every day. You won’t regret “investing” in one or two work accessories that you truly love to wear, that enhance your work outfits, and that won’t fall apart or break down after only a few months.

6. Remember that less is more

To err on the side of caution, aim for a “less is more” approach when it comes to your work outfit accessories. Like I mentioned at the start, I’m a pro at wearing relatively boring work outfits with few accessories. When I wear accessories, I want them to add to the look and not distract from the outfit or from myself and my ability to do my job well. Don’t wear fussy accessories that might distract you or others, and do opt for an accessory or two that shows off your personal style!

Best Accessories for Work

Simple Leather Belt

Belts do more than the practical use of tightening a loose waistband. I love adding a simple leather belt to work outfits to add contrast. That’s especially evident in the outfit above! A rich cognac brown belt, sandals, and work tote adds some visual interest to the light-colored outfit. Belts don’t HAVE to be worn for contrast, though. A simple belt in the same color as your pants but a different texture is also visually interesting! There are a bunch of fun variations in leather belts, including bows, textures, and different colors and thicknesses.

Classic Hoop Earrings

Any type of earrings will do, but hoop earrings are a classic for the workplace! There are so many different variations on the hoop earrings from thin, large hoops to thick, small hoops and everywhere in between. I have a pair of flat hoops that I love to pull out for special events and important meetings.

Everyday Necklace

Everyday necklaces are the most versatile because you can wear them to work AND to any events in the evening or on the weekend. They make perfect staple work accessories because they’ll enhance your outfit instead of take away from it! The added bling makes work outfits look more interesting, and you can add some personality by wearing an initial pendant or something fun like a bow or snake.

Fun Hair Accessories (Headbands, Clips, Pins, Hats)

Whether or not you can wear hair accessories will depend on your line of work and/or workplace, but I figure most office environments allow for some sort of hair accessory. Play around with different headbands, clips, and scrunchies! If you can wear hats like I can at my workplace, consider baseball caps, berets, and even beanies when the weather cools.

Lanyard

Jazz up your work badge with a personalized lanyard, or at least something that looks a little fancier than what you may have been issued by your office. There are lots of lovely leather and nylon options rounded up in the widget below. Or, show your school spirit by finding a lanyard that features your favorite local college sports team!

Silk Scarf

I’m not sure there’s a more classic work accessory than a silk scarf. They are so versatile and can be worn in your hair, around your neck, or tied around the handle of your work tote. You can play around with different colors and patterns so that the scarf is the “pop” in your casual work outfit!

Wristwatch (with Metal or Leather Band)

I'm not a big fan of wearing anything on my wrists, but watches are a popular option as a work accessory! Most people seem to wear Apple watches these days (and I will admit that I've been tempted by those), which definitely trend more techy or sporty. You can dress those up with leather or metal bands. Regular, classic wristwatches are still a great option if you're more interested in just having a clock!

Leather Work Tote

Find a tote bag you'll LOVE to carry to work! I personally love my Madewell medium Transport tote, but there are a lot of other leather bag options, or go with another material if that's what you'd prefer. The medium Transport tote is the perfect size for my fellow petite ladies. Longchamp bags, which are crafted of mostly nylon, might feel dated to some but I still like to carry mine for conferences and work travel.

Bold Lipstick

For more important events, meetings, or presentations, you might opt for a bold lip as one of your accessories. If there’s anything Taylor Swift taught me, it’s that women are powerful, and she has proved that you can be powerful while wearing a red lip at the same time! If lipstick isn’t your thing, try my favorite Dior Addict Lip Glow.

Signature Scent

Finish your work outfits with an accessory you can’t see but that everyone around you will take notice of: a signature scent! This isn’t a necessity (honestly, I forget to wear my perfumes the majority of the time), but it’s a fun addition to give you a pep in your step and help boost your confidence.