Introduction
If you´ve ever looked at yourself in the mirror wearing a set of gorgeous lingerie but felt like something is still missing – this article is for you. Today we will be talking about accessories and how to combine them with lingerie to make a complete, exciting, and sexy look.
In this article, Empress Mimi will dive into the world of jewelry, hosiery, shoes, and other small yet important elements.
Jewelry
What comes to mind first when you hear the word “accessories”? Probably jewelry. It’s an integral part for many when it comes to putting together an outfit. Jewelry completes the look and even if your outfit for today consists only of your favorite Empress Mimi lingerie, some necklaces, earrings, and bracelets can add a nice finishing touch to your look.
When you choose which precious metal to combine with your lingerie, whether it’s classic gold or silver, or something less common like platinum or copper, you should only consider its color and overall style. The rest depends on your personal preference. The rule of thumb is your jewelry should not contradict your lingerie style. The more minimalistic your lingerie is, the more elaborate can your jewelry go, and vice versa.
Chunky jewelry will highlight your exposed body areas. Long, dangling earrings will draw attention to bare shoulders in corsets or halter-tops. And a plunging neckline is a great area for various necklace styles, from massive chains to chokers. Bracelets can also add up to delicate minimalistic lingerie sets. On the contrary, smaller sleek earrings will balance out a vivid, full-of-details top.
And when it comes to color, consider your skin tone: gold jewelry works best with warm skin tones while silver works best with cool tones.
Hosiery
Lingerie and hosiery go hand-in-hand. These tight-fitting coverings can spice up many of your outfits. You may go for stockings (cover your feet and legs up to the mid-thigh area or above the knee and need a garter belt or garters to be held on), thigh-highs (same as stockings but with a silicone or an elastic band at the top to hold up) or even tights (covers not only your feet and legs, but also the lower body below the waist).
Now, hosiery can be made of different materials, like cotton, wool, nylon, spandex, or silk. But as we’re talking about non-warming types that can be paired with lingerie, let’s focus on the following fabrics to choose from: nylon, spandex and silk.
Nylon and spandex are synthetic fabrics that provide comfort and stretchability, with spandex being a bit more stretchable and softer to the skin. Silk, on the other hand, is a luxurious natural fabric that adds a fancy touch to your look. And while it’s nearly impossible to come up with fabric classier than silk, you should note that silk is difficult to maintain (dry-clean only) and not budget-friendly.
Once you choose the fabric, it’s time to consider the colors. It might feel tricky to figure out the best combination, but it gets easier if you determine the occasion or the vibe you’re going for. Most special occasions usually have classic color themes, like white for the wedding or red or pink for Valentine’s day. Besides, you can never go wrong with classic black or nude. If you’re going for a bold, openly-seductive look, a pair of black stockings or dark transparent tights can really level up your appearance. On the contrary, nude stockings or thigh-highs will help to create a softer, more sensual seductive effect.
Once you have the idea of the look, it gets easy to combine your hosiery with lingerie by simply following the general color theme.
Shoes
What’s the next step after figuring out what hosiery to pair with your lingerie? Choosing shoes. The right pair will not only elevate your lingerie look but play along with the rest of the accessories.
Heels are the obvious choice, but with so many options available, it can get quite overwhelming. If you’re not used to wearing heels, it’s best to start with a medium heel (up to 4 inches) and an additional platform in front: this way the height difference between your heel and toes won’t be too dramatic. Pumps, stilettos, and platform heels can be both beginner-friendly and give that complementary effect to your legs and silhouette in general.
If you’re going for a heavier look, boots are the answer. They can come with or without a high heel, going up to your ankle or knee, but the most mind-blowing effect is achieved when you pair your thigh-high stockings with a pair of boots that end just a bit below the stockings’ edge.
What about flats? Can you wear them with your lingerie? You certainly can, although it will be a different kind of sexy. Flats can be a great option if you want to include a lingerie piece in your daily outfit: like wearing a corset as a top to your baggy jeans and sneakers. In this case, flats will help to balance out the look and make your lingerie fit in without looking “too much”.
When it comes to materials, leather or its high-quality substitute is ideal. Not only can it add to the sexiness in your look (imagine black leather thigh-high boots) but it’s also comfortable, breathable, and durable.
It’s also pretty simple color-wise. Black and nude shades are all-purpose colors except when paired with white lingerie. For all-white outfits white or red shoes will do the work. And for the rest – choose a calm, nude shade of your shoes to pair with bright-colored lingerie and vice versa. Or choose black – as black goes with (almost) everything.
Other accessories
Are you feeling like going a little bit extra? So far we’ve covered the most popular accessories to pair with your lingerie, but there’s still some room for more: how about belts, scarves, and hats?
Garter belts are stockings’ best friends, as they are designed to hold up the stockings on your legs. Moreover, a garter belt brings a sophisticated vintage touch to the whole outfit, making you feel classy and sexy at once. Garter belts usually come with four (sometimes more) adjustable straps with clips at each end that secure your stockings and keep them in place. Garter belts are pretty adjustable, with a set of bra-like fasteners on the back and stretchable straps that can fit nearly any leg length.
Garter belts can be made of silk, lace, or soft mesh with metal or plastic clips at the end of the straps. It’s better to choose metal ones, as they offer a more secure holding on your stockings.
Now, a belt should be placed on your waist, with the straps going under or over your panties – it’s really up to personal preference, so you can try both ways and figure out which one you prefer. Placing the straps under the panties is a bit more pragmatic as it makes it easier to use the bathroom – this way you won’t need to unclip the straps. But some people prefer to have the straps over the bottoms due to their aesthetic preferences.
The easiest way to pair your garter belt with your lingerie is to get a three-piece set that already has a top, a bottom, and a garter belt in the same style and color theme. Is it obligatory though? Absolutely not. If you got a garter belt separately, you can reach the same breath-taking effect by matching it with a similar color & style of lingerie: lace to lace, silk to silk. Garter belts also work best with a pair of stilettos or pumps.
For hats, think about the style, color, and texture of your lingerie and choose a hat that complements these elements. A vintage-inspired lingerie set might pair with a retro-style beret, while a modern lingerie set could be finished with a chic fedora or beanie.
With scarves, consider the size, shape, color, and pattern of your lingerie and choose a scarf accordingly. A long and flowing scarf can add romance and elegance, while a smaller and more structured one can bring edginess and sophistication.
Conclusion
Accessorizing is often a neglected step exactly because people usually don’t know how to include these small yet powerful pieces into an outfit. We hope that by the end of this article, you have a clearer vision about pairing your lingerie with jewelry, hosiery, shoes, belts, and even scarves and hats. Be bold, be curious, and use the advice we provided you with – so you don’t have to worry about looking too extra. Happy accessorizing!
