Accessorizing 101

Saturday, August 14, 2010

STYLE by Becky DiStefano, GoLocalProv Contributor

It is a woman’s dream come true: tables full of shoes, bracelets, necklaces, handbags and scarves. It can also be very daunting: what do I do with it all? Enter super stylist Jill Marinelli of Providence, who helps women bring style into their lives in a very personal way.

After working in advertising in NYC, Jill (right) had her babies and moved back to Rhode Island. She started working in retail and honed her styling skills by doing personal shopping for clients, building up a quick fan base. Two years ago she left the retail world and launched her own business helping women clean out their closets and style their lives one piece of clothing at a time.

“I want to help women celebrate their beauty and not be slaves to fashion,” says Jill at Accessorizing 101, a workshop she held at DownCity Restaurant on Weybosset Street in Providence. While nine other women and myself swooned over the variety of accessories Jill toted with her, we also learned tricks and tips to work with our body types and facial structure.

Add what you may not have

“The key,” says Jill, “is to use accessories to add what you may not have, such as elongating necks, faces or legs or making the waist appear smaller.” Jill quickly tells us to get over pining for the body you think you want and accepting and loving the one you have: a message that resonates with all women.

Top 5 accessorizing tips

1. When choosing a handbag, make sure it is proportionate with your body. Larger women should avoid tiny handbags and smaller women should avoid bags that are too big. If you have a larger middle area, avoid bags that rest there, which will add bulk. Use a full length mirror to see where the bag falls.

2. Nude heels make your legs appear longer and the more foot you show, the longer the leg will look. D’Orsay heels (heels where the inner part of the shoe is cut out) extend the look as well, elongating the leg.

3. Dress up a jeans-and-tee outfit with a scarf for instant glam. Pair with earrings and ballet flats for a look that goes from Target to tapas.

4. Buy versatile pieces that transform from day to night like little black dresses and solid tops. Adding accessories to these items will dress them up or down depending on your destination.

5. Go with how you feel: if you feel fabulous, then that is all that matters!

Jill’s services include a style consultation, a closet clean-out and personal shopping, both in-store and online. Accessorizing 101 workshops run about $45. For more information or to contact Jill, go here.