Blogging around the Internet recently, I ran across the idea of a 16 point rule of accessorizing. Hadn’t I blogged about that before? (Before I actually became accessory positive, that is?) I couldn’t find that I had, although I remember discussing it with my sister and her friend Dana; I also had an idea where it originated.
In the classic,Casual Power:: How to Power Up Your Nonverbal Communication & Dress Down for Success
A classy, professional image does not score over 10 to 12 points for any outfit. Here’s how my point system works: … Give each item of clothing one point. In addition, count your shoes as one point and earrings as one. Then count your watch, or any belt, ring, bracelet, necklace, or scarf that you’re wearing as one point each. All accessories (including hair ornaments) get one point each.
Sherry Maysonave (1999)
Times have changed. A couple of years ago, Karen, an Image Consultant in The Great Northwest, put out an updated version of the classic “16 points accessory rule”. I love that your hair counts as an accessory if you have received a compliment on it in the last two weeks! OTOH, I still feel like, even with glasses and always wearing a belt, 16 is way too many points for me.
So here is my analysis of the matter: level of embellishment is a distinct element of personal style idiom. Do you feel over- or under- embellished? If so, you may wish to count your “points”. If not, you may also wish to count your points; the range you are in may be just right for you.
Wow–I don’t think I could come up with more than 8 if I was “dressed to the nines” in my terms. I don’t wear glasses or anything on my hands, ever. I don’t carry a purse if I can help it (and if I do I usually find a safe place to park it). I pretty much never wear a belt (probably should, but can’t bring myself to spend what I would need to on it.) I never wear polish on my fingers or toes. Necklace (or scarf) and earrings and makeup is very dressed up for me and feels a bit overboard even. I think since a lot of the “point” items for subtler items are the ones I’m just not willing to do (bracelets, rings, nail polish), adding more points would be really hard without seeming garish. I’m not sure all the points have even weight.
I don’t get a lot of hair compliments, but I *do* get compliments on my great complexion–can I count my skin as an accessory? O:-) (My hair is kind of its own statement, though, so maybe I can count it anyway even if it’s more awe-inspiring than complimentary.)
How ’bout a point for each kid you have with you? He hee 🙂
Compliments, IMO, are a weird way to qualify your hair for a point. I get that some people’s hair isn’t saying much, but you should absolutely get a point for statement hair, whether or not anybody mentions it. Before my hair went gray, I got alot of compliments on my complexion too; I guess I am just thankful God gave me pretty hair in its place 😉
Honestly, I think there is much to be said for a quiet look. How much you want to bet in a few years there will be a move for simplicity as the new cool?
Oh, and another thing about the points: some of the things I wear are very complex. One extra point for anything more than a solid color seems overly simplistic. The blouse I am wearing today has a collar, ruffles, and a multi-color print; why should I bother with a necklace? If I remember right, you like interesting things; it is possible some of those “count” in the spirit of what is being suggested here: making an outfit. 🙂
I had forgotten about Casual Power’s accessory point count and I have the book. Here’s one I discovered last night that’s quite a bit more complicated. it’s from Betty Nethery’s Uniquely You. It’s a heavily Christian based book, btw.
One point for each of the following:
Every color in your total costume.
Each plain, simple shoe.
Any arresting detail on your shoes (bows, buckles, multi-colors, open toes, open heels, chains, rope).
Stockings IF they are colored, patterned or jeweled rather than skin tone.
Buttons, if a different color than garment.
Jewelry (watches, bracelets, chains, earrings, pins)
Bows, ruffles, contrasting belts.
Glasses (add another point if they are unusual, eye-catching)
Hat
Handbag (add extra points if it has bright hardware, chains, buckles, extra colors)
Bright red hair.
Bright-colored fingernails.
Bright-colored toenails (if they show)
[What? Only red hair gets a point? 😀 Guess she didn’t write this when a mohawk was popular or crayon colored hair]
If your total count is 11 to 14, you will not be over-accessorized. If it’s under eight, you’re probably understated, possibly a tad boring. [boring? :O ]
That, I think, is a little better. Still, there are details about it that I disagree with, even taking into account the time in which it was written. For example, toenails should not get a point, IMO. If they are bare, they should be in shoes; if painted, they should be in a color that coordinates. Seeing the advice that bright toenails counts as something bothers me a little in light of the difficulty with which businesses convince their female associates to wear shoes to work. 😉