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Fashion accessory

language culture Maturity 11-13 Next article →

An accessory is an extra item for an outfit.

Burberry handbag
Burberry handbag

These items help complete a look. They can show a person's identity. They also show their personality. Accessories come in many shapes and sizes. They also come in many different colors. People use them to complement what they wear.

There are two main ways to use accessories. Some people carry them. Carried accessories include things like handbags and purses. You might also carry a fan or a parasol. Umbrellas and walking canes are also carried items. Other items are worn on the body. These are called worn accessories. You might wear a hat, a belt, or a scarf. You can also wear jewelry like rings and necklaces. Even eyewear and hair ties are worn accessories. However, shoes and boots are not accessories. They are called wear for the foot.

People choose accessories for many different reasons. The place you are going matters a lot. You might pick different things for work. You might pick different things for a dinner. Your culture and your religion can matter too. Your economic status can change your choice as well. These factors help decide what you wear.

History shows us how accessories have changed. The term for accessory began in the 16th century. In early 16th-century Italy, men wore hat badges.

These were decorative items for hats. They were inspired by military cap badges. Men of high status often wore them. They sometimes wore them with a decorative sword. These badges often showed scenes that were important to the person.

In the Victorian era, accessories had deep meanings.

Burberry handbag
Burberry handbag

Women used fans and gloves to show social standing. Some women wanted a more leisurely lifestyle. They used gloves to hide signs of hard labor. This helped mask the work they did with their hands. Women also wore slide bracelets during this time. These became popular after the wrist watch was made. Accessories help us understand how people lived in the past.

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The Macon directory for 1860, containing...
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