The Best Accessories for Labor Day Weekend

Contrary to popular belief, the best accessories for Labor Day weekend do not have to utilize all the white in your closet--you can still wear the shade in the coming fall. But the best Labor Day accessories do accentuate the best features of the summer season, while keeping an eye on the cooler months ahead. The accessories you wear on Labor Day should be a mix of old and new, and accentuate your best attributes. Keep these tips in mind when accessorizing your outfit for Labor Day festivities.

Shoes - Flats & Wedges

Wedges take center stage this season, but there's always the flat alternative in the three-season-deep gladiator sandal. Try a brown cage gladiator sandal flat; the thin, busy straps will make your feet look smaller and lend you the elegance of a summer boot without the added heat. Otherwise, if you like height, try the newest wedge heel in a varying range of colorful hues. They'll look great with pants, shorts, and every length of skirt from mid-calf down to the ankle! You can't go wrong with these newest styles. Take care to match colors harmoniously, but there's no need to over-match. With a white dress or any neutral ensemble, a small pop of delicate color can go a long way.

Jewelry & Belts - Colors Take Over

This summer saw colors used as never before. The best part is that they almost never matched, creating a mix of harmonious hues that created an interesting, varied effect. The best colors for accessories are the deep pastels like marigold, coral, and sky blue. The key to summer accessories is to create the effect of just having walked off the beach, albeit in a glamorous way. Since feathers are so in this season, wear your hair down and flowy with a pair of mid-size, deep blue feather earrings, and no other jewelry. The less the better for Labor Day--everything should seem effortless and free. Perhaps a ring or a small, nearly invisible favorite pendant on a delicate chain.

To pair with more flowy, amorphous tops and sundresses, throw on a belt to accentuate the waist. A braided white belt is perfect, knotted loosely. With a white linen dress, pick a more colorful alternative and use that color scheme to hold the outfit together, but avoid matching colors perfectly: the more shades the more interesting you'll look!

Hats, Hats, Hats

Summer hats absolutely dominated trends this season--every celebrity wore them and every girl copied them. From the classic wicker fedora to the wide-brimmed sun hat, these eye-shielding beauties are only safe for the summer. Wear them while you still can! Typically, save the wider styles for the beach, and rock a smaller fedora for outdoor parties and barbecues. Some may even get away with a colored hat, providing it either matches your outfit or adds a subtle pop of color to a muted ensemble. Try not to mix hues with your hat and your outfit, as the result is often a bit tacky. When in doubt, go neutral.