THERE probably hasn’t been a single day in the past five years that I’ve walked out of the house sans earrings. My watches, too, are part of my daily attire and these days, I find joy in sliding on a chunky ring or two on my fingers.

I have to admit, however, that when it comes to shopping, accessories are my last priority. First come the clothes, then shoes, and then accessories (I consider bags and hats accessories). A few of my girlfriends disagree with my priorities, insisting that accessories can make or break an outfit.

Upon their insistence, I flipped through pictures from the Spring/Summer 2011 collection at the Portugal Fashion Week to see how much of a presence accessories had on the runway.

Well, there they were – in all their glory. You just couldn’t help but be steered away from the outfits the models were wearing to marvel at the accessories they had on. Here are a few standouts:

Eyewear

I have bad eyesight, and I wear contact lenses. The only reason I ever wear glasses is when I’m out of contact lenses, or I’m at home where no one but my cats can see my four-eyed self.

However, gone are the days when people would call you a nerd or a geek for wearing thick-rimmed glasses. I’ve noticed that the trend has extended beyond indie festival attendees and arty souls – they are being worn by people of all sizes, shapes, and attitudes, even by those with 20/20 vision! The other day I bumped into a guy wearing thick, black-rimmed glasses with no lenses on them. Yup, all he had on was a round, black frame and he looked awesome.

Still, I prefer my glasses to be functional.

Chunky necklaces

The most drab of outfits can be spiced up with an eye-catching pendant because they are works of art, really.

Many large pendants are heavy, so choose wisely when shopping for one. Make sure whatever it is bound to can hold its weight. I personally prefer smaller pendants, as I can’t stand the pressure around my neck, but if I find a piece that is large and elaborate but still light as a feather, I’ll go for it.

Speaking of feathers, these days you can find pendants fashioned with feathers everywhere – there are even necklaces fully adorned with feathers that will really make a statement if paired with the right outfit.

Hats

It is such a shame this trend hasn’t caught on in Malaysia, thanks in part to the weather. However, there are some bold women out there who dare to be different by donning headgear to festivals, concerts and parties. Some days I wish I could just throw on a cute hat like the one in the picture above, when I’m having a bad hair day.

Bags

Satchels seem to have made a comeback now. The long strap of a satchel allows the person carrying the bag to have a more relaxed posture. However, do be very careful when walking on sidewalks or curbs – satchels can also be easily snatched.

Look out for bags that come with both long and short straps, so that you can conveniently switch the way you carry your bag when need be.