Accessories can make or break any fashion statement. The right shoes, purse and earrings can tie a look together as easily as it can tear that look apart. Most people understand these basics, such as matching your belt and shoes. However, there are finer points to properly accessorizing, too. You need to know what to add to your outfit or you’ll end up with fashion accessory overkill.

Unless you’re dressing up in a gypsy costume, remember that when it comes to most fashions, less is more. Nine necklaces, eight earrings, six rings, four bracelets and an armband is definitely a trendy look. Yet the phrases “hot trend” and “good taste” are rarely used to describe one, single style.

Start your accessory list with the basics. Obviously, you’ll need some shoes that match your outfit. Next decide if the garment you’re wearing will require a belt for style or fit. If you need to wear a watch, make sure to use one that will generally match with any fashion.

Women need to think about earrings next, since they’re the most commonly worn accessory after the basics. The more earrings you plan to wear, the less lavish their style should be. If you have your ears pierced once, then go for the dangling bead earrings. If you have your ears pierced seven times, even one pair of dangling earrings will be overwhelming, so stick with simple and sleek hoops or studs.

After the earrings issue is settled, move on to the areas of the outfit you want decorated or accentuated. If you’re going dancing to look for a hot date, then skip the bracelets and wear a necklace that draws attention to or flatters your chest.

Avoid wearing accessories needlessly to really cut down on the cluttered look. If your shirt has elaborately decorated cuffs, you probably don’t need bracelets. If your shoes are complicated and trendy, you probably don’t need an anklet to draw attention downward.

If you have matching jewelry items you can get away with wearing a little more than usual. When your jewelry matches, it appears less like clutter and more like a flowing theme. Watch out for overdoing matching jewelry, too, or you’ll end up looking like an avant-garde robot.