Throughout history, the world's most fashionable women have understood the power of the accessory. Women's fashion accessories tend to be both extremely trendy and also deeply personal. Dressing up a classic suit with hip accessories is usually more affordable than buying a new suit each season. As such, women are willing to take risks with their accessories purchases that they might not take with their clothing.

For this reason, women's fashion accessories have an exuberance and boldness that make them irresistibly fun. I love following the latest accessories trends. Following celebrities and their signature accessories can be especially fun. From giant sunglasses to hobo bags, unusually colored diamonds to ultra-wide belts, celebrities like to define themselves with their accessories.

Before splurging on an expensive accessory, be sure to study the next crop of women's fashion accessories. Even more than clothing (the designs for which morph slowly over time, shifting subtly from season to season), accessories date very quickly. If you want to avoid owning a closet's worth of Pashmina scarves, tattered leather belts, giant hoop earrings, and other hopelessly dated designs, you'll want to scope out the next season's collections.

Tracking trends as they shift from season to season will help you invest in pieces that better stand the test of time. The difference between an accessory with staying power and one that ages quickly can be as simple as an unusual choice in pattern or material. Choosing items that veer slightly from the textbook example of a specific trend will help you collect pieces that last.