WE all know to match our clothes. But how many of us think of matching the clothes we buy with the accessories we intend to wear them with? And how well are the accessories coordinated to project an all-round look of class and elegance?

Sadly, with all our awareness about latest design trends and forecasts , we tend to still look at fashion in bits and parts, rather than a sum total of all element. And here, accessories usually get relegated to an afterthought. As a result, we end up sending the wrong signals about the kind of persons we are.

We will not touch upon jewellery here, but on shoes and bags — the most complementary counter mates, yet easily overlooked elements to betray our sense of style. As model-turned-actress Aliya Shah points out, they easily contribute drama and magic to the simplest of dresses.

" As designer clothes become more and more repetitive and uniform, it would be your footwear and the bag you sport that would set you apart in a crowd," she remarks. " They reflect your taste, the attention you pay to details, your sense of self-esteem... in fact, the complete persona."

But then, making a selection from what the market has to offer is not easy. From international brands like Gucci and Rinaldi to Indian players such as Ashley and Meera Mahadevia, designers of bags and boots can only confuse the buyer with the many-styled options on display.

Ashley, for instance, has come up with an exciting new line of " jewelled sandals" ( having exquisitely embroidered uppers) with handbags to match. Mahadevia, on the other hand, concentrates on colours as she shifts from routine blacks and browns to pinks, lilacs reds and blues this season.

There is also a lot of animal-printed leather—ostrich, python and crocodile prints in various hues. " The upsurge in the accessories market is guided by the realisation that bags and shoes are items of necessity, and when put together, they make a complete fashion picture," observes Mahadevia. "Bags need to be styled to match shoes in contour and comfort."

So from the chequered boots and teetering stilettos to open sandals and fancy kitten heels, the styling could be rugged and sporty or delicate and feminine. Bags could be as roomy and luxurious, beautifully handcrafted or embroidered and with or without metallic clasps to complement the footwear.

While some designers have introduced "fabric" (actually, brocade) shoes and bags this season, most are sticking to leather, but with a supple, waxy look and feel. There are the many-splendoured silk and zari numbers as well in the market, vying for attention with muted gold, antique silver and shiny neons.

But the hottest buys of the season are turning out to be cone heels which are inspired by last year’s heel shapes from Prada, Gina, Marc Jacobs and Sonia Rykiel. These elevated slip-ons may look unsteady at first sight. But they are much more comfortable and easier to walk in than stilettos.

Wedges too are in demand, but in the seventies’ style. Regarded as the "ultimate in flattering footwear", it comes in brown, tan and summery straw, with a well contoured heel that keeps the feet in shape — a natural choice for those tired of tottering in pencil heels.

Then there are the weaves, last seen on dodgy men’s shoes in the eighties. It reappears now in leather and in ‘ feminine colours’ ranging from yellow and red to purple and pink. significantly, these are being sold with matching satchels and delicate, woven handbags.

There are also the traditional flats, a perfect comfort choice, but worn with cropped trousers, light denims and summery skirts. The hottest colour of the season is camel, but make sure you apply a little fake tan, if you have exceptionally white feet.

If you are the sort to experiment, you try peep-toes, reminiscent of the chunky stilettos of the fifties. This is admittedly not the easiest of footwear style to strut about in. But they look best with a simple, one-colour outfit. Designers are offering two-tone handbags to match the shoes’ uppers.

Finally, there are the ever-reliable denims — an ideal alternative to formal leather. These days, the dreamy denims is available in a variety of dark shades and embellishments — brocade finish, zari and silk embroidery, mirrorwork... with and without heels. As always, matching bags form part of a package.

Significantly, Indians have not yet turned brand conscious and, in fact, imitations of established labels are selling better than originals because of a pricing differential. This is an advantage you can benefit from, simply because the market of accessories is still in its infancy. MF