Last month, Nicole Richie debuted darker locks at the launch of her House of Harlow 1960 Holiday Collection, but what stole my attention were her accessories. To be more specific, her over accessorizing. Minimal accessories have been a major look for 2009, but for 2010 I say lets get a little crazy. Let’s take a page from Nicole Richie’s book of style and balance a simple sheath dress with wild adornments.

Sporting her own collection, Nicole Richie piled seven bracelets on her arm, two bracelets on the wrist of the same arm and topped it off with a huge ring on her middle finger. For the other wrist, four thick bangles and then no necklace or earrings to ensure the whole look doesn’t look too much like the gaudy old women wearing everything she owns.

First of all, I have always been a fan of pushing bangles up to the bicep. Topping to off with bangles at the wrist as well is just genius. (I know women with thicker arms are thinking, yeah-right for the bangle on the bicep so I’ll move on.) Other ways to over accessorize in a modern and stylish way is piling on the rings. Don’t stop at the one cocktail ring, throw on three more between your two hands and see how you feel. Top off the load of rings with large earrings and a plain thing chain at the neck for a cool image. (Skip the bracelets if you choose a ton of rings). When over accessorizing make sure you only accessorize two or three parts of the body and skip the other parts. For example choose to adorn fingers and ears or neck and fingers or fingers and wrists.

Obviously the key to making this work is to pile the jewels onto very simple clothing. You know, T-shirt and jeans, solid colored dresses, plain tunics, simple leggings or pants and so on. Think simple, minimal layers or details and no patterns unless it’s on your shoes. You must be a canvas for your fabulous jewelry, but having some pattern or texture on your shoes will balance your look.