(Cover) - EN Star Style - Tika Sumpter has urged women to invest in small pieces in a bid to update their wardrobe.

The 28-year-old American actress is known for playing Raina Thorpe in hit US teen drama Gossip Girl, and the star admits appearing in the trendy show which follows the lives of New York's elite has made her more stylish. One of the most important things Tika has learnt is how useful accessories can be.

"Something as simple as a shoe or belt can lift your whole wardrobe," she explained. "Learning about so many designers has been really exciting."

The gorgeous star used to shun swanky designer garb for a more relaxed and hippie-influenced aesthetic. Now she puts as much consideration into looking good as she does into feeling comfy.

"The Gossip Girl wardrobe opened my world," she told Vogue Italia. "Pre-Gossp Girl, I dressed for comfort. It was kind of boho chic."

The beauty's new-found love for high-end labels doesn't mean she's forgotten how good the high street can be. Tika still shops for wardrobe staples at stores including Target and Anthropologie. "It's about mixing and matching things and wearing what works best for you," she added. (C) Cover Media