If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent the past few years concentrating on investment pieces. I have a couple of very chic friends from back home—Sara Crampton, founder and buyer at The Undone, and Beck Wadworth, a brand consultant and creative director of Makespace—who have built entire brands and incredible wardrobes around their love of elevated neutrals, and they’ve been a huge influence on my purchasing decisions as I’ve intentionally reined in my own style.
Between the rise of quiet luxury, pandemic clear-outs, and a move toward more mindful consumption, it’s not really a shocker that somewhere along the way our overflowing closets turned into capsule wardrobes of black, white, denim, and a slew of earthy neutrals. My own wardrobe is finally in a pretty great place: I have my core staples all set, from summer jeans to black dresses to modern tailoring. It’s very chill. Perhaps too chill? What I need now are those pieces that make it all feel a bit more like me. If you’re in the same boat and looking for either a little something to set you apart when you’re wearing neutrals or a punch in the face of personality, these elevated, on-trend accessories understand the assignment.
Necklaces
A shell necklace? For summer?
H&M
Long Pendant Necklace
Same vibes but doing a little less.
Mango
Chain Necklace With Crystal Beads
Always here with a summery little pop of red to vibe up your neutrals.
éliou
Eloise Wrap Necklace
Sculptural cord necklaces are the moment.
Bags
Naghedi
Havana Striped Large Tote
Speaking of, I know you’re here to shop this guy.
FRANÇOISE
Exclusive Fringed Leather Fringed Mini Shoulder Bag
Cult Gaia
Viera Fringed Woven Clutch
Scarves & Bandanas
Eighteen dollars very well spent.
Free People
Lotus Paisley Print Bandana
It’s not entirely shocking that Free People has a great range of scarves and bandanas.
Urban Outfitters
Vismaya Floral Cobalt Bandana
Me when it’s time to fly home from Europe.
The Row
Milette Silk-Organza Head Scarf
The Row is also here with a little drama.
Belts
Streets Ahead
Sadie Hip Belt
Sculptural belt hardware might be my favorite accessory trend this year.
Khaite
Axel Gold-Tone and Leather Belt
Isabel Marant
Silvia Embellished Leather Belt
Corded belts are so good, and their versatility comes from not being limited by the measurements of buckle holes or the stiffness of the leather.
Jacquemus
La Ceinture Regalo Embellished Leather Belt
Just a wee bit different than the usual.
Madewell
The Danika Knotted Sandal
Added interest by way of tomato-hued texture and negative space.
Magda Butrym
Appliquéd Patent-Leather Slingback Pumps
Business at the front, party at the back.
adidas x Wales Bonner
Samba Millennium Mixed Media Sneakers
COS
Denim Pointed Slingback Kitten Heels
Pairing dark denim slingbacks with dark jeans feels so effortlessly forward.
Earrings
COS
Chunky Seashell-Shaped Earrings
If you require baby steps, swap out your regular gold hoops for something subtly seashell inspired.
ZARA
Enameled Flower Earrings
These are actually jellyfish earrings, and you can’t tell me otherwise.
Isabel Marant
Boucle D’oreill
I pulled these for a shoot, and they’re so good I just might have to purchase.
Hair Accessories
ZARA
Striped Metal Scrunchie
There are so many variations of chic hair ties with metallic hardware at the moment.
MANGO
Maxi-Flower Scrunchie
The evolution of the scrunchie.
ZARA
Shimmery Floral Hair Clip
I could have told you that a floral hair clip makes a chic brooch that creates the illusion of an asymmetric tank, but would you have believed me?
Xiwstar
Geometric Oval Hair Scrunchies
Just impulse-ordered these on Amazon.
Eyewear
Tinted lenses will jazz up your standard aviators.
BOTTEGA VENETA
Embellished Aviator-Style Tortoiseshell Recycled-Acetate and Gold-Tone Sunglasses
If you loved Bottega’s dome earrings.
File these under “accessories that shift the entire vibe.”
CELINE
Monochroms Cat-Eye Zebra-Print Acetate Sunglasses
Jazzy but still black and white (if that’s your safe space).
Hats
LOEWE x Paula’s Ibiza
Leather and Webbing-Trimmed Striped Raffia Bucket Hat
Dare to veer away from plain old raffia.
Cult Gaia
Magda Stripe Straw Hat
It’s okay to be that person.
Museum of Peace and Quiet
MOPQ Dad Hat
Truly, even the unexpected sportiness of a basic baseball cap can give a tailored or romantic look a little something.
Polo Ralph Lauren
Chino Sport Cap
I’ll still be proud of you if a classic Ralph Lauren cap is where you land.
