#43: The Accessories You Need Right Now

Bangles, brooches, and belts. Oh my.

Hi!

I want to admit something at the top: I am not an accessory person.

That’s important to note because lately, I can’t stop thinking about them.

my current accessories obsessions

In addition to bangles and brooches and belts, we’ve got bolos and beanies and bandanas and bows, too.

And those are just the accessories that start with B!

A month ago, in my (most popular) post predicting the future of fashion in 2025, I wrote:

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Q. Are bows back?

A. Without a doubt.

And so are belts…and bandanas…and brooches…and…bag charms…and, well, bits and baubles of all types. I think the return of true accessories (and not just bags, shoes, and jewels), represents people’s desire to put a little pep back in their step. And this is an affordable, and fun, way to do it…after a few years of covid-adjacent athleisure and then quiet luxury, accessories really feel like the best way to twist an outfit into a look.

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Now, a few weeks into January (sidenote: how is it still January??), I’m feeling even more confident in that claim.

A few days ago,

Allison Bornstein

, our Stylist Queen, announced it was the Year of the Accessory on her Instagram and shared this image that I can’t get out of my head.

@allisonbornstein6 via instagram

How good does that look? How simple? What a great way to level up the cozy sweaters we’ve been stockpiling.

And

Leandra Medine Cohen

, in her recent post about coats, said this about her more minimalist outfits:

Within them, a small twinge of unhinge has consistently been coming through. Minaudieres dripping in tassels (or a suede sack with a fringe bottom), Driesian trim collars, chubby hip-hugging belts and now I’m starting to think that maybe the simplicity has represented more of a purgatory. A liminal period of style-gestation that has yet to reach term but which is gearing up for delivery. A new era is so close to here.

Leandra in the perfect coat to show off her accessories. From Leandra: “By Malene Birger’s ‘Dalimas’ coat (and red leather gloves), with a Shtor horn styled over + Rouje jeans and Marsell boots (my color sold out, but here is one pair in lighter beige). The sunglasses are Khaite”

We all agree that the vibes are shifting. Perhaps our eyes got tired of all that gray, those swaths of boiled wool, those monochrome outfits.

It feels like we need a distraction that only color and bling can bring. (Boy, do we need a distraction.)

And accessories are answering the call.

Kelly Williams

just wrote about Outfit Math, which is her analysis that the most pleasing outfits are those that score between 5 and 7 “points” (one point per piece, more if the piece is a Big Hitter).

Accessories, those little add-ons, are the easiest way to score more points. And who doesn’t want more ease in their lives? I know I do.

This is new for me. I don’t usually add something just for the sake of it. I don’t even have my ears pierced. (Never wanted to bother with the tape over the studs at sports practice.)

Even when I step out wearing a Big Hitter, it’s something functional: a jacket that added protection or a boot that offered transportation.

But now? All bets are off. And belts are on.

I fear I am entering my magpie phase. It feels pretty magnificent.

And if that makes me an accessory to a crime of Fashion, so be it!

Guilty as charged!

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LOOK BOOK

J.CREW

The old gal. Their product keeps getting better, and somehow so do their sales? Not sure how those economics work, but the accessories work great. I just bought all of the below (except for the necklace, but only because I didn’t see it in my late night scroll!!). For me, as I dabble in baubles, I don’t want to make a big investment until I know what will become true workhorses for me. And not just nice-to-haves. So I’m all for costume jewels (or as it’s called these days, fashion jewelry), and vintage and estate-sale finds. (I’d also love all your jewelry tips in the comments, because as you now know, I need them!)

I can’t get enough of cashmere socks, (sadly this perfect poppy red just sold out!) / these hinge cuff bangles are pleasingly heavy and architectural, and I can’t wait to style with my chunky sweaters. I got gold and silver because I don’t understand jewelry rules and plan to just mix all my metals / I’m updating my belt collection and this espresso faux-croc leather belt will tie some great outfits together / there is a Greco-Roman vibe happening in jewelry right now (also see Juju Vera, maker of the most viral piece of jewelry I’ve seen in a longggg time) and this Baroque Pearl Coin necklace fits the bill!

WEEKEND MaxMara

A favorite brand for European-tinted preppy styles that is currently having their big end-of-season sale (which they only do 2x/year, seriously, like the old days). They’re known for their outerwear,

Becky Malinsky

loves their Pasticcino bags (several of which are also on sale), and I think their accessories are the perfect mix of whimsical and luxe.

Clockwise: sumptuous Khaki Leather Gloves (but remember, mittens on the coldest days!) / a Silver Bolo that would look great with a Peter Pan collar shirt / a beautiful Woven Belt / the cutest Resin Brooches (other adorable pairs available) / a beautiful Woven Belt / a Silk Scarf in a starry midnight blue print / a Rhinestone Headband I’d love to see paired with a gray sweatshirt

And I’ve got this in my shopping cart (in tobacco, because I just bought another black belt with a thick silver buckle!)

NET-A-PORTER

My go-to for stress relief scrolling. I’ve got several wishlists, sorted according to whim. A girl can dream. Lately, their sale has been so good, that a girl can buy, too.

A Dries Van Noten metallic fringe collar/scarf/thing perfectly captures the vibe we’re going for in this newsletter. If I weren’t worried it would make my neck incredibly itchy, this would be mine / Perhaps a leopard bucket hat is more your speed? / How about a luxe velvet hair bow (p.s. hair accessories are back in a big way, that might need to be a part 2) / Did you hear? Snakeskin is the new leopard. This belt adds a perfect sliver of slither. / I’m way into this dreamy shade of green, which I’m calling ‘matcha’ and Net calls ‘juniper.’ Both sound lovely for this yummy cashmere scarf. / I’ve never met a colorblock I didn’t like, and I love this Valentino scarf.

I want to bottle up this bottle green.

A few more accessories-minded moments from this week:

Phoebe Philo Collection B

Accessories from Phoebe Philo's Collection B, just released this week.

Sarah Shapiro

shared this image from The Row’s Fall 25 Collection, one of just eleven they shared. Timothee Chamalet must be so excited.

I love British Vogue’s new cover. I have a special spot in my heart for the magazine, from when I had a work placement in the art department there (aka short-term internship) the summer after my junior year of college. I was lucky enough to shadow the then-art director (later, Creative Director, who was also my childhood babysitter, hence the opportunity, thank you Jaime Perlman!), which meant I got to help with photo layouts, research images in the basement archives (my favorite), and sit in on the cover selection with the then Editor-in-Chief, Alexandra Schulman. This cover feels so glamorous yet joyful, and it makes me smile. The Charvet scarf and actual flower pinned to her Armani suit jacket lapel are like beacons guiding us to that brilliant face. Bridget Jones is back!

Maybe we should all just go to our gardens (or Trader Joe’s) and pluck some flowers for our lapels and call it a day!

Images from the Dries Van Noten Men's Fall 2025 Runway Collection shown last week / photos by Willy Vanderperre

IN THE ‘STACKS

• I discovered

  Veronica Szalas Valentine
  via
  Camilla
  just this week! Perfect timing for this post as she recently shared her sourcing secrets for great second-hand jewelry, including brooches, chunky pendants, and collar necklaces a la Juju Vera!

Sourcing Secrets

• Speaking of Juju Vera,

  Hey Mrs. Solomon on Style
  did a deep dive into the suddenly-everywhere small jewelry brand.

  6 Gems, vol 38: *That* Juju Vera necklace edition

• And the reason I came upon that post was because

  Sogole Kane
  wrote a great essay on Intuitive Styling, as it relates to the ubiquity of and subsequent desire for that Juju Vera necklace. This paragraph stuck with me:

  Generally speaking as women, we’re notorious for overthinking EVERYTHING. (My gnawing anxiety is proof). Fashion is no different. While I so appreciate all the thought-provoking ideas and foundations (esp here on Substack) that help educate, inspire and hone our personal style (which BTW, even this very post is attempting to do, so maybe just stop reading this and walk away?), we’re all thinking WAY TOO MUCH about something that should be less cerebral and more emotional. At the end of the day, fashion is a highly emotional endeavor, just as most creative things are. And this is to to be valued, treasured and deployed as such. Think about trying to make rhyme or reason of a Jackson Pollock—it’s a fool’s errand! Instead, we should listen to our hearts, bodies, and emotions while getting dressed to best guide us to an expression of our true selves that rings authentic to who we are as individuals.

  Sogole also just published a post yesterday called “Beautiful Things That Make Me Happy,” which goes deep on a lot of what we talked about here today. So if you want to read more about sculptural jewelry, accessories made from earthy, warming materials, faux-croc anything, and hair adornments, check out her post:

  Beautiful Things That Make Me Happy

• I love the color red and

  Jennifer Cook
  wrote an amazing piece about reclaiming the color in the current political climate (which also makes me see red). If you too love the color, get ready for an intellectual feast and visual delight.

  issue #58: reclaiming red

• One of my favorite parts of Substack is the rediscovery of all the brilliant writers whose blogs I used to read back in the early aughts.

  Amelia Morris
  is one of them, whose cooking blog, Bon Appetempt (which she later turned into a book!), was one of my favorites. She is so funny, incisive, smart, and curious. Big fan, here. Her newsletter always makes me think, and her latest post about Los Angeles, where she lives, and the recent fires, and so much more, is a must-read.¹

On Survival

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BEFORE YOU GO

I met

Jennifer Klee

right here on Substack, and I am delighted to know her. Her newsletter is like having coffee with your nicest, smartest, most thoughtful friend, and I wish we didn’t live on opposite ends of the East Coast. Luckily, we have the internet!

She recently started an awesome series called Let’s Be Creative, and I was so thrilled for the opportunity to guest write a post with her about my creative process and why I love writing this newsletter.

You may have seen it in your inboxes yesterday (I hope you didn’t mind the extra email this week!), and if you missed it, you can check it out here or via the “Read more” button below!

Let's Be Creative - 02

I think creativity is the secret source of happiness. Who doesn’t feel better after they’ve made something?? Even if it’s just cookies. Even if it’s just your bed.

I hope you enjoy the post, but I know you will enjoy Jen’s newsletters, so go check them all out (and subscribe for free)!

Thank you as always for being here!

x Lindsay

1. After reading this article via Amelia’s post, I donated to the Pasadana Jewish Center to help support their community and rebuilding efforts. You can do so here, if you’d like.