Main Character Mode: The Accessories Shaping the Moment
Scarves, sunglasses, and clutches aren’t extras right now—they’re the mood, the movement, the message.
You may have noticed an influx of silk or satin scarves lately, worn as a hair accessory, tied around the wrist (as Michelle has done), hips, torso, or bag. In early 2024, in Samira’s Notebook, Harper’s Bazaar Editor-In-Chief Samira Nasr wrote How I Tie My Silk Scarves, detailing her love of the versatile accessories. In addition to always wearing one on her neck when boarding a plane, she keeps backups in her bag to create a makeshift silk pillowcase, protect her hair, and tie on a bag. Speaking of bags, she explained how you don’t need to pack an evening bag, with a GIF showing her enviable scarf-turned-into-bag tying abilities! Fast forward to this spring, and scarves seem to be everywhere. One noticeable styling trick, the “bandanna” or “headscarf” trend, incorporates elements of French headscarf tying, and babushka style—even seen on the likes of Timothée Chalamet! Lace offers a feminine twist on the trend. You can certainly learn a thing or two, at least, from Claudya Moreira, TikTok’s “Queen of Scarves.” An “old-school vintage Saint-Tropez feel” was cited as the inspiration behind sarong and scarf tied waists, turning up on runways (thanks to Julian Klausner’s debut at Dries Van Noten). Watch J.Crew Creative Director and Head of Design, Olympia Gayot, style a scarf as the most gorgeous top, ideal for vacation, or for an unexpected evening invitation!
Why it matters: With trying and unpredictable economic times (and tariffs), maybe it’s not just the lipstick index giving joy. Accessories have always provided an easy entry point into luxury brands, and few provide the wow factor and endless styling options of scarves. A classic returns at the right moment, providing ample opportunity to wax poetic (and educate) on scarves' many virtues.
The Eyes Have It: Why Sunglasses Are the Season’s Mood Board
We’re calling it now: sunglasses are the accessory of emotional expression this summer. What was once a reliable side hustle for luxury brands is now a main character item, with houses like Loewe, Celine, and Bottega Veneta treating eyewear as a personality portal, not an afterthought. They’re no longer just “gateway luxury” or a safe ROI play—they’re storytelling tools worn on your face, projecting everything from rising sign to emotional bandwidth. The bestsellers? Not basics, but “styles not previously seen,” as Moda Operandi’s Ryan Kleman puts it—bold silhouettes, strange proportions, soft armor for a hyper-visual world. This isn’t about trends, it’s about temperament. In a moment when fashion is shifting from flash to feeling, sunglasses have evolved from a finishing touch to a strategic expression of self.
Why it matters: Eyewear is delivering high-margin emotional ROI by bridging the gap between accessibility and aspiration in a way few categories can. Frames offer immediate visibility, strong sell-through in limited runs, and year-round relevance. For brands, sunglasses are no longer just brand extensions. They are brand amplifiers, with low return rates and high storytelling payoff at every price tier.
The Coup of the Year: Clutches With Staying Power
Jeweled clutches have long been treated as sidekicks—sparkly add-ons for red carpets and formal events. But this season, they’re stepping into the spotlight as serious collectibles. Town & Country’s “Coup of the Year” feature reframes the minaudière as heirloom-worthy. From Ana Khouri’s sculpted pink quartz to a Luz Camino × Silvia Furmanovich dragonfly-inlaid design, these pieces aren’t just accessories; they’re objects. They sit as easily on a shelf as they do in your hand, serving as both decor and conversation starters, and making a sculptural statement. With price tags comparable to fine jewelry, they convey a new kind of luxury: not flashy, but deeply felt.
Why it matters: These clutches signal the jewelfication of accessories—blurring the line between fashion and object, function and feeling. They invite emotional connection, storytelling, and display, transforming a once-temporary accessory into something built to last.
