Every season, I stress that the quickest way to update your look is to accessorize! This season is not any different. But the exciting news is that there are tons of fabulous accessories to keep you up to date. The new must-haves are so wonderful that it will send you racing to the shops. Accessories have been stealing the limelight in the fashion collections lately. Accessories now have become essential to every season’s look. These elements make the difference. They make your look personal and individual. Just an accessory change will transform your style depending on your state of mind. References from the past are revamped into unexpectedly mod styles. The incredible kaleidoscope of combinations of materials and details make the new accessories particular. The only thing that will hold you back from these exciting picks is yourself. So don’t. Be bold. Reinvent. Show your true self. Be individual.
The season’s color palette comes in deep, rich and vibrant hues. The sophisticated and elegant style stood out in rich purples in aubergine, hyacinth, on the verge of navy and ultraviolet; reds in wine, raspberry, cranberry, scarlet and coral; greens in moss, forest, olive, avocado, emerald, limed khaki and pale chartreuse; blues in midnight, teal, azure and turquoise; browns in chocolate, muddy earth tones and caramel, burnt ginger and orange tones, champagne, white pepper, eggshell, peacock, mustard and shades of oyster shell. Metals from bronze to copper, pewter and silver also colored the season. Burnished effects add glitz to the season’s current affair with opulence.
The season didn’t take any piece for granted. Jewelry, bags, shoes, belts and other fashion accessories were embellished with intricate details. It’s about handcrafted details. The abundance of materials and treatments gave designers the freedom to create and they did not disappoint. Decorations exploded. It’s accessories at their best.
What used to be grandma’s favorite pastime came into good use. Crochet in new treatments never looked so mod. Patchworks and embroidery decorated accessories. Feathers, beads, crystals, metals, woods, shells and gemstones embellished the key accent pieces of the season.
Rich colors and opulent designs made a statement. Think turn-of-the-century style. Gorgeous gems are so hot – the bigger, the better. The idea to don something eye-catching. Be it a pair of oversized earrings, a bold necklace or tough-chic cuff, wearing a conversation piece is the key. Chunky necklaces in sophisticated styles are the most important accent piece of the moment. The pendant is back. Cameos and hearts on chunky chains are current and excellent tokens of affection. Watch out for high choker necklaces and ornate Victorian- and Edwardian-styled lavaliere pendants. Turn your attention to your wrist, from jeweled cuffs to diamond-encrusted timepieces. Bold gemstones and intricate designs make the new bangles stand out. Use maxi earrings as an alternative to match the season’s Sixties looks.
Rose gold is rosy again. This is the metal hue of the moment. Then, garnets, tiger’s eye, tourmalines, sapphires and black diamonds are the season’s gems of choice.
The season’s contradictory themes complement each other. You will see refined classic pieces as well as retro chunky chains, beads and gemstone necklaces. Designers heeded the call for the individual look and came up with the new mix in jewelry. Rubber, leather, straw, rope, plastic and other synthetic materials are combined with precious metals and stones. They added fun and a nonchalant attitude to jewelry. Jewelry is re-accessorized. And jewels have become a necessity this season.
The new noir is not about the pared-down austere black of the Nineties. Velvet and lace created the new lavish look. The season’s most romantic pieces didn’t come in sweet hues but in stark black. For instance, Bottega Veneta’s traditional woven bag is updated with lush black blooms. Roger Vivier, Sergio Rossi and Valentino mixed black lace and satin rosettes in their ultra-mod shoes. The key to the season’s black accents is texture and detail.
Velvet accents in luxurious jewel tones made the season’s sophisticated and refined looks. Choose hues from garnet red, amber, emerald and sapphire. Treatments like embroidery and appliqués added to the season’s plush mood.
Details from Eastern European art traditions, from paisley swirls to floral embroidery, embellished the season’s colorful accessories. The Russian influence of cross-stitched peasant bandings and old traditional rustic designs ruled the accessory collections.
Hair accessories have never been so luxe. Headbands, combs, decorative clips, flowers and barrettes highlighted the hair. Headbands are worn Sixties-style with some volume at the crown. If you are a hat lover, it’s your moment this season. Take your pick from berets, cowboy hats, bonnets and wide-brimmed versions.
Designers never seem to get tired of this decade. This season, the decade is revived again. Think Edie Sedgwick, Penelope Tree, Mia Farrow and Françoise Hardy. The boot du jour is tall and flat – so Sixties. Other shoe details of the time from stacked heels to square-toed, buckle or belt accents strutted the runways of Balenciaga, Alessandro dell’Aqua and Prada. Long slim scarves, berets and giant belts over fur coats also spelled the comeback.
Define your style. This season, whether you are classic, boho, minimalist or "maximalist," there’s a design for you. The key factor is the use of luxurious skins from furs to lizard, python, crocodile and ostrich. Subtle or opulent touches of these precious skins dominated the season’s accessories. If you really want to be of-the-moment, get an accessory with the new "it" fur, Astrakhan. It is made from the expensive curly black or gray fleece of lambs from Astrakhan, southern Russia. Now it is usually faux, made from acrylic fibers.
Versions from biker chick to classic chic turned up this season. Update your ladylike look with a classic bag spiked with a subtle touch of grommets or studs. For groupies, on the other hand, rock ‘n’ roll with edgy studded cuffs, sunglasses or shoes.
Step out with the season’s details from studs to bows, rosettes, fur trims, beadwork, embroidery, feathers and lace. Choose from user-friendly flats to killer stilettos, platforms and wedge heels. Luxurious materials like exotic skins from crocodile to python, lizard, eel and ostrich, rich fabrics from velvet to brocade, woven damask and satin stepped out in the season’s most beautiful shoes. Ankle boots from lace-ups to slip-ons are a great alternative to the season’s flat knee-high boots. They are more apropos to our climate.
The quickest and cheapest way to update your look is to cinch your waist with a satin or velvet ribbon. Bows in all materials, shapes and sizes livened up the collections of Oscar de la Renta, Chanel and Balenciaga. The style is ladylike yet edgy.
There’s a metallic moment again. Shimmer in silver, gold, bronze and copper.
Flatter your figure with the moment’s must – a belt. Take your pick from what suits your fancy. They come in all shapes and forms this season.
Everything came up roses this season. Rosettes in a variety of treatments were in bloom everywhere from Valentino, Chanel, Dries Van Noten, Bottega Veneta and Marc Jacobs.
There is always a bag we lust after each season. This time, we will have many sleepless nights. There’s so much to choose from. Intricate work and luxurious materials make the decision even more difficult. This season, the focus on shape and form is back. The new designs are reinvented with detailed handiwork. Invest in a classic shape made with exotic skins from python to lizard and crocodile.
The season’s cult accessories are luxurious, precious, sophisticated, full of sheen, sexy glam, refined, ladylike and fun. Take your pick. There is a renewed interest in timeless sophistication combined with free expression. The key is personally selecting the detail of your choice. So, express yourself. Wear the season’s must-have accent pieces like no one else. Your accessory choice will define you.
Send queries and suggestions to jo@joyceorena.com