The Top 10 Fashion Accessories for Every Wardrobe
There are so many different types of accessories out there, but only a handful that are truly must-haves. Everything else is just the icing on the style cake. When we say these 10 accessories are the top, it’s because they are timeless items that serve a very important purpose, even beyond elevating your fashion. And true to any great classic, these are gender-fluid accessories that are practical for everyone. Read on to find out how many of these you have in your closet, and which you’ll want to shop for pre-loved on Vestiaire Collective.
The Vintage Handbag
The handbag is the hardest working of all accessories. Nothing else comes close to being able to carry everything you need in a safe and stylish way. Designer handbags are one of the best wardrobe staples to buy pre-loved because handbags retain their value over time. Some of them actually increase over time, like the Hermes Birkin bag. That means when you buy a pre-loved handbag on Vestiaire, you’ll be able to resell it for a good value when you are ready for a style change in a few years.
Handbags are beautiful works of art, often handcrafted with high quality materials like durable leather that only gets softer over time. Many of our favourite handbags can be worn by both men and women, like the iconic Birkin. Or for a budget friendly pick, check out the Louis Vuitton Keepall or the Loewe Puzzle bag.
With so many different options between casual and formal, you can find a handbag on Vestiaire that suits every style, and every occasion.
The Signature Belt
Even though a belt is less visible than other accessories, it’s a subtle way to add sophistication and luxury to your outfit. The GG Gucci belt is a fashion favourite, as coveted today as it was when it debuted. It’s a great unisex option that you can wear daily without feeling like you are repeating yourself. The leather on this belt is extremely durable so you’ll be able to keep this wardrobe staple looking fresh even after years of use.
For a retro look reminiscent of the early 2000s you can’t go wrong with a chain belt. The Chanel chain belt might look more like a piece of jewelry than a belt but that’s what makes it so versatile. You can wear it through your jeans, over a dress, or, yes, even as a necklace.
An Evergreen Wristwatch
Wristwatches will never go out of style— even if we all have clocks on our smartphones. There is something about a wristwatch that harkens back to nostalgic times. Many of us can clearly imagine the wristwatch worn by our grandfather with fondness. Buying a wrist watch from Vestiaire’s vintage collection is a great way to add a touch of sophistication to your outfit.
Choosing a pre-loved luxury watch is great for many reasons. These are style items that carry a story with them, so having a unique timepiece gives your outfit a touch of character and an authentic vibe. Swiss watchmaking is a high art, so you can depend on your luxury timepiece to keep ticking forever. And of course, wristwatches from names like Cartier and Rolex can be a lot more affordable, and more environmentally friendly, when purchased pre-loved at Vestiaire Collective.
Statement Sunglasses
There’s no easier way to make sure all eyes are on you than by wearing a pair of statement sunglasses. Entire wardrobes have been built around a single pair of statement shades: think Karl Lagerfeld or Anna Wintour. For both of these fashion moguls, sunglasses have been a major selling point for their looks.
Even if you don’t plan on wearing your sunglasses round the clock like these two icons, you can choose a pair of second-hand sunglasses that suit your lifestyle. A great way to decide on a signature look is to revisit classic styles of the past. Each decade has some fabulous sunnies that will help you refine and define your personal style, from the cat-eye shape of the ‘50s to the ombre style of the ‘00s, and every shape and style in between.
The Designer Scarf
Designer scarves are some of the most beautiful pieces you can own. Even if you choose not to go full head-to-toe in your favourite designer, a scarf is a sleek way to add a little luxury into your life. The Burberry check scarf and the Louis Vuitton Logomania scarf are unisex options that will give any gender a distinguished flair.
Scarves are versatile pieces, whether worn traditionally around the neck, or to hold back your hair. They can also be used creatively in a bind, like when Princess Grace of Monaco turned her Hermès scarf into a sling when she injured her arm in 1957.
Designer scarves have a long history as works of art. Hermès created its first scarf in 1937 and since then there have been over a thousand different designs commissioned by noted artists. These pieces are often commemorative and collectible, making this scarf a great investment piece, especially when bought for less on Vestiaire Collective.
The Iconic Fashion Ring
The ring does so much in such a small package. It is a perfect gift to mark a precious occasion, and can become a treasured heirloom passed down through generations.
In terms of scoring status points, a ring can be as subtle or audacious as the wearer pleases. The iconic LOVE ring was designed by Cartier as a response to the free-love culture that sprang to life in that political period. It is just as timely now, with a diverse range to allow any loving relationship to be represented in style.
The chevalier ring was historically meant to be worn on the pinky finger but fashion wild child Harry Styles has been known to wear multiple at a time, on any finger, even stacking them. If you want to make a big impact like Styles but with a small carbon impact, buy pre-loved chevalier rings like the unisex Chrome Hearts ring or a playful La Manso ring, on Vestiare Collective.
A High End Hat
Hats are one of the most important fashion accessories. A hat can transform an outfit from the mundane to the extraordinary with ease, protect you from bad weather, and hide a bad hair day. Throughout the ages, hats have helped to define who a person is and what they stand for. Hats are versatile items, with options suitable for summer and winter, the beach and the office. It definitely makes sense to have hats in several different styles because our favourite bucket hats and a chic cloche will obviously be worn on different occasions.
When building a wardrobe, Fashion Activists can make more sustainable choices by buying hats pre-loved. That means less of a negative impact on the planet, and more great hat styles for you.
The Luxury Tote bag
A tote bag is the item we reach for when we need to haul more than our handbag can fit. But gone are the days when a tote bag was just a poorly-made freebie given out by companies as marketing. Nowadays, the tote bag is designed with quality and luxury in mind by top brands like Céline, so that even your daily errands can be infused with elegance and class.
The practical bag becomes even more durable when made with quality materials like the leather tote bag offered by Acne Studios. If leather isn’t your thing, the Telfar tote bag is 100% vegan and one of the most sought-after bags there is.
For a weekender bag, a work bag, or a picnic at the beach, the luxury tote bag is a carry-all for essentials and more. With a tote bag and a sun visor, you’ll be ready for whatever events and trips the summer season has in store for you.
A Classic Necklace
A necklace used to be the essential item for all stylish women. These days, it doesn’t matter what gender you are. A necklace is a must-have accessory for everyone. This change in social codes probably has something to do with counter-culture designer Vivienne Westwood. Westwood burst onto the fashion scene in the ‘70s with punk-edged designs that subverted fashion rules. Her Bas Relief design is not your grandmother’s pearl necklace. Dua Lipa is a fan who collaborated with the designer on a custom gown for the Brits Awards in 2021.
Harry Styles helped to subvert pearl’s archaic gender norms by wearing them to the Met Gala in 2019. Pearl necklaces are also adored by hip-hop stars like A$AP Rocky and Gucci Mane, proving that fashion is what you make it, and rules are meant to be broken.
Comfortable Dress shoes
Like all the best accessories, comfortable dress shoes are a perfect marriage of form and function. Your feet put up with a lot everyday so why not choose shoes that will offer support, cushion and breathability?
You might think a pair of heels can never be comfortable but Dior’s J'adior slingback is known to be more pleasant to wear than most. Thanks to the low kitten heel, they are easier to walk in than higher heels, and the leather soles only become softer and more luxurious over time.
The most fashion forward choice you can make is to refuse the status quo when it comes to trends. Men and women are making the bold choice to combine luxury sneakers to match their suits and dresses. This is truly the most comfortable choice, and thanks to the slick design and high craftsmanship, even a sneaker can be considered a dress shoe today. You just have to know how to style it, and then walk with confidence. Your feet are going to thank you.
An accessory is like an exclamation mark, a piece of flair that completes and transforms a look. While there are a lot of accessories that can be fun fashion trends, like leg warmers in the ‘80s and jelly shoes in the ‘90s, shopping for trends isn’t a very sustainable way to consume fashion. Once the trend has cooled and the fashions change, you don’t want to be left with pieces of plastic that are destined for the landfill. That’s why we’ve selected these ten classic accessories that will never go out of style. You can feel good about your purchase, confident that it will be relevant forever, and not create needless waste as a result.
The Fashion Activist’s secret power for scoring great looks while keeping their environmental impact low is shopping for timeless pre-loved accessories on the Vestiaire app. Next time you’re looking for top hats for summer or for a new bucket hat, consider shopping pre-loved. And don’t be shy about it. Shopping pre-loved is the fashion forward thing to do. We encourage all our Fashion Activists to tell a friend about Vestiaire so they join our community of like-minded and environmentally conscious fashion enthusiasts. Together, we can grow an even bigger community than our current 10 million members, and become a powerful voice for the future of the planet, and the future of fashion.