Accessories are the category that can make a simple outfit look considered or make a carefully assembled one look complete. They’re also the category most often bought impulsively, used once, and stored indefinitely — the silk scarf that was beautiful in the shop and has never found its outfit, the belt that seemed versatile and hasn’t been worn since purchase day.
The accessories worth buying are those with clear utility in the specific wardrobe they’re joining — pieces that work with multiple existing items rather than requiring the wardrobe to adapt around them.
The Accessories That Actually Get Used
The most-used accessories in any wardrobe tend to be: the belt that finishes a dress or trousers, the scarf that adds warmth and visual interest to a simple coat, the earrings worn so consistently they feel like a permanent feature, and the sunglasses that are on whenever outside in daylight. These are the accessories worth investing in. Everything else is supplemental.
Best Accessories Worth Buying
Available at: Hermes (hermes.com), in Hermes stores
Best for: Those who want the definitive investment silk scarf that gains cultural value alongside financial value over time.
The Hermes Carre is the silk scarf reference point — the 90cm square of twill silk that has been produced to the same standard since 1937, featuring designs by artists commissioned specifically for the format. The specific quality here is the silk weight (the Hermes twill is significantly heavier and more structured than most silk scarves), the hand-rolling of the edges, and the depth of the screen printing that produces colours that maintain their vibrancy across decades of use.
This is a significant investment. The honest defence: Hermes scarves from the 1970s look exactly as they did when produced and are worn today. The investment case is genuine.
Available at: Acne Studios (acnestudios.com), Selfridges, Net-a-Porter
Best for: Those who want a quality oversized wool scarf with distinctive aesthetic at accessible luxury prices.
Acne Studios’ fringed wool scarves have earned their place in the accessible luxury accessories conversation through consistent quality and a design identity that’s distinctive without being trend-dependent. The large format, the fringing, and the specific colour palette — often muted plaids and solid tones in colourways that work across seasons — produce a scarf that functions as a layer as much as an accessory.
Available at: Brora (brora.co.uk), John Lewis
Best for: Those who want quality Scottish cashmere in a scarf format at accessible prices.
Brora produces cashmere scarves in Scotland with the specific quality of British cashmere production — the weight, the drape, the warmth-to-lightness ratio that distinguishes genuine cashmere from blended alternatives. The tartan and solid colour options suit most wardrobe aesthetics without requiring specific outfit building around them.
Available at: Toteme (toteme-studio.com), Net-a-Porter
Best for: Those who want a genuinely quality leather belt with a considered aesthetic at accessible luxury prices.
A quality leather belt transforms a dress or tailored trousers in a way that a cheap belt approximation doesn’t. The Toteme monogram belt — full-grain leather, quality hardware, clean design — is the belt investment that reads as intentional rather than functional. Worn at the natural waist over a dress or through belt loops on tailored trousers, it adds the finishing touch that the outfit was missing.
Available at: & Other Stories (stories.com)
Best for: Those who want genuinely beautiful hair accessories at accessible prices.
& Other Stories produces hair accessories — tortoiseshell clips, quality scrunchies, resin barrettes — at prices that make buying multiple a sensible decision. The quality is above the fast fashion equivalent and the designs are considered enough to read as intentional. Hair accessories are the accessories with the highest impact-to-price ratio in the category — a beautiful tortoiseshell clip on an updo changes the reading of an entire look at a $15 investment.
Conclusion
Accessories work when they’re bought for the specific wardrobe they’re joining rather than aspirationally. Hermes Carre for the investment silk scarf with genuine longevity. Acne Studios for the quality wool layer-scarf with distinctive aesthetic. Brora for accessible Scottish cashmere. Toteme for the quality leather belt that finishes an outfit. And & Other Stories for genuinely beautiful hair accessories at accessible prices. Whatever you buy, buy with at least three existing wardrobe pieces in mind that the accessory will work with. The accessory that works with everything already in the wardrobe is the accessory that gets worn.
