Accessories

Pre Loved Bag: What to Know Before You Buy

When you buy a pre loved bag, the condition of the hardware and the corners decides most of it. I go through what to check, then the everyday carry and evening bags.

Marina B Jewelry: Spring-Mounted Settings From Geneva

Marina Bulgari left her family's jewelry house in 1976 and founded Marina B in Geneva in 1977, building the brand around spring-mounted settings, unthreaded beads and her own Chestnut stone cut. Notes on how those three ideas show up in the rings, bracelets and necklaces here.

Headbands in Style: Pearls, Bows, Velvet and Leather Bands

Headbands are in style again: in September 2018 Miuccia Prada sent every model out in a padded band for her Spring 2019 show. I sort the bands by pearls and crystals, bows and knots, and knit or fur for the cold.

Mikimoto Pearl Jewelry: The Maker of the First Cultured Pearl

Mikimoto pearl jewelry began with Kokichi Mikimoto, who created the world's first cultured pearl in 1893. He opened his first pearl boutique in Tokyo's Ginza in 1899, and I go through the pieces I would wear.

New York Jewelry: Heavy Chains, Cuffs and Sculptural Rings

New York jewelry right now is not delicate: weight and shape do the talking. I go through chains, pendants and chokers, cuffs and bangles, and sculptural rings, worn together rather than separately.

The Polène Bag, From a Paris Studio and the Workshops of Ubrique

A Polène bag is made in Ubrique, Spain, by a Paris label founded in 2016 by three siblings. I sort the shapes one by one, from the Numéro Un to the newer styles, so you can choose your first.

Suede Bags: Totes, Shoulder Bags and Top Handles for Fall

Suede bags have become the default autumn accessory, from slouchy shoulder bags to totes and top handles. I go through the bags I would carry first, then the shoes that follow.

Doom Scrolling Clothes: Soft Hoodies and Sweats for the Feed

Doom scrolling has become its own kind of downtime, hours spent half-watching and half-refreshing a feed that never resolves. The clothes here are not a fix for that habit, just a softer way to sit through it, a hoodie with some shape, a pant that still looks like clothes, glasses aimed at the screen itself. The angle is comfort with a little intention, not a claim that any of it makes the scrolling less bleak.

Everyday and Travel Bags: Totes, Crossbodies and Beach Bags

The best everyday travel bag has a strap drop that clears a winter coat and a material that wears well. I sort totes, crossbodies, a beach bag and travel pieces by what actually decides it, with notes on what is worth the money.

YSL Wallet for Women: Long, Card Case or Chain Styles

A YSL wallet for women comes in three shapes: long and bi-fold wallets, card cases and cardholders, and chain wallets. I sort them by how you carry, from a back-pocket card case to a compact chain wallet for going out.

Coach Bags Quietly Became the Leather Goods Everyone Actually Uses

Coach shoulder bags pair glovetanned leather with distinct shapes, from the Tabby and Brooklyn families to smaller styles for everyday carry.

WOLF

WOLF was founded in 1834 in Hanau, Germany by the silversmith Philipp Wolf I, who began making boxes to present his silver pieces. The family firm, now in its fifth generation, is known for protecting treasures in a fine case, from the music box with the turning ballerina to a patented watch winder that counts turns per day. This edit gathers jewelry boxes, Brogue watch winders and rolls, travel jewelry portfolios, zip cases and small leather goods.

ROYCE New York

ROYCE New York began as the ROYCE brand, founded by Harold Bauer in 1974 after he scaled his father's leather gifting business, and the family's leather craft goes back to the 1880s in Vienna. The house is known for functional, minimalist design with sparing logos and for personalization, so many pieces can carry a monogram. This edit gathers weekender duffels, passport cases, toiletry bags, wallets, journals, watch rolls, key chains and valet trays, all leather accessories made for travel and the desk.

Emi Jay Hair Clip: The Teenage Elastic Business Behind the Big Effing Clip

This Emi Jay hair clip edit covers the Big Effing Clips, Sweetheart charms, Lil Effing and Petite minis, Super Bloom flowers, bow barrettes and Popstar clips. I started with how a teenager's elastic business became the brand everyone clips their hair with.

Western Belt: How Concho Silver Traveled From Taos to Your Jeans

Our favs from brown, black, concho, tooled and statement-buckle belts, 40 in all. I started with the history of the concho belt and kept coming back to how much a small piece of metal changes an outfit.

Hermès Belts: The H Buckle, the Kelly and Pre-Owned Finds

Hermès designed its first interchangeable belt buckle in 1967, and the H is still the one most people picture. This edit sorts Hermès belts by buckle, from H and anchor kits to Kelly belts and statement hardware, new and pre-owned.

Body Tape, From a Gaping Sweater to the Grammys Gown

Body tape quietly holds up a lot of dresses, and the right roll depends on the neckline and your skin. These are eight breast and body tapes plus eight nipple covers, fashion tapes and adhesive bras to compare.

Bandana Scarf: How Snuff Users Gave a Kerchief Its Name

A bandana scarf started as a tie-dyed Indian kerchief and picked up its English name from snuff users. Here are the ones to try, from silk squares and cotton prints to beaded edges and cashmere triangles.

The Hardware Bangle: Gold Ovals, Screw Details and Nail Motifs

This edit gathers screw-detail bangles, slim oval bangles, stacking cuffs, nail rings and nail-shaped cuffs. I picked pieces with graphic metalwork and noted what to check for fit and finish.

The Round Dress Watch: Fluted Bezels, Link Bracelets and Date Windows

This edit gathers round watches with two-tone bracelets, fluted bezels and small date windows. I started with the details that make this polished, versatile shape easy to wear.

Pearl Drop Earrings

Freshwater, baroque and classic pearls that swing gently and soften every outfit.

Louis Vuitton Passport Holder: Monogram to City Guides

Louis Vuitton passport holder styles range from familiar Monogram and Damier patterns to quiet leather and vivid city-guide covers. I compare the finishes by how I would travel with them and what I would check inside.

Sunglasses That Change the Whole Face: Cat Eyes, Ovals, Rounds and Aviators

A guide to sunglasses by frame shape, from cat eyes and butterflies to ovals, rounds, squares and aviators. It covers how the shapes came about and how to try a pair on properly.

Seiko Watches: A Tokyo Watchmaker's Small Cases for Real Wrists

Seiko watches for women, from Presage and 5 Sports automatics to diamond solar models, Coutura and the Essentials line. A look at the Tokyo watchmaker behind them and how to size a case to your wrist.