The Fall Accessory Roundup and the Return of Elsa Peretti

Forget the big picture, it's all in the details. Three accessories and how to style them for fall.

Before we begin, I just want to say to everyone reading: I know it has been a difficult few days. I hope you have given yourself the space you need. I also know this is hard to do in a world that does not stop for anything. The cogs keep turning and we sadly do not have the luxury of disconnecting. It’s also hard to know what to do. It’s not much, but I have registered for The People’s March. Support those in your life who are struggling, and hold space for yourself. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at a time like this, so give yourself time to grieve but don’t let it take over. Talk to friends, see your family, and maybe do a little binge watching. And I am sorry to everyone who understands what I am feeling. As for me, I’ll be using my little fashion newsletter (I love it here) as a refuge from the horrors of the world (not jokes, scouring the internet is extensive and requires my full attention). If you aren’t there yet, I completely understand. After all, what is an acceptable buffer window from finding out your reality is forever changed to reading about belts? But if you want normalcy and fashion, please proceed.

At the beginning of this year, I wrote a post about how important accessories are to rounding out an outfit. Well, nothing has changed and I still stand firmly behind this sentiment. As is typical in fashion, once one trend is exhausted things tend to swing in the completely opposite direction. Gone are the dainty bracelets of years past, buried under mountains of stacked cuffs and bangles. Sparked by Tiffany’s 50 year celebration of Elsa Peretti’s work, the bone cuff once again set into motion a cultural shift from dainty to statement and reframed the concept of timelessness in today’s discourse.

Singer and actress Liza Minnelli smokes a cigarette and drinks champagne during an interview for her show Liza on Broadway in 1974. Source: Iconic Images.

Elsa Peretti wearing her bone cuff

The return of the iconic cuff has trickled down to the masses, with every moderate market retailer releasing their own iterations of the silhouette, because is it really a luxury good today if you can’t find a dupe? Anthropology, Banana Republic, Madewell, By Adina Eden, Lovers and Friends, Olivia Le. Stacked, layered, or as sleeve-cinching statements, I am 100% behind the cuff revival. I think 14 year old me would be proud, if not slightly disappointed by the lack of neon plastic. And to my 14 year old self: I think of you fondly as I add vintage Bakelite and resin stacks to my favorites.

Bangles over gloves. Mixing metals and shapes. Stacks on stacks. Statement stones. All in all, a current favorite fashion shift.

And of course before we move on to category two, for your enjoyment, vintage:

1. Handcrafted “Made in Mexico” Sterling Silver organic cuff $175 and here for $332.99 2. The most “bone cuff” cuff I could find $120 3. Minimal silver tone cuff $35 4. Two-tone wave silver cuff $150 5. Made by hand hammered silver cuff $326 6. 3D “beaded” silver bangle $60 7. Vintage sterling silver dome cuff $110 8. Gold tone cuff $34.95 9. Silver wave cuff (another close option) $200 10. Sterling silver lapis bracelet $250 11. cuff with carnelian stone here, here, here in great condition, and here also in great condition 12. Gold tone crossed cuff $20 and here for $95 and here for $59.99 13. The absolute coolest cuff I came across $75 14. Organic shape malachite silver cuff $192.50 15. Wave sterling silver cuff $378 16. Vintage Tulla Booth Lapis cuff bracelet $482 17. Gold tone hinged cuff bangle $30 18. Vintage Monet gold cuff $25 19. Taxco Sterling Silver Green Chrysoprase Cuff $145 20. Monet gold plated wide cuff bracelet $52 21. Gold tone wave wide cuff $69.99

1. Vintage Bakelite bangle $38.30 (on sale) 2. Olive marble acrylic bangles $4.49 each 3. Chunky olive green Bakelite bangle $55 4. Vintage chocolate brown asymmetrical lucite bangle $38.99 5. Vintage cognac bakelite cuff $69.99 6. Angela Caputi Mod Runway Bracelet (a personal favorite) $181 7. Vintage lucite amber bangle $65 8. Orange geo cuff $20.99 9. 80s chunky gemstone bangles (Comes in multiple colors) $12 10. Vintage Carnelian Faceted Bangle $80.99

Here is an absolutely insane hammered cuff that I found in the Hudson antique warehouse. I wish I didn’t have to worry about function. Embrace your inner Wonder Woman.

Now that Elsa Peretti has once again entered the collective mind of the fashion world, it only makes sense that her work would emerge in other ways as well. Her work was not limited to just jewelry. She designed belts that have moved in and out of the fashion zeitgeist over the last fifty or so years, always returning to inspire the next generation. Most recently, Bottega released an oh-so-similar silhouette (here is a similar version on the Outnet on “sale” for $603). She took utility and somehow made it feel like art.

Elsa Peretti belts with Halston cashmere jumpsuits.

Bottega Belts

I am loving 1. the strappy-ness of these skinny cord belts and 2. embracing belts for belts sake. No belt loops in sight, just a cinched waist and a bit of hip accentuation. The casual almost rope-like belts are much less fussy than their wide corset-esque sisters from seasons past. These are low slung, low effort, but maximum impact. And the tonal versions? Chic, cool girl, making a coat the lewk. Check out

laura reilly

in the second photo below: the belt makes the look.

Loving the super skinny cord, especially the tone-on-tone renditions. And a gold carabiner inspired buckle.

A few belt options to consider

1. Combo gold and leather wrap belt $159 2. Vintage horsebit belt $125 3. Salvatore Ferragamo brown leather cord belt $235 4. Vintage Versace Medusa link belt $165 5. Leather rope belt $49 6. Vintage Tom Ford Gucci horsebit belt $475 7. Vintage Gucci Tom Ford “G” buckle belt $550 8. Chicos adjustable clasp belt silver $22 9. Vintage Via Spiga horsebit belt $68 10. Chicos adjustable belt $17.60 11. Another Chicos belt, this time in gold $24.98 12. Bottega butter yellow wrap belt $499 13. Massimo Dutti leather belt $100

Belt for belt’s sake in action.

The final detail: brooches & pins. Less Elsa related but very Kendall related (if you’re new here, hi, I’m Kendall).

I am obsessed with the brooches as buttons on these vests. I have a new blazer and I think it’s time to style it. Also the brooch pinning the blazer lapel? It’s a poor man’s (or resourceful woman styling her pieces) funnel neck. And the safety pins instead of buttons is a great example of having fun with fashion without looking juvenile. Who needs to be able to easily take their jackets off anyways? But seriously, I think I’m going to try it.

1. Sterling Silver large round pin $215.99 2. This is so cool!! Vintage lucite safety pin brooch $95 3. Vintage safety pin gold bead brooch $13.99 4. Hand & rose gold tone brooch $29 5. Vintage safety pin brooch $10.39 6. Another really cool option! Vintage yellow celluloid brooch $24.99 7. Sterling silver modern flower pin $65.99 8. Vintage Ann Taylor modernist gold brooch (Very Elsa Peretti bean!) $20 9. Vintage goldtone safety pin brooch $12.95 10. Vintage Monet brushed gold swirl pin $18 11. Sterling silver swirl brooch $149.99

The dream dangles $33.81

And for my final trick: these, and I can only describe them one way, things. Even the seller is unsure. The listing is titled, “Set of 4 antique French clothes decor. Hat, earrings, flapper, brooch?” Well, to me, they are how I live a dream. The $33 version of the Schiaparelli coat above. (3rd photo from the left, top row).

And here is a not great photo of me trying to wear my brooches. Could have been better, but I went antiquing and got excited and this is still cool even though minimal styling was involved. .

And for the honorable mentions:

I have recently been obsessed with jade rings. This option is like that Gucci bevel watch, but in jade ring form. It’s amazing.

An incredible vintage Kenneth Lane jade, which can only be described as donut, ring. But try as I may, try as I might, I cannot find a similar option and I sometimes regret not buying this one. That’s what I get for trying to be strong during my antique adventure. (This was another Hudson warehouse find. I saw a lot of good things that trip.)

I’ve been leaning more towards organic shapes in my jewelry browsing recently, and Hernán Herdez does organic shapes without it feeling earthy. The designs are clean, if that makes sense, while a lot of jewelry under the organic shape search on Etsy appear hammered and messy around the gem settings. I am particularly eyeing this lapis signet and the colada cocktail ring (2nd ring, top row).

That’s all for now! If you’re a US reader, I feel you, I see you, and I hope your mental state is at least hovering around decent. I hope you’re taking some time for yourself. Get off social media, read a book, and spend time with your loved ones because sometimes we just need our village.