So, you’d like to update your look for spring/summer 2024, but you don’t want to be splashing out on a whole new wardrobe? Fear not, an easy way to achieve a refresh is to try one or two of the latest accessories trends. You will be amazed how one small thing can give your old outfits a bit of a lift. There’s a high chance you’ll have some of these things already, but let’s have a look at six accessories that I think will be having a bit of a moment this year…
SILK SQUARE SCARF
Let’s start with the simple square silk scarf. I’ve noticed this popping up a lot recently, and I kind of love it – I think because it reminds me of my granny. She was always very smart: perfectly ironed trousers, nails painted, lipstick on and a silk scarf often to hand, either worn around the neck or, if it was windy, tied under the chin and over the hair to save the shampoo and set. These days it can be a great way to add a bit of interest to a simple outfit. Knotted around the neck in a semi-sailor fashion, for example. I picked up a few faux-silk vintage scarves last summer from a car boot sale as I had a feeling this trend would soon take off. P.S. These Emilio trousers from Sézane are my current favourites when I want to look smart without really trying. You will need your seam-free pants on, though, as they’re quite fitted around the arse area.
- COS clean cut white t shirt
- Arket cotton knit cardigan
- Sezane Emilio ochre cropped trousers
- Anthropologie woven faux leather shoulder bag
- H&M dotted square scarf
- Boden Iris snaffle loafers
COLOURED TRAINERS
For me, this trend is an absolute no brainer, and I’ve been fully on board with it for a while now. In fact I rarely wear white trainers these days. Of course white ones will go with more things, so don’t ditch them just yet, but trainers in a colour that contrasts with the rest of your outfit is a great update. You really don’t need to match them either, in fact I like it when my trainers completely clash with everything else I’m wearing. A word on Adidas trainers for those yet to take the plunge: Sambas come up small, so go half a size up, while Gazelles and Spezials are true to size (for me) and, out of them all, I find the Spezial style the most comfortable as they have a bit more arch support.
- Boden textured scallop cardigan
- Quay icy blue square sunglasses
- Levis baggy dad lightweight wide leg jeans
- Aleo bon bon yellow leather cross body bag
- Uniqlo Andy Warhol printed t shirt
- Adidas Spezial green suede trainers
STATEMENT BELTS
If you had a studded belt in your ‘sports metal/pop punk’ era circa 1998, now is the time to dig that baby out of storage. For some reason I never got rid of mine, and it’s come into its own again recently. You can thank the brand Khaite for this trend coming back. Their belts are gorgeous, but at nearly £500 they are way out of most of our budgets. All Saints do a great selection of very similar but for much less. If studs or rivets are too much for you, a simpler belt but with an interesting buckle will do just as well. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT go back to those low-slung boho circular leather ones. Leave that to the teenagers who never actually lived through the 90s.
- Hush open knit cotton cardigan
- River Island grey Bridgitte Bardot t shirt
- Free People We the Free barrel leg khaki jeans
- Mango jacquard shoulder bag
- Andersons textured leather belt
- All Saints Daisy leather eyelet belt
- Converse high top trainers
BEADS & PEARLS
You don’t need to pack up your chunky gold chains just yet. I certainly won’t be giving them up anytime soon, but if you want to elevate your evening look, go for some pearls: either around your neck or in your ears. For daytime, a simple, beaded necklace worn with a plain T‑shirt or white shirt is the look of the moment. I’d err on the side of keeping the beads all the same size and colour, unless you’re into looking like Prue Leith or Su Pollard. In which case, go for it.
- H&M pearl hoop earrings
- & Other Stories short stone necklace
- Monica Vinader triple drop pearl earrings KATEHMV20
- Sister Jane floral tiered dress
- Mango pearl effect clutch bag
- & Other Stories puff sleeve midi dress
- Vagabond Deliah leather flat Mary Jane shoes
MARY JANE BALLET FLATS
Ballet flats have been à‑la-mode for a while now. Admittedly, they’re not great if you need any of that arch support offered by the Spezial trainers, but if you’re happy with a ‘flat flat’ shoe then I’m sure you own a pair already. The trend update for 2024 is the addition of the strap. This makes them more of a Mary Jane style, so called as they were named after a girl in a US cartoon called Buster Brown (no, me neither), but she must have been popular to have a shoe style named after her. I think they look great with a simple ‘jeans and T‑shirt’ outfit. A great alternative to trainers during the spring/summer months.
- Whistles Marie casual cream jacket
- All Saints pink cat eye sunglasses
- Hush Arizona blue stripe jeans
- & Other Stories knotted leather bucket bag
- River Island boxy t shirt
- COS pleated red leather Mary Jane flats
CURVED BAGS
Finally, if you’re looking for a bag update, the new shape to go for is curved. Could be a full circle, semi-circle, cross body, hand held – anything goes, so long as there are minimal straight lines. Extra points if you have one that’s made from woven leather – then you’re bagging (see what I did there) two trends in one.
- M&S Cotton rich textured crew neck cardigan
- Round red carnelian round strand necklace
- Uniqlo ribbed bra vest top
- John Lewis natural taffeta midi skirt
- Arket brown leather mini bag
- La Redoute Les Signatures denim jacket
- Adidas SL2 suede trainers
Have fun accessorising this week, and I’ll meet you back here next week for an as-yet-undecided theme. I’m thinking cardigans, leopard print or spring event dressing…
K x
