The 10 Most Important Accessory Trends for Fall 2021

When fall 2021 comes around, you will have plenty of options for what to wear, from pastel princess dresses to proper pleated skirt suits and everything in between. The accessories that will finish your look will be similarly diverse too. Maybe your Fair Isle sweater will be topped off with ski goggles and a colorful hair kerchief? A sparkling minidress could be paired with leather knee boots à la Jane Birkin or rave-ready giant flatform shoes. Under your arm could be a small hobo bag or a giant carryall tote. The unifying item remains a mask, only now with a flowing train courtesy of Marine Serre and Rick Owens. The point being that the best shoes, bags, sunglasses, and other accessories of fall 2021 will really work for you and fit into your life—however you want to live it.

The Snood Abides

A knit balaclava or snood is proving to be a most essential accessory, perfect for keeping warm and hiding bad hair days. Miu Miu and Ambush’s versions ride high to cover a mask, while Balmain and Moschino offer more polished wraps fit for zooming around in a convertible with the top down.

Left to right: Photo: Johnny Dufort / Courtesy of Miu Miu | Photo: Courtesy of Marine Serre | Photo: Courtesy of Balmain

Left to right: Photo: Courtesy of Alyx | Photo: Courtesy of Ambush | Photo: Courtesy of Givenchy

Left to right: Photo: Courtesy of Christian Dior | Photo: Courtesy of Moschino | Photo: Courtesy of Max Mara

One-Stop Shopping

A carryall bag will be essential for reemergence. Fendi, Valentino, Christian Dior, and others showed clean shopping totes and market bags—optimum storage that doesn’t skimp on style.

Left to right: Photo: Courtesy of Jil Sander | Photo: Courtesy of Fendi | Photo: Courtesy of Valentino | Photo: Courtesy of Balmain

Left to right: Photo: Courtesy of The Row / Location: PACE Gallery | Photo: Courtesy of Versace | Photo: Courtesy of Christian Dior | Photo: Greg Kessler / Courtesy of Gabriela Hearst

Left to right: Photo: Juergen Teller / Courtesy of Coach | Photo: Courtesy of Dries Van Noten | Photo: Daniel Shea / Courtesy of Proenza Schouler | Khaite

A Leg Up…and Up…and Up!

Fall’s many flatform shoes give their wearers a literal leg up on style. Schiaparelli’s surreal boots come with their own golden toes, while Molly Goddard has rendered hers entirely in gilded leather. Prada and Simone Rocha showed split-sole options, while Matthew Williams’s hooflike platform at Givenchy is truly for the brave.

Left to right: Photo: Daniel Roseberry / Courtesy of Schiaparelli | Photo: Jason Lloyd-Evans / Courtesy of Erdem | Photo: Ben Broomfield / Courtesy of Molly Goddard

Left to right: Photo: Courtesy of Prada | Photo: Andrew Nuding / Courtesy of Simone Rocha | Photo: Courtesy of Givenchy

Tie One On

Retro kerchiefs appeared at Conner Ives and Anna Sui, while Paco Rabanne imagined a cozier take: a faux-fur babushka. Great for both Zoom calls and IRL strolls.

Left to right: Photo: Courtesy of Connor Ives | Photo: Courtesy of Versace | Photo: Courtesy of Paco Rabanne | Photo: Courtesy of Anna Sui

Ahead of the Curve

Soft curved hobo bags appeared on the runways at Versace, Louis Vuitton, and Prada—a trifecta that proves that the style is ripe for a comeback. Millennial-loved brands like Staud and Simon Miller produced their own versions of the look too, meaning that you will be overwhelmed with choice when these numbers hit stores.

Left to right: Photo: Courtesy of Versace | Photo: Oberrauch - Viero / Gorunway.com | Photo: Courtesy of Prada | Photo: Courtesy of Tod's

Left to right: Photo: Courtesy of Balmain | Photo: Courtesy of Nanushka | Photo: Nicolas Sisto / Courtesy of Lemaire | Photo: Jonas Gustavsson / Courtesy of Ulla Johnson

Left to right: Photo: Courtesy of Simon Miller | Photo: Courtesy of Tory Burch | Photo: Courtesy of Giorgio Armani | Photo: Courtesy of Staud

Get on the Mask Train

When Marine Serre and Rick Owens agree that no mask is complete without a flowing, scarflike train, well, then a wafty mask accessory becomes a must. All the better for making a dramatic entrance.

Left to right: Photo: Courtesy of Marine Serre | Photo: Carlo Scarpato / Gorunway.com

Boot Legs

A proper pair of leather knee boots are the defining footwear of the season. They were sophisticated and equestrian at Hermès, mod at Courrèges, and sexy as ever in the hands of Tom Ford. Best worn with a miniskirt and a self-assured strut.

Left to right: Photo: Oberrauch - Viero / Gorunway.com | Photo: Courtesy of Fendi | Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com | Photo: Courtesy of Christian Dior

Left to right: Photo: Courtesy of Thebe Magugu | Photo: Courtesy of Etro | Photo: Nicolas Sisto / Courtesy of Lemaire | Photo: Courtesy of Isabel Marant

Left to right: Photo: Courtesy of Victoria Beckham | Photo: Courtesy of Maryam Nassir Zadeh | Photo: Courtesy of Tom Ford | Photo: Thomas de Cruz Media / Courtesy of Courrèges

Fly Me to the Moon

Moon boots? In 2021? You better believe it. The outdoorsy boot appeared at Chloé, Dolce & Gabbana, and Ottolinger, while Chanel a presented softer shearling interpretation of the retro style.

Left to right: Photo: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana | Photo: Courtesy of Chloé | Photo: Mark Peckmezian / Shotti NYC / Courtesy of Ottolinger

Left to right: Photo: Johnny Dufort / Courtesy of Miu Miu | Photo: Courtesy of Chanel

Goggle Eyes

No après-ski look would be complete with a pair of ski goggles. Thom Browne and Louis Vuitton did literal takes on the protective shades. Maximilian Davis’s are a bit more scuba-inspired, but still offer total ocular protection on the slopes, the shores, and elsewhere.

Left to right: Photo: Courtesy of Thom Browne | Photo: Daniel Roseberry / Courtesy of Schiaparelli | Photo: Oberrauch - Viero / Gorunway.com | Photo: Courtesy of Fashion East

Supersized Sandals

Padded sandals are ideal for padding around the house—and for going out. Jil Sander’s Luke and Lucie Meier continue to riff on their popular stuffed strap thongs, while Gabriela Hearst debuted a shearling footbed slide with an exaggerated knit upper.

Left to right: Photo: Courtesy of Jil Sander | Photo: Courtesy of Chloé | Photo: Mark Peckmezian / Shotti NYC / Courtesy of Ottolinger | Photo: Kira Bunse / Courtesy of Gauchere

Original article appeared on Vogue UK | Author Steff Yotka

Fashion Accessories