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Why accessories matter

13 March 2019

Accessories, for want of a better comparison, are like a younger sibling from your childhood years: easy to forget unless they’re front and centre, vying for attention. But, if you have any interest in the world of fashion, you’ll have noticed that there is a serious resurgence of accessories across the catwalk and beyond: shoulder bags, flat caps, sunglasses and more have been seen from stylish city to stylish city, often commanding more attention than the outfit itself.

Generally viewed as the cherry on top of a perfectly good outfit, often accessories are seen as something that we don’t really need. A sentiment which – hopefully – you’ll agree is totally untrue. Not only can the right accessories actually be extremely practical (for holding things; for keeping the rain off your head; for stopping the sunlight from burning into your eyes) but they can also completely elevate an otherwise fairly mundane outfit. If you’re hungover or tired and only have the brainpower to chuck on a white T-shirt and black jeans, the bag, watch or sunglasses you choose are going to raise the game. If you’re late to a meeting and only have the capability to pick out a navy suit and white shirt, a quick but undoubtedly effective addition will be the right tie, pocket square (if the occasion is right) and briefcase. All of these small components eventually pave the way to helping you stand out from the crowd as one of the most stylish guys in any room, all because you’ve added something a little bit different from the norm.

If you’re unsure how to begin, start small with pieces that you know you’ll always have a place for. The right hat (flat caps are a personal favourite of ours, but baseball caps and beanies fare just as well for the right occasion); a bag that can be taken from the boardroom to the bar and everything in between (a leather briefcase or a slick rucksack); a watch to instantly smarten up your act; sunglasses that can be worn on your commute or at the beach. Tapping into accessories doesn’t need to be an expensive or laborious process but as soon as you realise their power, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to hop on the bandwagon.

SHOP ALL ACCESSORIES

Header image: Taken exclusively for Next by Saskia Rumbelow at Pitti Uomo. 

Other images: Taken exclusively for Next by Jason Lloyd-Evans at London Fashion Week.