Note 23 - Less but Better: Accessories

The Lié Studio Store in Copenhagen

With Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy re-entering the cultural conversation this month through American Love Story, the collective obsession has centred on her style, and much of the fashion discourse focuses on the fact that she barely wore any accessories. Essentially, no jewelry, and just a few highly specific items like a beat-up Birkin, a tortoiseshell acrylic headband, and slim black sunglasses.

So it felt only fitting to dedicate a post to accessories. What’s the right amount to wear? Which ones should we choose? And how do they ultimately shape our personal style?

Handbags

My first real job was at an online consignment store specializing in handbags, so you could say I was literally surrounded by them for two years. I still remember the excitement of opening each package, unwrapping the bag, and imagining the outfits I could wear them with. That experience undeniably shaped my wardrobe and turned me into a true bag lover.

Over time, I’ve built a collection I truly love, mostly from mid-range brands. When choosing a bag, I think the most important question is: How will I use it? That determines everything from the size to the colour, the structure, and even the type (crossbody, top handle, tote, shoulder bag). I also like to look at all my bags together before adding a new one to make sure it fills a need and is coherent with the rest.

A handbag can become a signature element of your style. It’s something you carry daily and will probably own for many years. Because of that, I believe it’s one of the most important accessory decisions you’ll make. Before investing, it should meet all your needs and feel practically perfect because you’ll wear it constantly.

Some of my favourite handbag brands include ATP Atelier, Totême, Little Liffner, Cala Jade, Loewe, and Aesther Ekme.

Shoes

Shoes are equally defining. Whether you prioritize comfort and live in sneakers, or subscribe to the “wrong shoe theory” (aka the pairing of an unexpected shoe with an outfit), footwear says a lot about you.

I personally have a soft spot for ballet flats. If I lived somewhere warm year-round, I’d probably wear them daily. They instantly make an outfit feel more elegant, and I find them surprisingly comfortable. Otherwise, I love a structural black boot in the fall-winter and New Balance Sneakers. I’ve realized heels aren't really for me unless they're in boot form or a dainty kitten heel. All of this is about figuring out what type of footwear works with the rest of your wardrobe and your habits. It’s ok to test something and realize it’s not for you.

The reality with shoes, though, is that they endure wear more than most accessories. Care for them. Maintain them. A well-kept shoe elevates everything. I recommend Aeyde the most for investing in a quality pair! Otherwise, St-Agni, New Balance, By Malene Birger or Veja.

Jewelry

I’m quite minimal when it comes to jewelry, but this is perhaps the most personal accessory category. It should reflect who you are. Maybe you gravitate toward a statement earring for evenings out, or maybe you love stacking delicate rings. I love the idea of collecting jewelry over time: marking milestones, travels, birthdays, achievements, so that each piece becomes part of your story. Accessories feel most powerful when they carry meaning.

On a daily basis, I mostly wear a dainty necklace with sentimental value and a delicate bracelet, but once in a while, when my outfit needs it, I’ll add statement earrings or my personalized charm necklace from Hart Jewelry. I also love Lié Studio for earrings and everyday rings, Alighieri for statement pieces and Sophie Bille Brahe for milestone pieces (her Boticelli pearl earrings are a work of art, see below in my weekly edit).

Hair Accessories & Sunglasses

Sometimes an outfit needs just one extra detail. That’s where playful accessories come in. For me, it’s a signature pair of sunglasses (I particularly love the Celine Triomphe sunglasses to complete my look), a silk scarf tied in the hair, a straw hat on vacation, etc. In winter, a triangle scarf layered over a coat or leather gloves with a fur trim. So I’d say this category is maybe the least important for me in terms of accessories, but for you, it could be where you find the most joy.

For this category, I recommend not going for items based on trends but rather choosing pieces that you know you’ll have and love for years because that’s how you’ll get the most wear out of them.

What I Wore This Week

The right accessories…

Here I’m wearing a tonal look built around my navy By Malene Birger shirt and COS trousers. Clean lines, considered proportions, and a cohesive colour palette that allows the accessories to take focus.

I accessorized it with my favourite bag, the Totême T-Lock bag, a pair of Tom Ford glasses, and minimal jewelry. Nothing too distracting, just the right balance.

Because the glasses are quite dominant, I didn’t want to overload the look. When one accessory takes the lead, the others should support it, not compete with it.

Everyday Delights

As promised, here’s my mini review of Wuthering Heights. This week, I watched the film adaptation and finally read the novel. Reviews of the movie have been deeply divided, but I have to say, I loved it! And I loved the book just as much.

Starting with the film: aside from the problematic casting of Heathcliff, I found it visually captivating. Every frame felt deliberate and aesthetically beautiful. The world-building was immersive, and Margot Robbie and Alison Oliver's performances were incredible. It’s a deeply emotional film, and I appreciated that it leaned into the central love story.

Reading the novel afterward added so much depth. The complexity, the generational tension, the layered narration, it’s much darker than the film alone suggests. I followed along with chapter-by-chapter reflections on TikTok from creator Liya Library, which really helped me unpack the themes and better understand the characters’ motivations.

All in all, my week was essentially consumed by Wuthering Heights, and I’m not mad about it.

This Week’s Edit

The Scandinavian Uniform newsletter by Antonia from Scandi Delights

My new favourite newsletter! It’s written by a Swedish-Austrian woman who lives in Stockholm, and she shares a lot about fashion, daily musings, and Scandi culture. I especially loved her latest piece on the Scandinavian uniform.

Lié Studio Grace Tote Bag in Dark Blue

I love Lié Studio for jewelry, and they’ve recently launched handbags as well. I think they’ve nailed the colour of this dark blue tote, and I think it’d fit perfectly in my collection, especially to add a pop of colour. However, the shoulder handles ook a bit small to be comfortably worn with a big coat, so I’m not going to actually pursue it, but the colour is stunning!

Sophie Bille Brahe Botticelli Earrings

This is the one piece that’s been on my vision board for years: these delicate freshwater pearl earrings from the incredibly talented Danish jeweller. I’m waiting for the day when I’ll accomplish a big work milestone, and then I might treat myself to them.

Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model on Netflix

I binge-watched all three episodes of this documentary about the 2000s reality phenomenon ANTM, a show I grew up watching. Seeing what was really happening behind the scenes is confronting, especially looking back twenty years later with a very different cultural lens. What once felt entertaining now feels, at times, quite harrowing. I also enjoyed listening to the Shameless podcast’s recap, which offered a thoughtful discussion of the series.

Love, S.