Best Hair Accessories for Women This Fall

The V&A documents a Japanese hair comb used by a woman as a decorative hair ornament, dated circa 1850 to 1900. That simple description makes ornament feel personal and practical at once, which is still how I like to think about hair accessories for women.

For fall, I want an accessory to make sense with the clothes already in rotation: a bow above a wool coat, a headband with a knit, or a clip beside a leather jacket. A scrunchie can soften a ponytail, while a headband gives half-up hair a more finished outline. The useful trick is to choose the shape first, then decide whether the color should blend into the outfit or make one small contrast.

Try your usual hairstyle with the accessory, then add the coat you reach for most. Turn your head and check whether the clip or headband feels secure and whether the silhouette still looks like your own. That is a better test than admiring it in your hand.

Jennifer Behr's Wide silk-velvet bow hairclip is black, Emi Jay's Midi Blossom Clip is sangria bloom, and Gucci's Silk-jacquard scrunchie is beige. This is a good opening for hair accessories for women who want one clear shape and one softer fallback. The bow clip can sit with a low bun under a wool coat, while the blossom clip brings a different note to half-up hair. Gucci's scrunchie is the easy ponytail choice with a plain knit or leather jacket. I would keep the neckline simple and let one piece be the small point of interest, rather than trying to match all three colors.

Lovers and Friends' Crest Bow is black, Jennifer Behr's Lydia tortoiseshell acetate headband is tortoiseshell, and slip's Skinny Scrunchies Set Of 6 is bellerose. The shapes give you a bow, a headband, and slim scrunchies, which is enough variety for a week of low buns, ponytails, and half-up hair. For hair accessories for women that work beside fall layers, I would start with the tortoiseshell acetate headband and a plain knit. The black bow can sit above a wool coat collar, while the slip set is handy when a leather jacket calls for a less formal ponytail. Keep the other accessories quiet and let the hair shape do its thing.

Lovers and Friends' Angela Bow Clip is natural, Jennifer Behr's Tori Headband is emerald, and slip's Midi Scrunchies Set Of 5 is gelati. There is a soft-to-bright range here without needing a complicated outfit: natural with a wool coat, emerald beside a grey knit, and the slip scrunchies for a ponytail that changes with the day. These hair accessories for women cover more than one hairstyle, from a low bun held by the bow clip to half-up hair with the headband. I would pick one color note and leave the rest of the outfit uncomplicated. A leather jacket is already a strong outline, so one accessory is enough beside it.

Emi Jay's Sweetheart Clip is coconut berry dot, Lele Sadoughi's Bardot Headband is espresso, and slip's Skinnie Scrunchie 6 Pack is multi. The clip and headband make distinct shapes, while the scrunchie pack gives the simplest route to a ponytail or low bun. I would wear the espresso headband with a light knit, then use the clip when half-up hair needs a little more presence under a wool coat. The multi scrunchies can stay in rotation with a leather jacket and an easy ponytail. For hair accessories for women, the small practical question is whether you want to keep hair back or add a visible shape; this group gives you both directions. What I would skip is wearing all three at once; choose one shape and leave the rest easy.

Emi Jay's Big Effing Clip is rose, Lele Sadoughi's Jackie Silk Floral Headband is olivine, and Astoria's Scrunchie is navy. The clip and headband make a color note, while the navy scrunchie keeps the option quieter. This is a useful final group of hair accessories for women because it has a shape for a low bun, half-up hair, and a ponytail without adding another kind of piece. I would try the rose clip with a dark wool coat, or let the olivine headband sit beside a plain knit. Astoria's navy scrunchie works when a leather jacket is already the loudest part of the outfit. Pick one and stop there; it is enough.

My rule of thumb is to pick the hairstyle before picking the accessory. A bow or clip gives a low bun a clear outline, a headband works for half-up hair, and a scrunchie softens a ponytail. Against wool coats, knits, and leather jackets, one deliberate detail is usually plenty.