Designer Hair Accessories Worth Wearing This Fall

The V&A records Christian Lacroix’s gold-metal and paste-gem bridal hair ornaments as a 1993 French couture design. Its catalogue describes a bridal headdress designed by Lacroix in France in 1993, which is a very particular precedent for designer hair accessories.

For fall, I like the contrast of an accessory near the face with a wool coat, a plain knit, or a leather jacket. A headband can make hair feel arranged without changing the clothes, while a clip or pin lets a low bun stay the center of the outfit.

Try your chosen piece with the hairstyle you wear most, then put on the coat you reach for on a regular day. If the accessory still feels like you, rather than a costume decision, that is the one to keep in rotation.

Sophie Buhai's Fan Shell acetate hairclip is black, Completedworks' Gold-plated bow hair comb is gold, and Versace's Medusa acetate headband is red. That is three clear materials or shapes from the names, and three different ways to bring attention to the hair. I would choose the bow comb for a low bun, the headband when I want the hair held away from my face, and the shell clip when I want just one detail. The designer hair accessories here do not need to be treated as an occasion set. With a wool coat and a simple knit, one piece is enough to make the outfit feel considered.

Lié Studio's The Molly silver-plated hair clip is silver, Sophie Buhai's Bessette Headband is black, and Vivienne Westwood's Domi embellished twill headband is white. The Molly gives this group a small clip option, while the two headbands offer a more visible line around the hair. I would wear the black Bessette with a dark knit when I want the accessory to recede, then let the white Domi stand apart against a leather jacket. The embellishment and twill are named details, so there is no need to add extra decoration elsewhere. Designer hair accessories look most like part of a real outfit when the clothes are familiar.

Jennifer Behr's Marbella acetate hairclip is tortoiseshell, The Row's Ombrea cashmere-blend headband is black, and Lié Studio's The Frida gold-plated hair pin is gold. I like this as a choice between a clip, a headband, and a pin, rather than a three-piece styling instruction. The Frida is a natural thought for a French twist, while the headband can keep a low bun feeling neat under a wool coat. For a knit with a high neckline, I would keep the hair simple and pick only one piece. These designer hair accessories work best when they make the outfit feel a little more resolved, not more complicated.

Jennifer Behr's Amira tortoiseshell acetate hairclip is paired here with Roger Vivier's Broche crystal-embellished velvet headband in black and Saint Laurent's Embellished silk-satin hair tie in fuchsia. The materials and colors make each option quite distinct, so I would resist combining them. A low bun gives the silk-satin hair tie a clear role, while the velvet headband can carry the outfit on its own with a plain knit. The tortoiseshell acetate clip is the quieter choice for a leather jacket and hair worn half-up. Designer hair accessories are easier to wear when the rest of the outfit is not trying to echo every material at once.

Sophie Buhai's Monceau tortoiseshell acetate hair clip is tortoiseshell, Jennifer Behr's Anarosa flower headband is multi, and Lié Studio's The Thea gold-plated hair tie is gold. I would start by deciding whether the hair is the focal point: the flower headband already says plenty, while the gold-plated hair tie can be a smaller finish to a low bun. The Monceau gives you the clip option with a specified acetate material. With designer hair accessories, I think the best test is whether the piece works with the wool coat or leather jacket you already own. What I would skip is building a whole outfit around one hair accessory.

My rule of thumb is to choose the accessory after choosing the hairstyle. A headband has more presence around loose or half-up hair, while a clip or hair tie can sit neatly in a bun or twist. Then make the rest familiar: a knit, a wool coat, or a leather jacket is plenty of context. Designer hair accessories feel most personal when they are worn in the way you would normally fix your hair, just with one better detail.