When the runways announced that boho chic is back, it was only a matter of time before tassels joined the conversation as well. A cluster of threads and cords, the feature swings from curtain and cushion ornamentation to the it-girl accessory adorning belt loops. But this time, tassels have gone beyond accessorisation, appearing on clothes as a motif. In a way, we have gone from bag charms to charming ourselves with the fringed fabric. And it’s not hard to do so when there’s plenty of inspiration for the style to thrive.
SS26 runways brought on most of it. At Jacquemus’ Le Paysan show, tassels appeared below leather skirts and sheer kaftans, bringing all the attention to the trim. Whereas Burberry featured tassels across scarves, coats, and bags in vivid colours. Balmain had a more neutral approach, lying free among bags and decorated across the waist with cord belts. Louis Vuitton fashioned their runway in a similar approach with models walking with tasseled scarved around their waists. Whereas ALAÏA took things one step further with thigh-high leggings that almost looked like pants with the way they were fringed. And at Louise Trotter’s debut Bottega Veneta show, she showcased a bag with a loose intrecciato weave that gave off a fringed effect.
From the runways, we turn to culture. Tassels come with deep significance across the GCC region. Commonly seen on Arab men’s shemaghs, tassels here would stand for tribal identity. Depending on the arrangement or knotting, Bedouins could easily pinpoint where someone was from. In current-day practice, Emirati men wear a long tassel in front of their kandora. Called the tarboush or farroukha, this tassel helps identify Emirati dress from other regional dress codes.
Within the realm of pop culture, tassels are most prominent in womenswear. The Devil Wears Prada 2 had Meryl Streep in a Dries Van Noten tassel jacket. Whereas the fashion-forward have slowly been phasing out the lace scarf for a tassel one. Now the shortcut to a good outfit is fringed movement.
If you find yourself on fringe FOMO, here is a tasselled edit to add the ornamentation to your wardrobe.
