For many years, women’s fashion has drawn inspiration from menswear, incorporating elements such as precise tailoring, large silhouettes, and wardrobe staples. Now, it is the accessories stealing the spotlight.
Paris Men’s Fashion Week showcased a variety of accessories, including crystal brooches, vibrant cummerbands, transparent shoes, and statement scarves. These small details are making substantial impacts, whether paired with sharp, tailored outfits or relaxed summer separates. This season’s accessories seem to be more than just complementary elements, and more like the key highlights of the overall look. Expect many of these runway moments to find their way into women’s wardrobes before long.
Brooches Are Officially Back
Forget saving brooches for heirloom jewellery boxes. At Dior, oversized floral brooches and shimmering pom-pom embellishments were pinned onto knitwear and tailoring, transforming classic menswear into something unexpectedly expressive. Across Paris, lapel jewellery was a common styling choice, signalling the return of statement brooches as one of the season’s standout accessories.
Scarves Become Styling Tools
This season, scarves were worn in numerous ways beyond just around the neck. Some were wrapped around waists, draped over shoulders, tied onto bags, and layered over tailoring. Dries Van Noten’s styling in particular suggested scarves are becoming less of an accessory and more of a versatile wardrobe essential, capable of completely changing the mood of an outfit.
The Return of the Cummerbund
One of the week’s most unexpected heroes came courtesy of Celine, where colourful silk cummerbunds replaced traditional belts and added a sophisticated burst of colour to the otherwise minimalist tailoring. Traditionally associated with black-tie dressing, the accessory suddenly felt fresh enough for daytime, proving formalwear details are being reimagined into everyday wardrobes.
Statement Belts Are Getting Bigger
Belts are no longer an afterthought. From Ralph Lauren’s Western-inspired buckles to chain-detailed leather belts and layered waist styling, accessories around the waist emerged as one of menswear’s strongest trends. Rather than disappearing into an outfit, belts were designed to anchor it.
See-Through Shoes
Transparency continues its fashion takeover. Saint Laurent presented sleek transparent footwear that felt light enough for soaring Parisian temperatures while adding a futuristic twist to classic tailoring. Mesh and translucent finishes suggest footwear is becoming just as experimental as ready-to-wear.
Holiday Beads & Playful Jewellery
Forget minimalist chains. Designers embraced chunky wooden beads, shell-inspired necklaces, colourful pendants and handcrafted jewellery that felt collected on holiday rather than bought in a jewellery boutique. The result was effortlessly relaxed, reminiscent of past summers and perfectly suited to summer dressing.
Beach Objects Become Luxury Accessories
One of the most evident indication that fashion is embracing holiday culture came from Louis Vuitton, where surfboards became a highly discussed accessory for the season. Across Paris, aquatic references, from shell jewellery to sea-inspired motifs, hinted that luxury is increasingly extending beyond clothing and into lifestyle objects designed for the perfect summer escape.
Ties, But Not As You Know Them
Paul Smith loosened the rules around neckwear, presenting ties worn undone and casually styled rather than tightly knotted. It mirrored a wider shift across menswear towards laid-back elegance, where clothing remained well-polished without conveying an excessively formal atmosphere.
Judging by Paris Men’s Fashion Week, expect brooches, scarves, statement belts and playful jewellery to dominate conversations long before next summer arrives.
