Cheryl Shops

Of all the famous quotes Coco Chanel dropped in her lifetime, for some reason, people tend to remember this one: "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off." It's solid advice, but if you like accessories as much as I do, it can feel a bit stifling. (And frankly, I prefer "The best things in life are free. The second best are very expensive," which is 1000% spot on.) I truly believe that accessories can make your outfit: a strategically placed belt can transform your entire silhouette, the right earrings can light up your whole face, and never underestimate the power of a chic scarf. I do agree that too much can be...too much, but when you find accessories that you love, a little can go a long way. So with that in mind, here are the 5 accessories I'm wearing the most in 2024 (so far).

& Other Stories mohair scarf (similar style) 

When I was in New York last month, literally every stylish New York woman was wrapped in a massively fluffy mohair scarf. The vast majority were by Acne Studios, which of course I then promptly tried on, but I was not really feeling the color combinations. After a day of shopping in Soho and coming up empty-handed, I vowed to continue my search online...after making one last stop at & Other Stories on the way back to my hotel, where of course I found The One. This is A LOT of scarf, but man is it warm. It's remarkably not scratchy in spite of being mohair; it is, however, really thick (a half loop is not doable), although that is the look. This exact scarf is sadly sold out at the moment, but I've linked a similar one above. Side note: I had not shopped at & Other Stories in years, but wow do they have a lot of good-looking stuff in really nice fabrics (at really good price points)—I got the top I'm wearing there too. 

Isabel Marant sparkly red socks (here's a very affordable dupe) 

On that same trip, I wandered into the Isabel Marant store (she also makes a nice big, thick scarf, although it's close to $400), started chatting with the salesperson, and fell prey to the limited-edition lunar new year collection, featuring these sparkly red socks. They didn't have a price tag and I thought, how much could a pair of socks cost? Turns out these were $85, which I know is ridiculous, but I bought them anyway because I'm worth it and, honestly, wearing them brings me so much joy. That said, Gap makes a waaaaay more affordable version, so you should get those instead. Red socks are like a much easier-to-wear version of the red tights trend, which is still going strong; since the rest of my outfit is so neutral, I love the element of surprise they bring. And hopefully they'll bring me luck in the year of the dragon too!

Madewell Western belt 

I looooove belts, because as someone with a straight figure and a freakishly short torso, they help me carve out a waist and balance my proportions better. I also like to think of them as jewelry for your waistline, and if you ask me, you can never wear too much jewelry. I generally don't hesitate to splurge on a designer belt (my holy grail would be an Hermès Collier de Chien belt), but for some reason, I can't seem to stomach $420 for Khaite's Benny belt, which, in spite of reigniting a trend for Western-style belts, doesn't seem that special to me? Thankfully there are a lot of Khaite belt dupes out there, and my favorite thus far is this Madewell Western belt, which is priced very affordably for real leather. It's nice and substantial, and the leather doesn't easily scratch, which is a bonus with so much hardware. The only thing I'd change is the length—I got a medium and wish I had ordered a small, since the tail runs a little long when I wear the belt at my natural waist. I recommend sizing down! 

Caddis D28 readers (c/o)

A year or so ago, I noticed that if I was trying to read a menu in a dark restaurant, that task was nearly impossible without using my phone's flashlight. One night, I borrowed my friend's reading glasses and OMG it was like I was 25 again. I now have a pair in my purse, on my desk, on my bedside table, on my coffee table, on my kitchen island...you get the picture. Readers have come a long way from the frameless ovals my grandmother wore on a chain around her neck, but quality can still vary greatly. So when Caddis reached out and asked if I wanted to try a pair of their more investment-worthy readers (Gwyneth Paltrow is a fan), I of course said yes. These are definitely the most chic pair of readers I own, and amazingly, they don't slide down my nose every 2 minutes like the cheap pairs I bought on Amazon. If you are anywhere near as clumsy as I am, I'm happy to tell you that they are super scratch-resistant and virtually indestructible. Bonus: you can use your FSA on them, which makes the $110 cost a little easier to swallow.   

Celine Romy bag 

Thanks to The Row, '90s-style rectangular bags have been making a comeback. It feels like ages since I've worn a bag with such a short strap on my shoulder—close to 20 years, so it makes sense that they're in fashion again, with all of the Y2K trends that Gen Z is so (inexplicably) enamored with. That said, these throwback bags have a slouchier shape that feels more modern to me, and in spite of looking fairly streamlined, this one can actually fit a lot (including my umbrella, as I discovered last week). This exact bag is a biiiiit of a splurge (I got mine on Vestaire Collective) and while I love the look of it, it tends to slide off my shoulder unless I'm wearing a very structured jacket (or one with giant shoulder pads, like this one). I don't think I'll be giving up on crossbody bags just yet, but I like the novelty this shape adds to my bag rotation. 

OUTFIT DETAILS: Isabel Marant Nelly jacket | & Other Stories broderie anglaise blouse | & Other Stories mohair scarf (similar style) | Madewell Western belt  | Mother The Spinner jeans | Celine Romy bag | Isabel Marant sparkly red socks (very affordable dupe) | Chloe Nama sneakers