The Holiday Accessories Edit: 6 It Buys Defining the Season

Never overlook the power that good accessories hold. A strong additional piece is something that can take a good outfit to a whole other level. Sometimes, all it takes it just one thing. Whether it's a handbag in a certain shape, a pair of statement shoes, or an above-average belt, we rely on accessories to transform the clothing we already own and transition our wardrobe mainstays from season to season. When it comes to this holiday season, the accoutrements on offer are so strong that calling them an afterthought would honestly be a crime.

There are the belts, a typically boring piece that designers have been innovating on all year. Saint Laurent is undoubtedly at the forefront of the cool belt era we're in with sleek metal buckles that place them more in the camp of outfit-defining items than functional pieces to loop around your trousers. Next are hats. They infiltrated the streets in New York and Paris during fashion week and are now hitting the market in the form of pillbox hats that ooze elegance. In essence, the accessories this season are a way to convey a feeling and add a healthy of dose of personality to all your occasion looks. Ahead, we're outlining the six It pieces set to have the most impact on the holiday season.

As cool style in 2024 is increasingly defined by elegant dressing, more and more accessories are emerging to satiate our collective need for beautiful, polished pieces. One such trend is the rise of sophisticated clutches that lend such an aura of retro glamour with their structured top-handle shape, not least of which is Bottega Veneta's Andiamo Clutch. With its sleek east-west shape and beautiful gold knot closure, it isn't just part of this trend—it *is* the trend.

The moment Tory Burch's Pierced Pumps graced the F/W 24 runway, editors were abuzz about the soon-to-be It shoes. They come as the latest in the designer's series of pierced shoes—including round-toe mules and slingback flats—that feature hardware giving off the illusion of being pierced with a segment ring. The shoes have come to define the language of "new Tory," and the bold sculptural metal piece instantly takes this pair from an everyday shoe to a one-of-a-kind statement.

In case we haven't spelled it out clearly enough by now, 2024 is the year of the belt. Belts have dominated all year as a key piece, but this season is ushering in a new era of the elevated belt with the arrival of Saint Laurent's Charniere Buckle Belt. Featuring a sleek push clasp at the center and glossy leather in both classic black and black cherry hues, it's a piece that demands to be front and center, whether you cinch it over a pencil skirt per the styling on the runway or thread it through the loops of jeans.

Roman jeweler Bvlgari created its Serpenti Watch in 1948, and since then, the storied timepiece has become part of the fabric of fashion history, counting A-list adoration from Elizabeth Taylor, who wore one on-screen in Cleopatra, to present-day ambassadors like Anne Hathaway and Zendaya. The age of elegance is infiltrating the watch world, and with jewelry-like cocktail watches continually on the rise, it's placing a renewed focus on the striking Serpenti Tubogas Watch.

There's no question that understated elegance is the mood of the moment, and the number one way to get in on the look is through the addition of a pillbox hat. The must-have silhouette comes courtesy of New York–based milliner Gigi Burris, whose celebrated Sharina Hat is a favorite among tastemakers from Billy Porter to Jalil Johnson and our own editors. It comes in 10 wool colorways and a raffia iteration, making it the ultimate personality piece and a guaranteed conversation starter.

Did someone say office siren? Miuccia Prada envision for the modern-day woman on the go includes everything from overstuffed handbags with an extra pair of shoes falling out, frazzled hair, and geek-chic opticals. Prescription or not, the oval-shaped tortoiseshell frames have quickly become the hot-ticket accessory that's lighting our feeds on fire.