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Fall & Winter Accessories Worth Buying: Scarves, Beanies, Gloves, Belts & Watches
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items Cold-weather accessories are the cheapest way to make the same coat look new, so this list covers eight categories: scarves, beanies, gloves, belts, hair clips, sunglasses, watches and small leather goods. Everything comes from Madewell, Free People,...
A classic tartan scarf is the one accessory that makes a plain camel or black coat look intentional. The bouclé-style yarn feels softer than the usual scratchy plaid, and it is wide enough to loop twice on the really cold mornings.
Barbour Deanna Tartan Scarf
If you only buy one watch this year, a small gold-tone face like this is the one that works with sweaters, blazers and holiday dresses alike. The mother-of-pearl dial catches light without being flashy, so it never feels like too much for school pick...
Kendra Scott Alex 35mm Watch
Winter sun in low light is brutal on the drive home, and a tortoise frame goes with every coat color I own. These sit comfortably on the nose and look more expensive than they are, which is why they stay in my car door pocket from fall through spring...
Kendra Scott Elisa Sunglasses in Tokyo Tortoise
These are the glove for people who hate bulky mittens: leather palms with a cashmere-style ribbed cuff and a flip-over mitten top for when the wind picks up. I can still scrape a windshield and answer my phone without taking them off.
Free People Soho Moto Gloves
A good leather belt is what pulls a sweater and jeans together, and this one has a simple buckle that does not date itself. It is stiff enough to hold shape for years, and it softens at the fourth hole by the second winter in a way I actually like.
Madewell The Everyday Belt in Leather
This is my pick for a beanie that looks styled instead of sporty, with a chunky knit that stays warm without flattening my hair into a mess. At around $30 it is easy to justify having one in a neutral and one in a color.
Free People Frostline Beanie
Claw clips are the fastest way to get hair off your neck when you are wearing a turtleneck, and the fabric wrap on this one makes it feel more like an accessory than a hair tool. It holds a thick twist without slipping, even after a full day.
Anthropologie Scarf Hair Claw Clip
When I want to leave the big bag at home, this slim leather case carries a license, a couple of cards and some cash in a coat pocket. It develops a nice patina over a season, and it is the easiest small leather good to hand off as a gift.
Madewell The Card Case
A retro-style stainless watch for under the price of a nice dinner, with a 34mm case that fits smaller wrists without looking like a toy. The bracelet slides under a sweater cuff, which is exactly where most watches fail in winter.
Timex Marlin Quartz 34mm Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch
Mittens are warmer than gloves, and this leather pair with a ribbed cuff tucks neatly under a coat sleeve so there is no cold gap at the wrist. They are the pair I reach for when the temperature drops below freezing and I need them to work.
Anthropologie Ribbed Cuff Leather Mittens
A snood is the answer if scarves keep unraveling when you are juggling bags and a leash. It pulls over your head, stays put on dog walks, and layers under a puffer without bunching at the collar.
Free People Over The Head Snood
An aviator never goes out of style, and the green G-15 lenses are easy on the eyes during bright, snowy or low-sun winter days. This is the pair I recommend if you want something that still looks right five years from now.
Ray-Ban Aviator Classic RB3025 in Arista Gold
The nickel buckle on this belt gives a plain pair of jeans a little western edge without looking like a costume. I like it with a long cardigan or a tucked-in knit, and the black leather works with dark boots too.
Madewell Western Belt
If a plain knit hat feels boring, a fuzzy beanie adds texture to an all-neutral outfit. It is soft against the forehead with no itch, which matters when you are wearing it for a long outdoor game or an errand day.
Free People Forever Fuzzy Beanie
A stretch band means no clasp to fiddle with, which I appreciate when my hands are cold or full. It reads as jewelry first and a watch second, so it stacks well with bracelets for holiday dressing up.
Anthropologie Stretch Band Watch
Sunglasses live loose in my bag and come out scratched, so a sturdy leather case with a wrist strap fixes that. It doubles as a tiny pouch for lip balm and keys, and it is a thoughtful stocking stuffer for anyone who owns good frames.
Madewell Sunglasses Case with Strap
The printed pattern turns an everyday clip into the statement piece of a messy twist. It is large enough to hold longer, thicker hair and grips well enough to survive a wool hat going on and off.
Free People Day And Night Printed Claw Clip
Cashmere is the one splurge I will defend: it is warm without weight, and it packs flat in a handbag for chilly restaurants. The fringe ends give a casual look, and it works as a wrap over the shoulders on a cold plane.
Anthropologie Fringed Cashmere Scarf
These are what I wear when it is wet and sleety, since they are waterproof and keep fingers dry through snowball fights and cleaning the car. They look polished enough that I do not feel underdressed wearing them with a wool coat.
Barbour Marnie Waterproof Mittens
Belting a long coat or oversized cardigan gives instant shape, and a medium-width leather belt like this works for both. The defined buckle looks sharp on a coat and just as good with high-waisted trousers.
Free People Siggy Leather Belt
A little gold on the temples makes these feel dressier than a typical pair, which is great for holiday brunches. They sit lightly and the shape flatters a round or square face, so it is an easy one to gift.
Kendra Scott Korinne Sunglasses in Yellow Gold
A silk scarf is the lightweight option for layering under a collar when a wool scarf is too bulky. Tie it at the neck, on a bag handle or in a ponytail, and it can make a plain black sweater look finished.
Madewell Silk Long Scarf
The color pops against gray winter days, which is the main reason I keep a bright beanie by the door. It stretches over thick hair, and I like that it pairs with the matching Icing gloves for a set.
Free People Icing Beanie
These pop-top gloves convert from fingerless to mittens in one flip, which suits phone use, pumping gas and juggling keys. At about $28, they are a fun gift that does not feel like filler.
Free People Icing Pop Top Gloves