Spring officially sprung this week. If you're anything like us a new season brings a burning desire to reboot your wardrobe and one of the easiest (and often most affordable) ways to hit reset is to update your accessories. And right now the fashion forecast has welcomed the return of white shoes, bags, belts, and accessories according to Fashion Times fashion market director Sarah Meikle.
"It's kind of like, move over black. White accessories are everywhere on the streets of New York City, London, Milan, and Paris. I recently cruised around the stores in Soho, New York, and spotted bags, sunglasses, belts, shoes, loafers, and a complete whiteout when it comes to accessories," shares Meikle. Check out her video of the white accessory contenders she spotted in stores, on the street, and brightening up the runway.
The Runways Were A White Wash
Also a major contender on the fall/winter 2024 runways, Meikle says she first clocked the trend back during the fall 2023 season. And what began as softly softly has resulted in a trickle-down trend effect from Prada to Zara. "I started loving white accessories when I saw the Prada Fall 23 show. There were the most gorgeous white architectural shoes on the runway and I was immediately obsessed." Then came the fall/winter 24 collections and Meikle says it was a definite case of "all white, all white, all white." There were some gorgeous white shoes and boots at Louis Vuitton, white bags took center stage on the Chloe runway, and there were the cutest creamy white shades at Miu Miu and on a recent trip to Zara, there were lots of great white accessories."
How To Embrace The White Accessory Trend
To give your wardrobe a spring upgrade Meike has this advice. "I think an all-black outfit with a white shoe and a white bag is a very cool look and way more fun than your basic black. I also love all-black with a white belt, it's a very chic contrast and feels very modern and fresh for the season ahead." In terms of the color wheel, this season white accessories run the gamut from bright white to ivory to cream and a great investment is a chunky loafer, white handbag, slimline belt, and some retro-style sunglasses.
Don't Forget A White Button Down
And of course, as far as fashion classics go, no wardrobe (especially a spring one) is ever complete with a crisp, white button-down. "I wear a button-down shirt as a chicer alternative to a t-shirt, they are so easy to throw on and always give you that effortless but put-together, polished look," says Meikle who loves a classic oxford shirt, an oversized cotton boyfriend shirt, and for a dressier take, the tuxedo shirt.
A Word Of Warning On White
White accessories might be white hot right now, but fair warning, white can be a little on the impractical and convenient side so they require a little extra TLC (especially when stomping around the NYC streets). To keep them crisp, Meikle shares this advice. "Take your white leather accessories to a shoemaker before you wear them to have them professionally sprayed to protect them and help them stay clean."
All white, all white, all white.
