From the personal to the practical, there’s something for everyone.
Remember the remark attributed to Coco Chanel that said, “Look in the mirror and take one thing off before you leave the house?” When leaving the house became less of a chore, I began to leave without the necessities, such as keys, a book, or, God forbid, a mask. Regardless, I never failed to put on the lapis signet ring I had purchased for graduation. It’s funny how our outer uniforms become so dependent on our accessories.
From ancestral rings to functional keychains, we’ve spoken to creatives across a range of sectors about the accessories they consider essential to their everyday looks. What is the common thread? It belongs as long as it has meaning. Continue reading to hear from ten folks about the one item they never leave home without.
Sarah Spellings, Fashion News Editor at Vogue
“There’s no accessory I truly never leave the house without, aside from my phone, keys, and engagement ring,” Sarah Spellings says. “However, there’s one piece that I wear 90% of the time because it makes my look that much better: my Dilara Findikoglu Anne Boleyn-inspired necklace.”
Bella Hadid’s recent photographs with the necklace, according to Spellings, have cemented the piece as a wardrobe essential. “It’s the perfect exquisite end to practically any outfit, casual or formal,” she says, adding that it “always makes me look like I tried just a little harder than I actually did.”
Telsha Anderson, Owner of T.A.
Telsha Anderson’s modern-day heirloom: her engagement ring, has an undoubtedly romantic quality to it. “In December 2020, my fiancé proposed to me with a Hoorsenbuhs x Spinelli Kilcollin collaboration,” she says. What makes it unique is not only its depiction of her October wedding, but also its style: She continues, “It’s something I’ve honestly never seen before.”
Anderson sees her personalized ring as a legacy in the making, as the partnership is full of magnificent rings with architectural angles and elegant beauty. She says, “I genuinely feel my engagement ring will be passed down from generation to generation.”
Lindy McDonough, Creative Director & Founder of Lindquist
Lindy McDonough found inspiration for functionality without losing spectacular design in the most unlikely of places: a bean. “We were building up our new workshop and dreaming about the bags we wanted to produce, and I started sketching,” the story goes, “and I started thinking of one of my close collaborators who is passionately infatuated with beans.” The Faba bag was born as a result of this. It is “aesthetically pleasant, ergonomic, adaptable, and distinctive.”
McDonough almost never leaves the house without Faba. “It basically feels like an appendage of my body at this point,” she explains. Another reason for the bag’s popularity is that its lovely leather conveys a story about her daily life. She says, “I love a transformational object that reveals patina and all the traces of wear.” Plus, the bag’s size is excellent for all the essentials, including “the occasional dog treat,” as McDonough puts it.
Kimberlee Rhodes, Editor at Cup of Jo
When it comes to wearing a necklace, Kimberlee Rhodes can’t leave the house without one specific piece: “this ‘Merde’ necklace from Bing Bang NYC,” she says. The appropriate reminder of lightheadedness throughout the day is a beautiful statement in the timeless nameplate design.
“Merde” is French for “crap,” so it’s ideal in many respects, according to Rhodes. “It’s a worldwide expletive, and it’s also really pretty in French!” “I think everyone should have at least one sassy piece of jewelry,” the editor says, and we agree.
Sara Larson, Founder of Larson
With her beloved Jamie Wolf Emerald Ear Cuff, Sara Larson makes a case for small-but-mighty basic accessories. When it comes to why this stunning New York City piece is constantly with her, there’s more to it than meets the eye.
“I have a deep spiritual connection to the jewelry pieces I wear,” she says, adding that she believes emeralds have healing properties. “Emeralds indicate love, protection, and wisdom,” Larson continues, “all elements I want to be surrounded by on a daily basis.”
Amy Liu, Founder of Tower 28
Jewelry and accessories have a way of marking time and taking us back in time. Amy Liu’s happy place is early in her 21-year marriage to her husband. “He got me a Bulgari stack ring a long time ago, and it only fits on my left hand ring finger,” she explains. “At the time, the Bulgari ring was a true extravagance, and my sister assisted my frugal husband in selecting it, which means a lot to me,” she writes.
Today, Liu stacks the ring with her wedding band as a reminder of her and her husband’s relationship and the “real commitments” they’ve made to one another. “As a founder and entrepreneur now, I think about that a lot—exciting it’s to talk about successes like exits, rankings, and fundraising… but I’m trying to enjoy the ride as much as possible.”
Nidhi Lucky Handa, Founder & CEO of Leune
There’s something to be said for Nidhi Lucky Handa’s practicality when it comes to her go-to accessory. “I literally carry the Leune keychain with me everywhere, every day,” she says. It’s made of real leather and has three distinct clips, making it great for keeping track of the inevitable key jumble.
“It’s ideal since it effortlessly connects to my purse,” Handa adds, “whether it’s my Proenza Schouler crossbody or my favorite Givenchy Pandora.” “Not only are all the little carabiners fantastic for keys, but they can also be used to attach the keychain to a belt loop or make a wristlet.”
Jessie Randall, Founder and Creative Director of Loeffler Randall
A valued gift is an accessory Jessie Randall never leaves home without. “When I was a little child, I used to look at this ring on my grandma Harriet’s hand,” she says kingerlon. “It was handed to me after she died. She, like the ring, was very elegant and a touch sassy. I adore having a piece of her with me at all times.”
Even in her design work, Randall’s grandmother’s legacy has served as a continuing source of inspiration. “She was the inspiration for the name Loeffler Randall, which I gave to my company.”
Tyla Lauren Gilmore, Digital Content Creator
Tyla Lauren Gilmore adds her distinctive touch to every dress she designs. Her nameplate necklace is more than just a way to identify herself.
“When I turned 13, my family gave it to me, and it was my first real piece of jewelry as a teenager,” she explains. Gilmore even goes so far as to suggest that the necklace completes her: “I wear it every day, and it’s such a crucial part of my identity.”
Karen Danudjaja, CEO and Founder of Blume
Karen Danudjaja adds, “I assume it’s fused with my flesh because I’ve worn it for so long.” Danudjaja never leaves home without her grandmother’s engagement ring—a simple gold band that was handed to her when she passed away—despite the fact that she “shoves a credit card and a lip balm in my back pocket, leaving even a purse behind.”
She explains, “We were incredibly close, and she was a tremendous supporter of mine and my vision for Blume.” “It’s become a way for me to carry her and honor her memory by wearing the ring.”
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