From Maison Margiela neckpillows to Balenciaga Crocs, here we present the most bizarrely brilliant accessories of the season ahead – the pieces that you never knew you needed.
- Neck Pillows at Maison Margiela
Maison Margiela isn’t the first house to debut a luxe neckpillow – Balenciaga’s limited-edition Colette version sold out in a matter of days, and Fendi menswear SS17 offered a brilliant furry option – but John Galliano’s is perhaps the most covetable of all. Paired as with a spirit of “unconscious glamour” – that is, the sort that emerges when you’re rushing to catch a flight – it felt simultaneously relatable and aspirational. Plus, it’s dead handy. What more could you ask for from an accessory? 
A Crystal Headbrace at GucciOrthodontic headgear – once the plight of teenagers the world over – is now this season’s hottest accessory. At Gucci, Alessandro Michele presenting a crystal-embellished version, impressive enough to resemble a diamante beard. He has certainly taken his proclivity for geek chic to a whole new level. Bra Bags at Helmut Lang Seen By Shayne OliverThe first season of Helmut Lang under Isabella Burley’s direction saw Shayne Oliver act as “designer-in-residence” – and his collection for the iconic brand was as fabulously fetishistic as you’d hope. Perhaps the best combination of subversive sexuality and ready-to-wear was these leather handbags, formed from bra cups. Often strapped around the chest (like an actual bra), they came with zip-tops to make them resolutely practical – and the perfect conversation starter. Platform Crocs at BalenciagaCharlie Dimmock and Christopher Kane might have done them first but, this season, Demna Gvasalia took the world’s least favourite footwear to a new level – literally, by giving the shoes a 10cm platform. Backstage, the designer explained that, “It’s a very innovative shoe. It’s light, it’s a one-piece foam mould and to me these kind of techniques and working with these kind of materials is very Balenciaga.” There are few people as invested in ugly/chic as Gvasalia, so it all makes a strange sort of sense. Pom-Pom Handbags at Calvin KleinThere were so many weird and wonderful accessories at Calvin Klein that it is almost impossible to choose a favourite: perfume bottle charms; Freddy 13th stilettos; blood-spattered booties. But it was the pom-pom handbags that won our deepest affections, their leather fringing speaking to both seasonal trends and the sinister inspirations behind the collection. Plus, they mean that those of us who didn’t make it into the cheerleading squad will finally be fully equipped for any routine. Bring. It. On. 
Weed Leaf Belts at Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne WestwoodTyrollean Arcadia, and the lush terrain of Kronthaler’s hometown, was the foundation for this season’s Westwood show – and these wrestler-style prize belts, stamped with marijuana leaves, paid direct tribute to the sort of verdant activities one might partake in there. That being said, they’ll go down as well in the city as among pastures green: such a pastime is not location-specific. 
Magazine Title Clutches at Off-WhitePresenting an homage to Princess Di, who Virgil Abloh described as “a muse for the modern woman,” this season’s Off-White collection was littered with tributes to the royal. But best of all were the clutch pochettes moulded from the titles of magazines that Diana had starred upon: Time, People and Life. If only there had been one for Vogue… [“Source-vogue”]
