My Mom's Been Wearing These Accessory Trends for 20 Years, and They Still Hit

I've highlighted my mother's style a few times, including this piece on the items she recently cleaned out from her closet. For reference, she primarily sticks to pretty classic pieces but dabbles in trendier items here and there. Oh, she also loves accessories—especially the timeless picks she can keep in her offering for a long time. On that note, she actually sorted through her closet again and asked me for advice on what she should keep and store to the side. When it came to the accessories, there were a few key trends I suggested she keep. She actually mentioned that she's been wearing similar items for the last 20 years or so.

Yes, the add-ons in question all fall into that "classics" category. So in reality, they're not categorically "new trends," per se, but staples. I thought I'd share some of the items below (complete with quotes from my mom) in case you're interested in adding a timeless, fresh accessory to your wardrobe. To showcase the trends, I pulled inspiration imagery from fashion people wearing current versions of the items. There are also shopping picks sprinkled throughout.

Sleek Loafers

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(Image credit: @greceghanem)

"I've never really been a 'heels person' because I'm all about comfort. I know there are backless and updated loafers these days, but I've always been a fan of classic loafers in neutral colors. I wore them for years during my teaching career and continue to wear them now."

Black Crossbody Bags

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(Image credit: @basicstouch)

"I've been using black crossbody bags forever, it seems. I don't like to carry my bags—hands-free is just easier for me."

Oversize Sunglasses

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(Image credit: @venswifestyle)

"I remember my mom and aunt wearing oversize sunglasses growing up, and I've continued the trend. I actually just bought a new pair that I'm wearing on repeat."

Flip-Flops

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(Image credit: @allypayer)

"Okay, I know some people may have specific thoughts on flip-flops, but I've actually always liked them because of how easy they are. I love the fact that they're super in style right now."

Gold Hoops

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(Image credit: @aniyahmorinia)

"When it comes to jewelry, I'd never part with my gold hoops. They're timeless and work with everything."

Next, check out more summer accessories.

Bobby Schuessler
Market Director

Bobby Schuessler is a fashion editor with over a decade of editorial experience covering shopping, style, and beauty. He's spent over seven years at Who What Wear, currently leading the market team to deliver highly covetable and convertible content. He creates data-driven shopping guides featuring top retialers like Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter and is at the forefront of Who What Wear's shopping tentpole strategies, including Amazon Prime Day. He also works on branded content initiatives and appears on camera in video and shopping livestream franchises. He has also worked across a variety of other media brands and fashion retailers like Refinery29, PureWow, Men's Health, and Gilt covering commerce, trend reporting, women's and men's fashion, home, and lifestyle.