The Reign of the Designer Scrunchie

Out of curiosity, what does your current wrist stack look like right now? A gold chain is a popular choice. Maybe some sort of watch is present. Perhaps you’ve invested in a Cartier Love bracelet or an Hermès Clic H cuff. Or maybe you display your quirks by way of a Roxanne Assoulin beaded rendition. Regardless of personal style, we’re guessing that—if your mane extends to your shoulders or below—some sort of hair accessory makes its way onto your wrist at one point or another, especially amidst the days of working from home. Luxury brands seem to have taken extra notice of this practical notion and have transitioned multiple varieties of the exposed hair tie from a sartorial faux pas to a zeitgeist-y (purposeful) wrist accessory.

Celine’s Hedi Slimane sent models down the spring ’21 track-turned-runway clad in silk scrunchies not in their hair, but on their wrists in what the designer fittingly dubbed a “portrait of a generation.” Hermès has also signed on, converting their famed silk scarves into a *slightly* less expensive elastic-bound variation, a trend which many influencers have already adopted. Fear not if the style is sold out—Etsy magicians are converting old scarves from the brand into scrunchies. Though most would balk at a $200+ price point for a hair accessory, it’s definitely more accessible than a Birkin.

For a trend to break through the quarantine-strengthened barrier to entry, it is typically underscored with a dose of utility, albeit small in many cases. While en vogue to don around the wrist, the accessory can still be tied into your hair—with the minor exception of Lutiki’s gilded brass coil—but fair warning, it may be tough to see in your next Instagram selfie. On the brand side of the spectrum, it’s no accident, either. Despite the fact it’s a lower, more accessible price point than most of their current holdings, the tiny accessory is a perfect way to use up excess scraps of fabric, according to loungewear brand Soft Focus.