Podcast Summary: "Why Is Everyone Obsessed With Accessories?"

The Business of Fashion Podcast – November 12, 2025
Host: Brian Baskin
Co-Host: Sheena Butler-Young
Guest: Diana Pearl (BoF Senior News & Features Editor)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Business of Fashion Podcast’s "Debrief" dives deep into the current cultural and commercial fascination with accessories. From charm-laden handbags and necklace stacks to the viral appeal of playful items like Labubu dolls, the discussion unpacks how and why accessories have taken center stage in style, and the economic, generational, and psychological forces driving the trend. The conversation also explores whether this obsession marks a broader shift toward maximalism, how luxury and smaller brands are responding, and where this could all be headed.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining the Accessory Craze (01:09)

• Accessories now extend beyond traditional jewelry, encompassing everything from bag charms, anklets, toe rings, and even charms on scrunchies and shoelaces.
• Quote:
  "It's both people wearing more of the accessories they've always worn...and then it's also the more unexpected accessories."
  — Diana Pearl [01:17]

2. Origins of the Trend: Minimalism Meets Maximalism (02:17–03:12)

• The phenomenon is linked to influencers and especially Gen Z, who use accessories to express individuality amidst minimal clothing trends.
• Quote:
  "Gen Z...is leaning on accessories...because minimalism in clothing still is very popular...but people also want to have a little more fun."
  — Diana Pearl [02:17–02:59]

3. Accessories as Affordable Personalization (03:12–04:25)

• Economic uncertainty encourages consumers to opt for versatile wardrobe staples while using accessories to inject personality or fun.
• Accessories offer a comparatively affordable way to refresh one's look.
• Quote:
  "Accessories can be less expensive...people want to buy something like a classic black, but then...dress it up with...a fun necklace or earring."
  — Diana Pearl [03:12–04:25]

4. The Playful Appeal: The "Labubu" Phenomenon (05:00–06:33)

• Labubu charms (and their ilk) symbolize this moment: they're playful, collectible, and suitable for all demographics.
• Amid a stressful geopolitical climate, accessories become a low-risk avenue for self-expression and levity.
• Quotes:
  "The Labubu is almost like a symbol of the accessories craze. It's got that fun, there's so many different Labubus… you can add it to an Hermes bag or a $100 tote from J. Crew."
  — Diana Pearl [05:00]

5. Will It Last? Accessories as a “Permanent Unlock” (05:49–06:33)

• Accessory layering habits, once established, may endure even as specific items (like toe rings) fade in and out.
• Gen Z’s focus on personal style signals accessories will remain central for future consumers.
• Quote:
  "When this sort of behavior gets unlocked...it kind of unlocks something permanent… I think we'll see a consumer that really is just primed to think of accessories as a more important part of their wardrobe."
  — Diana Pearl [05:49]

6. Is This a Gateway to Maximalism? Or Is Minimalism Still Here to Stay? (06:54–08:01)

• Accessory maximalism may act as a "gateway" to fuller wardrobe maximalism, but minimalism continues to have a stronghold, especially for staple investments.
• The pendulum between minimalism and maximalism is ever-swinging.
• Quote:
  "I think we'll probably see more maximalist style. The pendulum always swings. But I don't think that minimalism will ever fully go away..."
  — Diana Pearl [07:20]

7. Pricing and the Democratization of Luxury (08:01–09:38)

• Price points for accessories range from $40 for a Labubu to $250 charms, offering aspirational luxury access.
• Entry-level products like bag charms and jewelry allow broader brand participation.
• Many may choose vintage or alternative options over high-priced “mini” luxury versions.
• Quote:
  "They've kind of emerged as the new entry level products for luxury brands… people are happy to wear a necklace that's like a leather cord and it has a costume jewelry pendant..."
  — Diana Pearl [08:25]

8. Is the Accessory Craze Propping Up Luxury Sales? (10:59–12:12)

• While this supports big brands, it’s also fueling explosive growth for smaller, unique makers and jewelry start-ups.
• The appeal of uniqueness is driving consumers to seek out fresh, non-mass styles.
• Quote:
  "I think even more than that, it's helping small brands that really can make these cute accessories that feel distinct and different...That's a huge part of this: that quest for personal style."
  — Diana Pearl [11:11]

9. Impact on Retail & Merchandising (12:12–13:27)

• Retailers are curating their inventories to include more small leather goods and charms.
• Add-on accessory merchandising (stylized photos, suggestions) is increasingly common.
• Viral accessories mirror broader “sell-out” cycles seen with must-have products.

10. Generational Shifts and the Drive for Individuality (13:27–15:14)

• Gen Z is undoubtedly leading, but Millennials are participating. The trend isn’t reaching Boomers, yet.
• Social media has driven uniformity, but accessories serve as a tool for breaking away and signaling uniqueness.
• Quote:
  "There's this huge desire on Gen Z's part...of wanting their own personal style...people want to do something that makes them feel a little more different."
  — Diana Pearl [13:49]

11. Can Accessories Really Make You Stand Out? (15:14–16:43)

• The value lies less in the uniqueness of each piece and more in crafting a personal “signature” look (e.g., always wearing five rings).
• Accessories allow for daily self-branding in ways clothing may not.
• Quote:
  "It's about crafting that more distinct, unique look that is just...hard to do with clothes. Jewelry you wear every day."
  — Diana Pearl [16:00]

12. What’s Next? Will This Trend Stick or Evolve? (16:53–18:33)

• Trends mutate rather than fully disappear—layering and charm-adding behaviors may outlast specific products.
• Today’s accessory boom could have ripple effects for years to come, just as past crazes have left marks.
• Quote:
  "I think that it will have lasting after-effects...even if not everybody is wearing, you know, five necklaces at once in a year from now."
  — Diana Pearl [17:12]
• Quote:
  "Even if what we're seeing now goes out of fashion, something else will replace it and accessories will continue to be a part of whatever trend comes next."
  — Brian Baskin [18:18]

13. Lightning Round: Which Accessory Trend Will You Keep? (19:21–21:15)

• Sheena Butler-Young: Will keep her Labubu charm, finding it a way to make plain handbags more exciting.
  • "I hope the Labubu stays around...I hated it in the beginning...but then I got one." [19:21]
• Brian Baskin: Prefers bag charms for their versatility and potential for personalization. Notes the gender-neutral appeal and roots in Crocs' "gibbets".
  • "Bag charms...are fun, they're really versatile, and they are a way to express your personality." [20:17]
• Diana Pearl: Loyal to necklace stacks, often wearing at least three at a time; considers herself a “necklace aficionado”.
  • "Mine is definitely the necklace stack...the more, the better." [21:02]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "My daughter put it best: all the girls who used to have Stanley Cups have Labubus now. And it kind of killed the magic for me."
  — Brian Baskin [06:42]

• "I want to be different just like my friends."
  — Analyst Matt Powell, referenced by Sheena Butler-Young [16:45]

• "Maybe toe rings, bag charms won't be quite as popular, but maybe they'll evolve. And I think that this has unlocked something in people..."
  — Diana Pearl [17:12]

Conclusion

The episode concludes with agreement among all hosts: accessories have become more than “finishing touches.” They’re now key tools for self-expression, creativity, and even entry points into the world of luxury. While the current explosion of accessories may fade or morph, its impact—what Diana calls “unlocking” a new approach to style—will be long-lasting.

Suggested Listening Segments

• Defining the Trend & Origins: [01:09–03:12]
• Labubu & Playfulness: [05:00–06:33]
• Permanent Unlock & Future of Accessories: [05:49–08:01; 16:53–18:33]
• Generational Differences & Quest for Originality: [13:27–16:43]
• Lightning Round: [19:21–21:23]

Read more:
Diana Pearl’s article: "How far can Fashion's Accessory Obsession go?" (Available to BoF Professional subscribers)