Many of us are fans of basic staples just as much as the next. And one can’t deny their necessity in a wardrobe’s rotation, even for the most eclectic, but oftentimes, it’s those fun, personality-forward statement pieces that make scrolling the internet’s endless offering all the more exciting.
The truth is, a new buy doesn’t have to be a staple to be wearable, and sometimes it’s that head-turning conversation piece that ultimately brings the best out of a pair of jeans or your go-to summer tank top. At this time of year, even your swimwear drawer can likely use a reboot.
Scouring online storefronts for the coolest pieces on the market is a delicate art. On one hand, it’s accurate to say that some pieces just jump out at you. On the other, the most successful hunts start with knowing which brands to shop. As Depop tells it, a few key brands remain at the top of every fashion girl’s list, and according to the secondhand retailer, there’s power in the niche.
“It’s not surprising that Depop sees people coming to them to find emerging or small designers,” Steve Dool, Depop’s Senior Director of Brand Marketing tells ESSENCE. “Especially as smaller brands don’t always have the wide retail distribution that would make them readily available all across the country.” Citing brands such as Wales Bonner (up 19% in searches in recent months), alongside Sandy Liang (up 623% in April), and Gimaguas (up 70%), there’s proof that the most intriguing fashion pieces can often be traced back to the industry’s freshest designers to start.
In a fashion climate where everything is a “core” or TikTok trend, it’s never been more satisfying, or even necessary, to champion pieces that speak to your personal interest instead. Ahead, you’ll find some of the coolest pieces to shop online right now, from some of the coolest brands.
Sure enough, leopard print is just about everywhere you turn this season. This option from Fanci Club infuses the pattern with sequin details in a not-so-office-forward take on the pencil skirt.
Available at Fanci Club
Few things add a powerful edge to an outfit like a big bag with bold details.
Available at Maketh Thou
Known for its print-forward designs, Jean Paul Gaultier nails the creation of an It-piece every time.
Available at Net-A-Porter
Maybe a little risqué at first glance, but reframe this skirt as a bikini cover-up, and suddenly you’ve got yourself the ultimate vacation statement piece.
Available at Kwame Adusei
Created in collaboration with stylists Mackenzie and Alexandra Grandquist, this toe ring-style sandal is the kind to turn even jeans and a basic tee into a stand-out look.
Available at Gia Borghini
Young designers are breathing new life into the idea of a brooch, and just like that, they’ve easily become one of the coolest styling accessories of late.
Available at Wales Bonner
Long-been a staple of the Mowalola brand, among the designer’s latest rendition of Bundle Bags is a distressed, hand-painted option referencing the Japanese flag.
Available at https://www.mowalola.com/products/jpn-bundle
If anyone has mastered the element of cool in the summer, it’s Diotima. Almost always with its signature crochet, cutouts, and asymmetry, you can nearly select a piece from the brand’s catalog at random and walk away with a stunner.
Available at The Webster
Ethereal, bold, and delicately feminine all at once, this chunky Mudd Pearl ring is the level-up your jewelry collection has been missing.
Available at Mudd Pearl