How hair jewellery took the red carpet spotlight in 2023: Michelle Yeoh, Florence Pugh and Janelle Monáe started an Oscars trend, and celebrities have been donning bands, bows and clips ever since

Oct 16 , 2023

These flower clips date from the 1950s when they were worn on jacket lapels. Today, 70 years on, they are being repurposed as hair jewellery, part of widening trend. Photo: Boucheron

Jennifer Lopez and White Lotus star Haley Lu Richardson are just two more names to have followed suit by jumping on the hair jewellery trend

Popular pieces include hairbands and hairclips from Prada, Gucci and Simone Rocha, plus tiaras and more from Moussaieff, Harry Winston, Graff, Cartier and Boucheron

While bejewelling the ears, wrists and fingers is often a priority when elevating everyday dressing, hair accessories offer a playful appeal that, when styled correctly, can be the hero of your seasonal wardrobe. Indeed, 2023 has seen a surging interest in hair accessories, spanning barrettes to bows to headbands, with everyone from Jennifer Lopez to White Lotus star Haley Lu Richardson balancing the trend on their head.

Michelle Yeoh wore a Moussaieff diamond necklace as a hairband when accepting her best actress Oscar back in March. Photo: Getty Images

It was Michelle Yeoh who helped put hair jewellery on the map this year with her appearance at the 2023 Academy Awards. Yeoh sported a haute couture Dior gown, woven of ivory silk organza and layered in cascading feathers, teamed with a custom Richard Mille timepiece. But it was her surprising choice of hair ornament that truly turned heads. Upping the ante, Yeoh chose a suite of twinkling high jewellery from heritage London brand Moussaieff, including a diamond necklace worn as a show-stopping headband.

Simone Rocha Floral-beaded hair clip, available at Matches. Photo: Handout

That same night, fellow A-listers including Florence Pugh and Janelle Monáe accessorised with statement headpieces – Pugh opting for a dainty black bow, while Monáe threaded a silver rope through her cornrows.

Janelle Monáe attends the 95th Academy Awards earlier this year. Photo: Getty Images

Liane Wiggins, head of womenswear at luxury retailer Matches, reveals that sales of hair accessories have been consistent throughout 2023. “Hair accessories are such an easy way to update or refresh your look for different occasions without needing to invest in a new outfit,” says Wiggins.

Gucci tortoiseshell acetate hairclip with crystal logo, available at Matches. Photo: Handout

Some of Matches’ bestselling pieces include hairbands and hairclips by the likes of Prada, Gucci and Simone Rocha. “Prada’s headbands continue to do well, and the studded and crystal options are great updates to the sell-out padded style, along with Gucci’s crystal-embellished clips and Simone Rocha’s faux-pearl and beaded clips,” Wiggins points out. And, with interest continuing to grow, she doesn’t expect the trend to slow any time soon.