I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the best trends are the ones you’ve been waiting for.

A trendy piece should fill a gap. It should slot into your wardrobe as if it was always supposed to be there — not require five other purchases to make it work. If it can’t do that, it belongs in someone else’s closet.

Accessories are the easiest, most low-commitment way to add something new at the start of a season. No fit anxiety. No wondering if it will work with your body. Just a small thing that shifts the whole feeling of an outfit.

This spring and summer, there is genuinely something for everyone. Here’s what I’m most excited about — and where to find it in Canada.

Bangles

Whether you’re going one-and-done or pile-and-smile, chunky bracelets are having a major moment this spring and I am here for it on my clients.

(Full disclosure: I myself would wear these for approximately three minutes before taking them off and leaving them somewhere. I talk with my hands too much. But on the right person, they’re fantastic, and I think that person might be you.)

The key this season is scale. Go chunky. A delicate bangle gets lost in this trend. You want something that has actual presence on the wrist.

Where to find them:

• Simons — a ton of options at accessible price points, metal and resin both worth looking at
• Biko — gorgeous metal cuffs from a Toronto-based designer who does jewellery right
• Anne Marie Chagnon — beautiful two-tone pieces if you want something a little more sculptural

---

Chunky Necklaces

Before you go digging out your old J.Crew statement necklaces, let me clarify: today’s chunky necklace is not that.

The chunky necklace trend right now is about beads, pendants, and tassels. It’s more organic, more artisanal, less “here is a large geometric piece of metal.” Think layers — a few chains at different lengths, a beaded strand mixed in, maybe a single pendant that has real weight to it. Wear one on its own for a clean focal point or layer them up for drama. Both work.

Where to find them:

• Kara Yoo — beaded and silk options that feel genuinely special
• Mademoiselle Jules — charm and tassel options that are exactly what this trend calls for
• Michelle Ross — the queen of statement necklaces; if you want something that makes an entrance, start here

---

Brooches

My grandmother would be so proud.

I love, love, love a brooch. On a men’s suit lapel, on a women’s blazer, pinned to a bag — they work. Big or small, you can wear them all season (and honestly every season after this one, because a good brooch never really goes away).

The key is to wear them with conviction. A brooch placed hesitantly looks like you forgot to take something off. A brooch placed deliberately looks like you know exactly what you’re doing. You do.

Where to find them:

• Poshmark — genuinely one of the best sources for inexpensive vintage brooches; you’ll find things there that don’t exist in stores anymore
• Simons — a great selection including options that work beautifully on a men’s suit
• Ste Marg Scot — beautiful floral brooches that look equally great worn alone or stacked together

---

Clutches (and Hand-Carry Bags)

They aren’t just for evenings anymore.

A daytime clutch is one of those small style moves that seems inconsequential and then ends up making you feel fancy every single time you do it. It forces you to edit what you carry, which means you’re only carrying what you need, which means everything about your day feels a little more intentional.

For those of us who are used to a bag with straps, there’s an adjustment period. You carry it in your hand or tuck it under your arm and suddenly you feel very European. That’s not a bad thing.

Since clutches aren’t everyday bags for most people, this is also a great category to shop secondhand — you’ll often find beautiful pieces that have barely been used.

Where to find them:

• Meraki — their horse hand-carry bag is a genuine conversation starter
• Unicorn — a blue leather clutch that is exactly as good as it sounds
• Mine & Yours — one of my favourite consignment sources for finding a quality clutch without the full retail price

---

Scarves

Scarves in Canada have a bit of the same energy as hats: we don’t see them often enough, so when someone wears one well, we’re thoroughly impressed.

A spring scarf is not a winter scarf. We’re talking lighter fabrics — silk, gauze, a fine cotton weave — tied loosely around the neck, worn as a headband, knotted on a bag. The point is to add colour and movement without weight.

Where to find them:

• Gaspard — gorgeous accessories and the scarves are a particular standout
• Suzi Roher — if you love bold colour and want your scarf to be the whole point of the outfit, this is your source
• Wenzi — a Canadian scarf designer I discovered while doing research for this piece; worth knowing about

---

Loafers (A Shoe Note, Because They Earned It)

Shoes could be their own post — and honestly, they probably will be. But two silhouettes are standing out enough this spring that I can’t leave them out entirely: the ruched loafer and the backless loafer.

The ruched loafer brings a little texture and softness to what is traditionally a very structured shoe. The backless version (sometimes called a mule loafer) keeps the polish of a loafer while making it infinitely easier to slip on and off. Both are the kind of shoe that makes you feel put-together without trying too hard.

Where to find them:

• Poppy Barley — always a go-to for me; their ruched loafers this season are particularly good
• La Canadienne — beautiful backless loafer, well-constructed and worth the investment
• Gravity Pope — one of the most dangerous stores I walk into; their house brand loafer is excellent and they carry a wide range of Canadian and international designers

---

A Note Before You Shop

Pick the category that fills a real gap. Not the one that’s having the biggest moment, the one that makes you think “yes, I’ve actually been looking for something like that.”

That’s the piece that will actually get worn.

S.C.