Designer Headbands to Wear This Fall

On Prada's Spring/Summer 2019 runway, the classic hair accessory returned in plush velvet and metal-studded leather. That is the whole reference point here, and I like how compact the idea is: a headband with enough texture to be noticed.

Headbands make fall dressing feel less like a negotiation with your hair. A low bun leaves the accessory clear, while half-up hair gives it a softer frame; with a wool coat, a slouchy knit, or a leather jacket, the headband can be the one polished or playful note.

My test is simple: put the headband on, then try your coat and your usual hair shape. If it still feels like you, rather than a costume, keep it in the rotation; if it fights the collar or your hair, save it for a different outfit.

These headbands are where I would start if the coat is already doing enough. Jennifer Behr's Tori silk-velvet headband in emerald gives the velvet idea a deep green note; Erdem's Embellished satin headband in pink makes the same kind of entrance in satin. Versace's Medusa acetate headband in red is the sharper, more graphic option, while Roger Vivier's Broche crystal-embellished velvet headband in black brings velvet together with crystal. I would wear one with a low bun and a wool coat, then leave the earrings simple. The point is not to decorate every inch. Pick the color that feels like a deliberate punctuation mark, and let the rest of the outfit stay calm.

Tortoiseshell is a friendly bridge between a dark coat and a warm knit, which is why these headbands feel easy to reach for. Jennifer Behr's Lydia tortoiseshell acetate headband and LELET NY's Bleeker Headband in chocolate tortoise keep the shape in that warm, mottled family. Lele Sadoughi's Cher Acetate Headband in tortoise is another way to make the color the point, while Sophie Buhai's Bessette Headband in cream is the quieter counterbalance. I would try one with half-up hair and a leather jacket, especially when the rest of the outfit is black or brown. Keep the necklace fine or skip it entirely; the hairline already has a considered detail.

When I want the outfit to feel soft without turning into a pile of knitwear, I reach for a headband with a little texture. 437's The Micro Headband in teddy cream keeps the scale small by name, while Apparis's Eleni Faux Fur Headband in latte makes faux fur the central detail. petit moments's X Scott King Hair Rosie Headband in cream stays in the pale palette, and Sophie Buhai's Bessette Headband in black gives the group a darker option. These headbands make sense with a french twist or a low bun and a simple wool coat. I would keep the scarf smooth rather than adding another fuzzy texture, so the hair accessory gets to be the soft note.

This group is for the days when the coat is the outfit and the headband gets to make the color decision. Goldbergh's Froid Fluffy Headband in vino rosso brings a deep wine shade; Missoni's Headband in Black, Yellow & Blue Chevron Multi adds a patterned option. Vivienne Westwood's Domi embellished twill headband in white and Perfect Moment's PM Headband in red, blue, black, and white houndstooth offer two more ways to bring pattern into the mix. I would wear one with a plain knit and a leather jacket or wool coat, then keep the rest of the colors steady. What I would skip is a second loud pattern right beside it.

For evening, I like a headband that catches the light without asking the whole outfit to join in. Erdem's Narrow Emb crystal-embellished woven headband in black pairs woven texture with crystal; LELET NY's Ella Mesh Crystal Headband in black keeps mesh and crystal together. Jennifer Behr's Sabrina ruched satin headband in red brings satin into the edit, while Eugenia Kim's Lux Headband in gold is the warm metallic choice. Try one with a french twist, half-up hair, or a neat low bun, then add a dark knit or a simple leather jacket on the way out. A single glint is enough; I would let the headband be the only shining detail.

My rule of thumb is to match the headband's volume to the rest of the outfit. Plush velvet, faux fur, and crystal can have the whole sentence when the coat and knit are simple; acetate or a narrow shape can sit more quietly beside texture. For a low bun, I like a bolder detail at the hairline, while half-up hair can make a smaller one feel intentional. What I would skip is trying to make every accessory compete. Choose one headband, let the fall clothes support it, and call that enough.