From Barely-There Styling to Bandanas and Clips
The new wave of celebrity hair accessories describes the shift from stripped-back, minimalist outfits toward nostalgic bandanas, clips, and headbands that add playful personality without requiring a whole new wardrobe. Instead of chasing another neutral blazer, style insiders are using small nostalgic accents to flip an outfit from quiet to expressive. This is not background detail; it is a clear rejection of flat minimalism in favour of easy, expressive details taken straight from the late ’90s and early ’00s. The result is styling that feels relaxed, personal, and attainable, rather than intimidatingly polished or expensive.
Look at the mood on the streets and on social feeds: accessories are no longer an afterthought, they are the point. Fashion lovers are pinning brooches on tank tops and tying silk scarves and bandanas around their heads to elevate simple outfits, while oversized sunglasses add drama to otherwise basic looks. Into this moment drops a new hero: the return of the zigzag headband, the serrated ’90s comb-style band that pulls hair back into a textured halo and screams nostalgia. The message is clear: subtle minimalism has had its run; we’re dressing to have fun again.
The Bandana: French-Girl Nonchalance, Celebrity Edition
Bandanas are enjoying a celebrity-driven comeback as the shortcut to that South of France, hair-in-the-wind ease. When one writer spotted not one, but three favourite celebrities wearing the same French-girl inspired bandana in a single week, it was clear this was no coincidence. Wrapped over the hair and tied at the back, the humble square scarf instantly reads as French nonchalance, and we are told that tied this way it is “impossible for them to ever really go out of fashion”. That’s a bold statement, but on current evidence, it’s hard to disagree.
Zendaya is the strongest proof. With all eyes on her after the leak that her Surrey nuptials are imminent, the detail that cut through the noise was the brown-and-blue bandana wrapped around her head, not the rings on her finger. Paired with a shirred midi dress and the divisive Maison Margiela Tabi ballet flat, her outfit could have slipped into “got ready in a hurry” territory if not for that one accessory. Instead, the bandana reframed everything as curated effortlessness. This is the power of modern bandana styling: it turns everyday clothes into a story about attitude.
Bandana Styling Tips: How Celebrities Wear It Off-Duty
If you want practical bandana styling tips, celebrities are handing out a masterclass in wearable combinations. Elsa Hosk has practically made the neckerchief her daily uniform, wearing headscarves with sleek black capri leggings and a funnel-neck windbreaker for a sporty feel, then switching to a pretty broderie dress and oversized sunglasses for a softer, romantic look. The common thread is contrast: clean lines plus a relaxed scarf. That tension is what makes the accessory feel chic instead of costume-y.
Kendall Jenner pushes the laidback story further. She wears her bandana with country western-inspired dungarees and comfortable clogs for slow weekends, then trades that for a white T-shirt and black tailored trousers while travelling in Japan with Jacob Elordi. In both cases, the scarf adds personality without competing with the clothes. The clever part? We are told this kind of bandana “costs no more than a couple of pounds (depending where you go)” and yet gives “instant polish” to any outfit. In other words, it’s the rare celebrity trend that respects a normal budget.
Hailey Bieber Style and the 90s Fashion Comeback
While bandanas handle the South of France fantasy, Hailey Bieber is championing the sharper side of the ’90s fashion comeback. Remember the zigzag headband, the serrated comb design that pulls hair back into a neat, textured pattern? That exact ’90s hair accessory is back, and Hailey Bieber is cosigning the trend in a big way. She was first spotted wearing it in Miu Miu’s A/W 26 campaign after the brand sent zigzag headbands all over its runway, reimagined in metal instead of plastic so they could sit alongside leather jackets, minidresses, and sheer tops as fully fledged luxury pieces.
Crucially, Hailey Bieber hasn’t left the look on the runway. Beyond the campaign, she has pulled the headband into her personal street style, from a black tank top and jeans at the 2026 World Cup finals to Instagram posts where she pairs it with everything from activewear to tailored trousers. That range matters. It proves nostalgic celebrity hair accessories are no longer a quirky one-off; they are a new daily uniform. As claw clips and French pins fade into the background, the zigzag headband is tipped to replace them for autumn—a clear sign that polished minimalism is giving way to playful, visible styling.
Why Hair Accessories Are the Smartest Way to Copy Celebrities
The most powerful part of this trend is not that celebrities are wearing it; it’s that you can copy it without a wardrobe overhaul. We are told that a French-style bandana costs no more than a couple of pounds, depending on where you shop, yet it delivers “instant polish” to outfits from dungarees to tailored trousers. Likewise, zigzag headbands are now sold at multiple price points, so “for those ready to embrace the trend,” there are options beyond the runway. Hair accessories are becoming the affordable entry point into celebrity-inspired styling, rather than handbags or shoes with impossible price tags.
This matters because it marks a cultural shift. Style writers openly admit their personal look leans toward pared-back simplicity, but they now rely on carefully chosen add-ons to avoid outfits feeling unfinished. At the same time, the return of the zigzag headband—“once a definitive staple of the late ’90s”—has everyone asking if this nostalgic accessory is here to stay. The answer is already visible on our feeds: yes. The new fashion flex is not owning more; it is tying, clipping, and combing your hair in ways that say something about you.
