Apologies, but Silk Scarves—Chic Upper East Siders Are Only Wearing These Around Their Waists in 2026.

      Initially, it was sweaters. I’ll always remember the particular Bottega Veneta look from Matthieu Blazy's debut F/W 22 collection that triggered the shift—the one that turned tying a sweater around your waist into a deliberate fashion statement rather than just something your mom suggested when you were hot standing in line at a museum or amusement park and kept complaining about it. It was look 47, showcasing a yuzu-lemon silk slip dress adorned with a navy-blue chunky sweater tied around the waist. Kendall Jenner was seen wearing it at the U.S. Open shortly after, and this styling concept quickly gained popularity.

      As the sweater-around-the-waist trend began to feel outdated rather than innovative, another accessory emerged: silk scarves. Fashion-forward individuals like Alexa Chung and Jennifer Lawrence started folding their silk, printed scarves in half and wrapping them around their waists over various outfits such as jeans, skirts, dresses, and trousers, igniting a significant micro-trend that exploded on TikTok, Instagram, and among nearly everyone I noticed in New York City throughout the spring and summer of 2025. No one was immune to it—whether you ended up wearing it outside or not, you likely tested this trick at home.

      This illustrates that unconventional waist embellishments are clearly in vogue, and as winter approaches, people are seeking alternatives that can enhance their cold-weather attire, incorporating unique elements that can elevate a simple black coat into a noteworthy outfit that prompts admiration and imitation until spring arrives. Subsequently, they desire the same accessory to transform their denim and dresses. The solution? Cummerbunds.

      Cummerbunds, if you aren't familiar, are the fabric sashes typically worn around the waist with a tuxedo, instead of a waistcoat. Recently, fashion influencers like Andrea Ricci—whose brand, Atelier Jéa, recently launched (and has since sold out of) a modern interpretation of the cummerbund—have started showcasing innovative ways to style this accessory that feel fresh and unexpected. "I’ve been wearing cummerbunds for years and always wished to style them over dresses or coats, but I could never find one with a beautiful closure since they're meant to be concealed by a tuxedo jacket," Ricci shares with me. "That’s what inspired the idea, and I suspected that others would appreciate it as well."

      Having worked in luxury fashion for over a decade, gaining experience from steaming samples as an intern to leading marketing strategies, Ricci always aspired to create a project of her own. Her mission with Atelier Jéa was to establish a nontraditional label that didn't adhere to the fashion calendar, thus granting her the freedom to be as creative and sustainable as possible. Her third capsule, including the cummerbund, has just been released, and fashionable, sophisticated women throughout the Upper East Side of Manhattan have already sold it out.

      Ricci's interpretation of the cummerbund reflects her personal sense of style, which she describes as a blend of hyper-femininity and masculinity: "It's menswear in the front and womenswear in the back." While she appreciates the eveningwear associations of a cummerbund, she also recognizes various styling possibilities that extend beyond formal occasions. For instance, she pairs hers with jeans and a white T-shirt for a "casual yet polished look." Recently, however, she’s styled hers over a long black winter coat. "Since most of your outfit is concealed by your coat in winter, it’s great to have a way to accessorize it," Ricci explains. "Women in New York have shown me numerous styling options, which has been such a wonderful experience. Some have draped it like a shawl, while others have even worn it as a top over a white shirt."

      She describes the positive response from fans both online and in real life as surreal. "I created something I personally found useful and didn’t anticipate so many others would resonate with it," she says. "I’m also working on an ivory version, which I believe will be beautiful for bridal styles or over a monochrome suit." While we await the restocking of the black version and the release of the ivory one, scroll down to explore cummerbunds—and items that can be styled similarly—set to be the next big accessory in 2026.