5 Feel-Good Accessories to Brighten Up Your Next Zoom Meeting

From ruffled collars to pearl-encrusted headbands, freshen your look from the neck up!

Over the course of the past year, I have drifted in and out of a number of dressing patterns. Each involved varying degrees of effort, but always aimed for high marks in overall comfort and ease.

The first week of quarantine in late March I, like many out there lucky enough to stay home, wore nothing but pajamas at all hours of the day. At the time, I must admit it felt like a real treat––until I was forced to turn on my Zoom camera. After that came my Paul Bunyan moment, consisting of long johns and oversized flannel shirts, which occurred in tandem with my extended trip home to Minnesota. At some point in late spring, I tried my hand at Zoom tops, but it was short-lived. At the end of the day I found that no puff-sleeved thing could ever live up to the comfort of a worn-in t-shirt or cozy oversized sweater.

And while I have landed on a winter uniform that consists of mostly chunky, androgenous knits and soft cotton turtlenecks à la Steve Jobs, I’ve recently found myself reincorporating my most dainty and feminine accessories back into the mix. It began with a ruffled detachable collar, then a pair of two-tone drop earrings, followed by a bejeweled headband, my favorite pearly barrettes, and finally, a crystal brooch––the last item I ever thought I’d find myself donning for a remote Zoom meeting (save, perhaps, for my favorite pair of Prada platform sandals which are currently crammed inside a 6x6’ storage unit).

As it turns out, I am tired of looking bland and comfortable (though I’m certainly not tired of feeling comfortable), and I have found that the best way to have my cake and eat it too, via Zoom, is to accessorize with a few special, webcam-ready bits that will give the illusion of a thoughtful, sophisticated ensemble without having to ditch my cozy basics. In this dead of winter, as we trudge through the woes of seasonal depression and a pandemic-borne mix of boredom and anxiety, what little we can do to brighten the mood––be it sparkly, heart-shaped, or frilled––is important.

Below, the best and brightest in neck-up accessories, which are sure to bring joy to your day (and that of those with whom you zoom).

Clip Art

Magnetic Midnight Arabesque woven hair slides, set of 2

$139MATCHESFASHION.COMShop Now

Joomi Lim crystal bow & pearl hair clip

$145GARMENTORYShop Now

Ashley Williams Merci crystal hair clip set

$115BROWNSShop Now

Art School Heart crystal-embellished hair slides

$167MATCHESFASHION.COMShop Now

Svnr Waikiki barrette

$175SVNRShop Now

Avenue the Label Christopher clips

$59$25AVENUE THE LABELShop Now

Heads Up

Prada silk-satin headband

$235MODA OPERANDIShop Now

Jennifer Behr Lorelei velvet headband

$298JENNIFER BEHRShop Now

Alice & Blair Sienna headband

$84GARMENTORYShop Now

Shrimps Quinn beaded headband

$260$208LUISA VIA ROMAShop Now

Simone Rocha crystal-embellished headband

$745$372MYTHERESAShop Now

Lele Sadoughi Candy jeweled knotted headband

$195MODA OPERANDIShop Now

All Ears

Brinker & Eliza Forever Young multi-stone hoops

$130MODA OPERANDIShop Now

Susan Alexandra Rainbow Drip imitation-pearl earrings

$115NORDSTROMShop Now

Alessandra Rich crystal bow clip-on earrings

$395LUISA VIA ROMAShop Now

Timeless Pearly 24kt-gold-plated earrings with pearls

$329MYTHERESAShop Now

Short & Suite Heart Drop gem earrings

$75SHORT & SUITEShop Now

Rosantica Comedy hoop earrings with imitation pearl

$212LUISA VIA ROMAShop Now

Just for Frills

Ganni laser denim collar

$155$78MODA OPERANDIShop Now

Loeffler Randall Eloise collar

$80LOEFFLER RANDALLShop Now

Kata Haratym Aurora collar

$124WOLF & BADGERShop Now

Terra Rossa Boutique Peter Pan collar

$80$48ETSYShop Now

Rixo Mary Lou Sangallo lace collar

$134ITALISTShop Now

La Veste gingham collar

$104LA VESTEShop Now

Brooch-ing the Subject

Erdem crystal knot brooch

$295MODA OPERANDIShop Now

Ben-Amun cameo gold pin

$195BERGDORF GOODMANShop Now

Gucci crystal-embellished grosgrain brooch

$450MYTHERESAShop Now

Kenneth Jay Lane antique crystal bow brooch

$190SAKS FIFTH AVENUEShop Now

Ben-Amun multi-stone cross brooch

$245NEIMAN MARCUSShop Now

Art School Lips crystal-embellished brooch

$161MATCHESFASHION.COMShop Now

This story originally appeared on: Vogue - Author:Madeline Swanson