Basically Everything Fashion People Want Right Now Is Beaded, and These Are Their Favorites

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Courtney Grow and Yusra Siddiqui wearing beaded fashion items.
(Image credit: @courtneygrow; @thatgirlyusra)
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There’s more to beads than bracelets and earrings. This season, the best beaded fashion items are coming from the apparel, footwear, and handbag departments, and shimmer with crystal droplets, tiny pearls, and candy-colored paillettes. This isn’t the first time beaded fashion has entered the style conversation, but unlike past cycles, the trend today doesn’t feel costumey or tacky. Instead, it’s elevated, playful, with just the right amount of festive energy for the holiday party season, as well as dinners, date nights, and cocktails beyond New Year's Eve.

@courtneygrow wearing a Doen beaded mini dress with tights.

(Image credit: @courtneygrow)

Beaded dresses make the biggest statement, whether you’re opting for a formfitting body-con silhouette with allover embellishment or a flowy boho slip with scattered beadwork. If you’re more of a mix-and-match dresser, beaded skirts are having a moment, too: mini lengths with fringe for nighttime drama or midi styles with tonal beads that feel subtle with a white tee and boots.

Thora Valdimars in long-sleeve black shirt and blue midi skirt adorned with floral bead embellishments.

(Image credit: @thora_valdimars)

On top, beaded tops range from delicate, barely there sparkle on a tank or button-down (great layered under a blazer) to a full-on sequin going-out top. Even beaded pants are popping on retailer shelves, from sheer trousers to jeans dotted with micro-beadwork.

Yoyo Cao wearing a black beaded waistcoat over a white puff-sleeve blouse and a black miniskirt.

(Image credit: @yoyokulala)

If a decked-out dress or skirt is too much for your closet, beaded bags are an easy entry point into the trend: handheld box clutches covered in glass beads, shoulder bags with cheeky motifs, or sleek drawstring pouches finished with a cascade of fringe. Beaded shoes (whether loafers, slides, or strappy sandals) can also add personality and shine without overpowering your outfit.

@thatgirlyusra wearing a green top, white pants, and a beaded Staud bag.

(Image credit: @thatgirlyusra)

The trick to styling the look is to maintain balance: Pick one statement piece, keep everything else minimal, and let the texture do the talking. Beads add sparkle and movement, whether you’re wearing them for a night out or making an ordinary Tuesday more exciting. Ahead, the best beaded fashion items to shop now.

Shop the Best Beaded Fashion Items