The Most Iconic Accessories of All Time

The perfect accessory makes an outfit, whether it be show-stopping jewelry, signature sunglasses, or statement shoes. While some accessories are saved for special occasions, others can become the piece you're never seen without. For celebrities, a trademark accessory has the power to become a part of their famous personas, and even a part of their legacies. From Coco Chanel's pearls to Carrie Bradshaw's Manolos, we take a look at some of the most iconic accessories over time.

Audrey Hepburn was known for her classic style, and a key part of her look was a pair of simple ballet flats. A trained dancer, Hepburn never failed to sport her go-to black shoes onscreen and off.

Forget the diamonds. Marilyn Monroe was the epitome of Old Hollywood glamour with her white fur shawl atop a silky evening gown.

Coco Chanel will forever be the master of timeless style. Rarely seen without a long strings of pearls draped around her neck, the accessory became a symbol for her ladylike poise.

One of the chicest First Ladies to date, Jackie Kennedy never failed to match one of her skirt suit sets to a pillbox hat.

While Princess Diana wore many tiaras, the Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara was one of her favorites. Inherited from the Queen after she married Prince Charles. Diana topped her gowns off with the pearl and diamond stunner on many occasions. Today, the Duchess of Cambridge has been known to borrow it from the Queen for special occasions.

Bows are making a comeback and have even been spotted on royals, but if there's anyone to credit the hair accessory to, it's French siren Brigitte Bardot.

Lauren Bacall's smoking habit was often incorporated into her movie roles—of course, this was before people knew of the related dangers. Off-screen the actress's cigarette was never far from her hand and even used as an accessory, as seen here.

Hollywood actress turned Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly loved to keep her silky blonde hair pulled back with a polished headband.

Notorious for her love of megawatt jewelry, Elizabeth Taylor's collection of diamonds, rubies, and more sold at a Christie's auction for a whopping total of $116 million, according to Business Insider. One of her most famous sets of jewelry was this suite of Bulgari diamond and emerald pieces, a gift from Richard Burton.

The King of Pop first debuted a single white glove onstage in 1983, and it became a symbol that we will forever remember him by.

In the role that would earn her an Oscar nomination, Julia Roberts played prostitute Vivian in Pretty Woman. While her fashion transformation in the film is forever memorable, her thigh-high black leather boots became one of the most iconic accessories of all time.

Taking the '70s by storm, Jackie O was frequently seen wearing oversized sunglasses that were the perfect touch to her sleek style.

Taking royal fashion to new heights, Princess Diana loved to sport a pearl choker with many of her looks. This layered one featuring a blue and diamond stone was one of her favorites.

When Mr. T appeared in The A-Team in the early '80s, the wrestler was rarely seen without a myriad of gold chains around his neck. It didn't take long for the look to become his signature.

Since Cher's abs can't be an accessory of their own, we'll have to settle for her feathered headpieces. The star rocked them from the stage to the red carpet, and even wore a black sparkly one at the 1986 Oscars.

Jack Nicholson began wearing tinted lenses—ranging from orange to pink—in the '70s and they're now heavily engrained into his look. Over the years, the frame design has changed, but his specs are nearly always tinted.

Tupac's music will live on forever as will his go-to bandana, which the rapper frequently wore in an array of different colors.

Paul Newman wore his Rolex Daytona watch so often that it soon became known as the "Paul Newman." The actor was given his beloved wrist wear as a gift from his wife, Joanne Woodward, which makes it even sweeter.

The Beatles member was rarely seen without his small circular specs.

The late fashion designer always added a pair of motorcycle gloves to his look, whether they were studded or bejeweled.

Who needs a purse when you have your vino? The singer and Fenty mogul has been seen on multiple occasions stepping out with a wine glass. Frankly, this is an accessory we can get behind.

Through her fight in the Supreme Court for women's rights and equality, Ruth Bader Ginsburg's statement collars gained their own share of praise. Banana Republic even recently reissued one.

Supermodel BFFs Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell had so many iconic looks in the '90s, but we'll never forget when Campbell stepped out in these bright blue platform boots by Vivienne Westwood.

No matter where he goes, Pharell is rarely without his sky-high hat. The musician first sported the Vivienne Westwood topper at the 2014 Grammys, and now has a whole collection in different colors. The hat even has a parody Twitter account.

The pop star never fails to slay in a belly-baring look, and has had a belly button ring since as far back as we can remember. From dangly jewels to simple studs, only Britney could make us love this accessory so much.

On the rise of fame, Lady Gaga debuted her song, Bad Romance, at Alexander McQueen's Spring/Summer show in 2010. Models walked the runway in fantastical, 12-inch Armadillo shoes that left a lasting impression on the fashion industry. Gaga later wore the shoes in the Bad Romance music video, as well as on a slew of red carpets. They were the perfect accessory to her avant-garde style.

Elton John never shies away from a bold look, especially when it involves his glasses. From rose tinted shades to ones with full-on bedazzling, the singer's favorite accessory always steals the show.

The style on Gossip Girl was a true moment in TV fashion history. The one accessory that never failed to return, season after season? Blair Waldorf's headbands. From thick ones paired with printed tights, to extravagant ones that looked more like a fascinator, the Queen bee of the Upper East Side became notorious for the hair accessory.

The actor loves to go incognito, and the newsboy cap seems to be his go-to choice for trying to remain unrecognized.

In an unforgettable red carpet moment, Lil' Kim arrived to the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards wearing a mermaid-inspired jumpsuit, complete with a sequin shell pasty. The boob-baring accessory went down in history, and Miley Cyrus even recreated the look for Halloween.

It all started with a basketball injury. Back in the early 2000s, rapper Nelly appeared in concert and on the red carpet with a Band-Aid on his cheek. Once his injury healed, he reportedly kept the bandage in honor of ex St. Lunatic Lavell Webb (a.k.a. City Spud), who was serving a 10-year sentence for robbery, but Nelly believed was innocent.

Fashion icon Iris Apfel is known for her bold style, full of bright colors, loads of jewelry, and plenty of prints. But the one accessory that's become her trademark? Those oversized, black-rimmed glasses.

Actor Samuel L. Jackson is rarely seen without his trusty Kangol hat, no matter the occasion. He even partnered with the brand on his own line. From talk show appearances to red carpet photo ops, the hat has become a key part of the actor's style. We can only imagine how many he actually owns.

Kayne West helped make shutter shades trendy after wearing them in concert and at award shows. The aviator-type glasses soon became part of his go-to look in the mid-2000s.

When Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton in 2010, the world was delighted to see that he passed on Princess Diana's sapphire and diamond engagement ring. The Duchess has since made the iconic ring her own and wears it without fail—whether she's dressed formally or casually.

Michael Jordan has been rocking a single gold hoop earring since the '90s. Although Jordan may have ditched the baggy suits that he originally paired with his ear accessory, this piece of jewelry is still dangling from the retired NBA player's lobe.

For years the singer Sia never let fans see her face, concealing her identity under a two-toned wig that came down past her nose. Why? "If anyone besides famous people knew what it was like to be a famous person, they would never want to be famous," she wrote for Billboard in 2013. Fair enough.

Harry Styles has voiced his thoughts on gender-nonconforming dressing in the past, and one of his favorite accessories is a beaded pearl necklace. The singer has effortlessly styled the strand with everything from V-neck t-shirts to sweaters and blazers.

When Queen Elizabeth is off-duty, she trades in her tiaras for silk headscarves. The monarch has a large array of colorfully printed scarves, and she almost always pairs them with a khaki or green army jacket.

No matter where he is, you can bet that Enrique Iglesias will be wearing a baseball hat. No word on whether the singer is hiding a receding hairline yet, but the trend suits him well.

Miley Cyrus's foam finger from the 2013 VMAs reached icon status for all of the wrong reasons. The accessory was a part of the singer's risqué dance with Robin Thicke which...let's just say will live on in infamy.

It was a historic moment when Prince Harry announced his engagement to Meghan Markle in 2017. The former actress would be the first American, divorced, and bi-racial woman to marry into the British royal family. The shoes she wore for the announcement—nude Aquazzura Matilde pumps—soon became historic in their own right, due to their accessible pricing and modern design.

When Bruno Mars entered the scene, his melodic songs and retro style was part of his widespread appeal. The singer channeled old-fashioned crooners, sporting fedoras at almost every single event. Now we can't look at a fedora without thinking of Mars.