When it comes to fashion, the devil doesn’t just wear Prada: he also hides in the details. This forgotten symbol of prestige will take over every window in 2026, from clothing to accessories.
The devil is in the details… especially on the fashionista planet. Where ordinary people only see it as a trivial element, modders always make a big deal out of it. Small in size but the prerogative of the powerful of all times, from East to West, this ornamental element which enhances clothing and decorative objects will be on all the shelves this season. In our imagination, we often associate it with the heavy velvet curtains of palaces, since it decorates the tiebacks – these ties made from cords. Age-old, this clothing detail dates back to the time of Ancient Egypt. It was then placed on royal tombs, such as that of Tutankhamun, in the form of textile or jewelry, to prevent the mummy’s threads from fraying while being decorative. Gradually made from noble materials such as silk – a material as expensive as gold in the 14th and 15th centuries – it then became a true ostentatious sign of wealth. This little element which will invade all our clothes, our jewelry, our bags and even our shoes this year is none other than the “tassel”, called “pampille” in French.
Its symbolism varies significantly depending on the era and continent: the tassel is a symbol of protection under the Egypt of Tutankhamun; formalizes the rank and function of power during the Renaissance (it is found on royal insignia) and displays success and marks the transition to higher stages on academic, ecclesiastical or even military uniforms in the 18th century. On the jewelry side, the tassels embody ostentation: an imagination of opulence directly inherited from the necklace created by the high jewelers Charles Auguste Böhmer and Paul Bassenge – the Böhmers -, involved in the “Affair of the Queen’s Necklace” Marie-Antoinette. Indeed, the 2,842-carat jewel contains around a hundred pearls and 674 diamonds, with four pendants.
But whatever the spatio-temporal space, one meaning remains: that of prestige and ostentation. Taken up by the world of haute couture in the 20th century, the tassel brings a luxurious aura to the pieces it enhances. In 2026, the hippie fringes in a Boho chic style are swept aside by discreet tassels. They appear on long necklaces, earrings, bags, scarves, belts and even clothing.
In its Fall-Winter 2025 fashion show, the house Chloe flaunted tassels on discreet gold earrings and necklaces. Valentino played the maximalism card with maxi tassels which adorned the headwear of a silhouette in its Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2025 show.
If you don’t want to spend a cent but still want to sport this style, all you have to do is steal grandma’s curtain cords to make a belt that enhances your clothes. After all, fashion is all about hacking!
