1 week Ago By Zoe Suen
It’s been spotted on the runways of Bode, Fforme, Kallmeyer and Heirlome, in Chanel boutiques, and swinging from A-listers’ ear lobes and necks – see Dakota Johnson – and shoes Fans of Leandra Medine, the OG blogger-turned-Substack-writer known for her zany personal style, may have noticed the New Yorker’s recent penchant for a particular accessory: a long diaphragm-length necklace suspending an operatic tassel, sandwiched by tonal onyx beads. That alone wouldn’t be much to write home about, but not only does Medine own several such tassel necklaces from Milan-based label, Le Sundial, seemingly so does every other well-heeled woman worth following on Instagram. The designer responsible is Silvia Dusci, a former buyer and creative consultant who started designing jewellery just two years ago before quickly finding an avid, dedicated audience of customers craving timeless yet theatrical accessories.
All of her pieces are made in Milan by small producers, meaning everything only exists in small quantities. {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Dakota Johnson at the 2024 Tribeca Festival in New York, last June.
Photo: Getty Images","url":"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2025/04/02/a65aabbf-3b38-49b7-b6e1-a6dcebbe57c6_6ab366ca.
jpg"} Dakota Johnson at the 2024 Tribeca Festival in New York, last June. Photo: Getty Images Advertisement “It’s amazing – I didn’t expect this at all when I started spending time on jewellery,” says Dusci, who worked a full-time job during Le Sundial’s early days. “I think it shows the need for classic but versatile pieces that can be worn effortlessly, but make a simple outfit feel so much more put together.
” While coming up with Le Sundial’s brand identity, Dusci made a mood board of inspirations – on it, among other images, was the tassel, hinting at the brand’s latest hit. Indeed, it now sells several versions of the necklace alongside tassel earrings and a hand-braided tassel belt. According to Dusci, the motif encapsulates her goal to run a label not shaped by the fashion trend cycle, but more rooted in enduring principles of art and design.
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Chanel Première sautoir-belt watch. Photo: Handout","url":"https://img.
i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2025/04/02/aa89c05b-638d-4a18-9b31-cc35a2138feb_5cf7ad54.jpg"} Chanel Première sautoir-belt watch.
Photo: Handout For better or worse, tassels are in vogue – so much so that once you notice them, you’ll see them everywhere. On the belted front, you’ll spy them at New York Fashion Week on the runways of Bode, Fforme, Kallmeyer and Heirlome, and in Chanel boutiques attached to the luxury house’s tech-chic Première sautoir-belt watch. You’ll notice them swinging from models’ ears at Chloé spring 2025, Alessandro Michele’s Valentino haute couture debut, and in jeweller Sophie Buhai’s latest collection, beaded with carnelian stones.
You’ll even see tassels hanging from bags (Lanvin autumn 2025 and cool-girl label Marlies Grace) and loafers ( The Row, as seen on Hailey Bieber ). While this resurgence may be recent, tassels are anything but. According to Dr Serena Dyer, associate professor of fashion history at De Montfort University, tassels have adorned clothes for centuries.
“Originally, their use was often practical, as they offered a useful way of ending ties, which were a key way in which garments were fastened before the invention of Velcro and zips,” she tells Style. {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Chloé spring 2025.
Photo: Handout","url":"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2025/04/02/1e417966-c64c-4942-bbb1-c01eda841dd6_41c2e6fd.
jpg"} Chloé spring 2025. Photo: Handout Indeed, tassels have been dated back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, when they were worn as protection from evil spirits and were buried with pharaohs. In ancient China, knotted tassel ornaments crafted out of silk and cotton were passed down through generations, and symbolised prosperity, love and protection, depending on their intricate designs.
They were even attached to Chinese weapons, like swords and spears; beyond decoration, some historians say tassels were used to distract opponents and even help with balancing the weapon..
