12 Eclectic, Heirloom-Inspired Pieces That We’re Coveting This Season

In recent seasons, anti-algorithmic dressing and visible handwork have come to feel pointedly modern. Removed from the influence of digital algorithms and the relentless churn of mass-produced sameness, there is something elusive, even aspirational, about wearing a garment that bears the unmistakable evidence of time. The evidence of a human hand, whether in individually stitched beads, intricate appliqué or tactile trims, lends clothing a certain allure.

Was it unearthed from the depths of an op shop brimming with vintage treasures? Perhaps it was custom-made, or better yet, a remarkable find in your grandmother’s wardrobe. This season, a curious marriage of eclectic minimalism and antique dressing has taken hold.

The trend is loosely defined, if it can even be called a trend at all, encompassing garments that feel singular, beautifully made and imbued with unexpected flourishes, paired with neutral staples. Embroidery, faux fur, feather trims and sumptuous textures are among its defining hallmarks, while pieces that might once have appeared decidedly old-fashioned suddenly feel ripe for rediscovery.

Fashion has always been cyclical, after all, and the sight of an elaborate opera coat today is just as likely to suggest a contemporary creation as a relic resurrected from decades past.

Perhaps the clearest indication of the aesthetic’s growing appeal came via Kendall Jenner when she wore an extraordinary robe coat from Conner Ives’ Fall 2026 runway collection, crafted from a lustrous silk-satin base and finished with repurposed vintage fur along the collar and cuffs.

Its most remarkable feature, however, was the intricate tapestry work. Resurrected from a collection of large, hand-embroidered silk tapestries dating back to China’s Qing Dynasty, individual motifs were painstakingly cut from their original silk grounds and hand-appliquéd onto the coat’s silk crepe satin base.

Ives himself described the process as “a mind-numbing amount of work”, and with a price tag of £7,950, or approximately $15,000 AUD, it is hardly an indulgence within reach of us mere mortals. Still, the coat spoke to a growing appetite for garments bursting with personality, detail and craftsmanship. Hailey Bieber similarly embraced the aesthetic in October, stepping out in a cherry-blossom iteration of a Conner Ives coat.

Elsewhere, tailored cummerbunds, fringed scarves and practically anything adorned with floral motifs, crafted from lustrous silk or satin, embellished with intricate beading or finished with playful tassels, fits the bill. The common thread seems to be an appreciation for clothing that looks as though it has a story to tell.

With that in mind, I’ve rounded up 12 pieces that look as though they’ve been treasured for generations (and will be for generations to come).