Roxanne Assoulin
The yr 2000 called, and it said that Y2K style is back. (Old news, but whatever.) It’s time to dig up all your parachute pants, maxi skirts, and temporary tattoos. Although there’s a nostalgic appeal to the Sidekicks, Nokias, and Razr phones of the past, we’ll happily hold on to our iPhones and Google Pixels as a substitute. Those little charms that we used to loop onto phones, alternatively? They’re back, and so they’ve taken on a more pragmatic form. Introducing: the phone strap, a whimsical, beaded concoction that provides lanyard functionality and trendy personalization.
You is likely to be conversant in the phone charm-centric Instagram account Hang on Bling, which rose to immense popularity in the course of the pandemic. Founder Alex Bass has since gone inactive on the account, but she gave ELLE the low-down on what makes these funky little accessories so great, saying the appeal lies in the way it marries self-expression and practicality. She also echoes the insurmountable wave of nostalgia, citing her love for the early aughts because the core of her brand, “The ethos behind the brand is absolutely bringing back that Y2K nostalgia everyone knows and love for all generations, and accessorizing our most used accessory—our phones! Each lanyard has its own backstory and was created with a lot of love and inspiration from the depths of my brain where all of my Y2K obsessions are stored.”
You might have already taken note of the trend and its stamp of approval from the likes of Kendall Jenner, Dua Lipa, and Addison Rae, so why not make your mirror selfies that much cuter with a strap of your individual (or multiple to coordinate with different outfits, as Bass suggests)? Ahead, the 26 coolest phone straps in the marketplace.
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Pearl, Please
Rainbow Brite
Crazy Eights
A lot of Love
Options Aplenty
Glad Days
Juicy Fruits
Pretty in Pink
Stellar Pastels
Sweet Hearts
High Vibrations
Beaded Beauty
Gems Galore
Evil Eye
Personalize It
Got Avocados?
Classically Cool
Written within the Stars
Sharp Style
A+ Accessory
Good 2 Gold
Dazzling Crystals
Candy Hearts
Stick-On
Practically Perfect
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