Some trends arrive on the catwalk; others start on a concert stage. The latest hair accessory to win over Gen Z is the humble star clip: a small, star-shaped hair slide in shiny metal, glitter or crystals. According to Vanity Fair Italia, part of the credit goes to the Italian singer Sarah Toscano, who has turned a cluster of little stars into her signature look.
From a stage symbol to a viral trend
Speaking to Vanity Fair Italia, her hairstylist Danilo Spacca explained how it happened. During her summer tour, a glowing LED star was Sarah Toscano’s emblem on stage and on her merchandise, so the team decided to carry the motif into her hair for one of her live shows. Soon afterwards, he says, the clips started appearing in fans’ hair at concerts, then on the street, and then all over Instagram and TikTok.
Cosmopolitan Italia has also picked up on the trend, describing her recent styling as a trio of differently coloured stars placed close together beside the parting or near the temples, worn on soft waves. The look taps into early-2000s nostalgia, when colourful mini slides, butterflies and tiny claw clips were part of every pop star’s hairstyle. Vanity Fair Italia points out that other names had already embraced the idea: Jisoo of BLACKPINK wore golden starfish-shaped slides on the front row at Dior, and Olivia Rodrigo has included star clips in her merchandise.
How to wear star clips
The appeal is that they need no special skill. Spacca says there are no fixed rules, because the clips come in so many shapes and finishes; creativity matters more than technique. A single star near the temple gives a minimal effect, two placed either side frame the face, and a small “constellation” scattered through the lengths is for the bold. They lift sleek straight hair, waves, ponytails and the half-up style alike.
For daytime, he suggests simpler, colourful designs; for the evening, crystal or glitter versions that catch the light. His one real rule is to go easy on other accessories when the stars are already the focus. That makes delicate pieces the natural partners: think fine earrings, perhaps sunny citrine earrings to echo gold stars, a slim pendant necklace or a light stack of bracelets. Keep the rest quiet and let your hair do the sparkling.
Sources: Vanity Fair Italia, “Danilo Spacca, hairstylist di Sarah Toscano e altre celeb” by Ilaria Perrotta (25 October 2026); Cosmopolitan Italia, “Le mollette per capelli a stella anni 2000 sono in trend sui social”; Times Now, “Star Clips Are The Latest Y2K Fashion Trend”. Featured image: AI-generated illustration.
