While we may have been adding a lot of personal touches to our belongings in our playschool days (swirly signatures on our ripped up notebooks, alphabet stickers everywhere, even our toothbrushes were engraved), we said goodbye to all that years ago, because, well, there was something about a monogram that felt a little too old fashioned for our tastes (and clashed with our letterman jackets, one was acceptable, but two?). But let’s fast forward to this past season, which has seen the monogram rise in prominence like never before. And perhaps it’s the currency of Céline’s clean lines or the graphic pattern-play at Louis Vuitton that’s got everyone thinking about making a simple yet graphic statement. And what better way than with our own initials (three of course, anything less would be unheard of, right fashion editors? M.M.B, A.L.T, T.T.H., L.S.D. et al.). Lucky for us everyone wants to monogram the s#*t out of everything too. And herein lies the beauty of the monogram: even though you may see them all around town –somehow it still feels like you’re the only one. 

Case in point, peep Simon Doonan’s Goyard messenger bag, those letters couldn’t belong to anyone else and the simplicity of Wes Gordon’s Smythson Passport Holders holds true to his sharp personal style and simple Southern sensibility. And while Goyard, Smythson, Leiber and Louis (Vuitton, duh!) are all staples on the monogram circuit (in fact, they practically invented it), a new guard is shaking up the way we think about our signatures.

This first arrived in the form of two bright pouchettes by Rebecca Minkoff that we got over the holidays –is it possible to love our own initials too much? We say no. Oh, and Clare Vivier’s (#comingsoontoacoveteurnearyou) Striped Flat Clutch, which we discovered in Sophia Bush’s closet, felt fresh with simple block “S” and “B” letters. We like to keep things on the delicate side with the help of Sarah Chloe’s signet rings (have you heard, we’re in the “mood” for skinny rings right now.) And Jennifer Fisher’s Gothic Letter Cigar ring is a far cry from your grandmother’s silver nameplates (sorry grandma, we know you meant well!).

There’s nothing like the personalization of a prized possession; besides, once it’s got your name on it, it’s practically impossible for anyone to steal it. (Are we right or are we right?) And while you still may be thinking a monogram is a monogram is a monogram – and it is – unless it has your initials on it.