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If the heat wave that tore through the country last week proved anything, it’s that portable fans just might be summer 2025’s hottest accessory and handbag must-have.

As WWD Shop’s editors engaged in our 9-5 and 5-9 activities in NYC last week, we noticed many of our fellow heat-avoiders using battery-operated, plastic fans to try to keep cool. But if you’re looking for a chic, more dramatic and aesthetically-pleasing way to beat the heat, may we suggest the original handheld fans that are having a fashion moment right now? TikTok’s recently been popping off with hundreds of videos in which content creators show off their chic fans in pastels, bedecked by whimsical keychains and charms, or those with an uncanny resemblance to cutesy animals. And both fashion and beauty brands are getting in on the trend this summer with their own stylish takes on handheld fans — from raffia to foldable wooden and paper designs.

Hand fans of the non-automatic variety are having a renaissance of sorts, but the origin of these hot-day essentials can be traced back to 4,000 years ago in ancient Egypt, where they were not only used for religious ceremonies but considered a symbol of power — to the point of being found in King Tut’s tomb. At that time, the fans were nothing short of elaborate (think ostrich feathers, golden handles, and precious stone overlays).

Folding fans, however, are believed to have originated in Japan but were later absorbed by Europe’s high society: seen in portraits of Catherine de’ Medici and other noblewomen across the continent. Notably, Louis XIV loved to commission hand fans, seeking to keep their production internal to France, and they soon became carte blanches for the prevailing art styles of the day — bearing Rococo illustrations, scenes from classical Greek mythology and the Bible, as well as depictions of monuments that inspired pride. According to the Swiss National Museum, some fans also “incorporated short poems, charades, conversational games, or rebus puzzles with which the ladies could occupy themselves when bored.”

If the first image of foldable hand fans that comes to your mind is something straight out of “Bridgerton,” know that the TV show accurately depicted their prevalence in Regency-era England, where aristocratic women used them as a coquettish flirting tool during social interactions. And while in this day and age you’re unlikely to make eyes with someone across the subway fluttering their hand fan to signify their interest in you, these manual handheld fans still have a firm foothold in the cultural zeitgeist.

Decades ago, the late Karl Lagerfeld could frequently be spotted with a fan in hand as he greeted paparazzi and attended high-profile events, to the point of it becoming his sartorial signature. Audrey Hepburn also clutched a handheld fan in “War and Peace,” and the item was more recently found in the hands of A-listers from Taylor Swift to Beyoncé, usually meticulously coordinated with their OOTDs. All in all, it’s safe to say the allure of this age-old way of preventing your glam from melting has not been lost on the current generation.

Nowadays, the market is replete with accordion-style fans: confirming that, while their spinning counterparts might unburden your wrist, nothing ever beats the dramatic flair. Luxury fashion houses have released their own iterations, including Dior’s toile-printed one, Gucci’s vintage-inspired take complete with a black tassel, and Loewe’s beach-ready palm and wood creation. But for the budget-conscious, there are a plethora of stylish portable fans that will keep you cool and add some dramatic flair to your summer ensembles.

Below, the chicest handheld fans we recommend shopping, because summertime comfort shouldn’t come at the cost of your meticulously curated outfit.

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Meet the Author

Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on the hot-right-now accessories worth shoppers’ time.