What’s an outfit without the right accessories? Especially now, as fashion is back in its maximalist era, no curation is ever too much and no stack is high enough. These pieces are what pull a linen blazer and pleated skirt together, what draws attention to a crochet dress, and what elevates a cotton top and palazzo pants, the quintessential summer uniform. Last year, summer accessories fell into categories of oversized jewellery, statement brooches, and fish motifs. While we can still find outfits sporting their remnants, here are the latest trends on our radar.
Tassel Scarves
It has already been noted that tassel everything is defining this season. With tassel scarves, it is a natural evolution of the scarf belt trend, incorporating the fringe detail—replacing the lace—as a point of interest. Leading the charge is bohemian minimalist house MAISON MAGDALENA, whose Brisa scarf kickstarted the craving for a tasselled scarf. However, there is no shortage of brands with silk, beaded, and print iterations to choose from.
Bucket Bags
For the past year or so, the Chanel 25 bag and the Hermes Picotin have been steadily on the rise. And with them has come the trend of bucket bags. Sitting on the more functional side compared to micro bag trends of the past, these bags can range from ornamental for occasions to soft and slouchy for everyday ease.
Mahjong Necklace
The fascination with Chinese culture has become a mainstream moment, and that includes enjoying the centuries-old game of mahjong. So naturally, searches for the term ‘mahjong necklace’ have spiked, resulting in a breakout search over the last month, according to Google Trends. The necklace is simply a mahjong tile as a pendant, making for a sweet way to show appreciation for the game.
Crochet Bags
Crochet bags are synonymous with summer dressing, just like materials raffia and linen. The open-air weave makes it perfect for trips to the beach, while the bags themselves are usually easy to find, from luxury houses to local artisans. And if you have a skilled pair of hands, creating a crochet bag can be an easy, downtime hobby, with the finished product carrying you through every summer.
Statement Earrings
Ever since Bottega Veneta released their Drop earrings, the fashion-forward have been in a frenzy for similar statement earrings, raising the bar higher and higher every year. For their SS26 collection, Saint Laurent released a myriad of gigantic earrings, adorned with stones, while motifs like tropical flowers, shells, and other sculptural shapes continue to appear on people’s ears this summer.
T-bar Necklace
We can thank Andy Sachs from The Devil Wears Prada 2 for this trending item because it was this character who was seen with the necklace all throughout the film. The look that especially went viral was the FORME Diamond Toggle Necklace by Jemma Wynne, layered with a string of pearls. Now that style has been named after the character, cementing its influence. While the necklace style itself has been a classic for many, seen on the likes of Taylor Swift, Ellie Goulding, and more.
Flat Top Sunglasses
Living in the Gulf means that sunglasses are a permanent fixture on our faces. So with that in mind, the right sunglasses bring with them an extra sense of purpose. And when it comes to trending styles, flat top sunglasses are currently on top. With their angular edge, this style can be quite versatile, adding definition to those with softer facial features and balance to those with sharper features. If these were actually stuck to our faces, we wouldn’t be complaining.
Crochet Bucket Hats
Last year, headwear in the summer seemed to exclusively be headscarves. Now the tide has shifted to crochet bucket hats. Once again, the open weave is perfect for the summer, allowing for air to pass through and keep the head cool. There has also been a blend of the current trend with last year’s version, showing off crochet head scarves that offer a colour-block moment.
