Words by Eleanor Hibberd
Seismic shifts in the way we wear jewellery don’t happen all that often. While fashion trends can be mercurial from one season to the next, jewellery tends to evolve at a slower pace – slow, but significant when the dust settles. Such has been the case for the rise of statement costume jewellery, which has been quietly building momentum to become the defining aesthetic of 2026. This summer, jewellery was led by colourful beads, shell pendants and organic stones. And as we look ahead to Autumn/Winter 2026, fashion is well and truly returning to maximalism, and brands doubled down on the runways by accessorising looks up the eyeballs with trinkets and baubles.
At Chloé, heavy pendants accompanied bohemian frills and check prints. At Givenchy, sculptural earrings elevated sharp tailoring, embroidered silks and animal prints. At Celine, necklaces loaded with charms were layered over classic camel coats and leather trenches. Every season has its It-bags and must-have shoes, but for those really in the know, these are the accessories of the season.
From Schiaparelli’s surrealist motives to Alaïa’s architectural shapes, a great earring can really make an outfit. There’s a certain ’80s sensibility to this heavy hardware – it’s less about the modern-day ear stack of delicate diamonds and hoops, and more about leaning into one singular statement.
If oversized earrings are a hark back to the ’80s, statement necklaces feel like a more recent throwback to the late Noughties, when chunky beads and swinging pendants were the calling card of cool girls everywhere. Today, they have reclaimed their place in the zeitgeist, with Instagram feeds flooded by influencers in long corded necklaces with chic pebble pendants, and AW26 runways beckoning a season of chokers, charms and chains.
Thanks to the timelessness of Tiffany & Co’s Bone cuff, designed by Elsa Peretti in 1970, cuff-style bracelets never truly go out of style – but they’re certainly enjoying a more mainstream moment in 2026. Stack them up the arm and mix up your textures with metals, resins, enamels and even woods, or just wear one on each wrist (Grecian-style) to accent your summer dresses. Come autumn, no need to lose them to long sleeves – wearing them over the top of your shirts and knitwear will add texture and intention to your outfits.
A curated ring stack is a highly individual affair – and, as such, can be the mark of someone well-attuned to their own personal sense of style. Build on the pieces you wear day to day with some chunkier styles – a colourful stone, perhaps, an eye-catching cocktail ring or something a little more architectural in metal. Try thinking beyond gendered styles, if sizing allows – Egyptian-French brand FYR Jewelry, winner of an FTA Award and exclusive to Harrods, is a perfect example of genderless design.
More-is-more colour, embellishment and sparkle are trending – so why not extend the mood to your jewellery box? Here are five key gemstones to consider.
A shell necklace at the beach? Don’t mind if we do. From boho beads to tropical motifs, these are the jewellery trends you’ll want to be wearing all summer long.
