Summer can feel like one long sweat test, but your jewelry doesn’t have to suffer. This season, metal is staying in the spotlight, but it’s shedding the heavy, fussy vibes for breezy, easy shine. Think chunky silver chains layered with delicate gold strands, not because you’re trying to hit some influencer quota but because mixing metals finally feels natural instead of forced. Silver is swinging back hard, pairing well with sun-kissed skin and linen shirts that are basically living outside your body from June to September. It’s low-maintenance but never boring, reflecting just enough light to make you look alive on days you’re living off iced coffee and SPF.
Anklets are having their moment, too. Not the flimsy teen mall ones you ditched in 2009, but sturdy, chic links that make flip-flops and slides feel intentional. Toss one on, and suddenly your post-pool errands look like you’re heading somewhere fabulous, even if it’s just Trader Joe’s for frozen mango.
Statement Pieces Without The Try-Hard
Summer jewelry doesn’t need to yell to be seen, but sometimes you want that piece that speaks up for you so you don’t have to. Enter big hoop earrings, which have returned with zero apologies and maximum energy. These aren’t the thin, break-in-your-bag hoops that bend out of shape after one brunch. We’re seeing thicker, sculptural hoops in brushed gold or unexpected resin that frame your face in the best way, pulling your hair up into a claw clip moment you’ll actually feel cool wearing.
When you’re sweaty and minimal, hoops bring the party. Throw them on with a white tank and shorts, and you’ve got your look handled before your coffee’s finished brewing. The best part? They’re easy to throw in your bag, quick to pop on in the car, and somehow make even the laziest outfits feel complete.
Color That Doesn’t Scream Cheap
Summer jewelry often tries to drag us into neon bead territory, but you don’t have to sign up for preschool color palettes to wear something fun. Enamel and glass pieces in rich greens, deep cobalt, and burnt orange bring color that feels grounded, not childish. Think beaded necklaces that look curated, not like you lost a bet at a music festival.
If you’re cautious about color, try a single piece: a green glass pendant, a cobalt ring, a thin enamel bangle layered between your usual gold stack. It lets you dip into color without overcommitting, keeping your summer look bright but wearable, even if your summer plans involve actual work days instead of a constant vacation feed.
Pearls are sticking around, but they’re getting their hair down this season. Freshwater pearls mixed with chunky silver, irregular shapes, and offbeat designs keep them from looking like your grandma’s jewelry box. They layer well with metal chains and don’t feel precious, making them easy to pair with your daily t-shirts, sundresses, or swimsuits under a breezy button-down.
Rings That Steal The Show
Your hands are out more in the summer, between iced drinks, steering wheels, and the number of cold snacks you’re sneaking. It’s a good excuse to let your rings take center stage, especially when you keep your nails short and neat (or chipped and honest, which is fine too).
Stackable rings aren’t new, but people are styling them less like matching sets and more like little collections of personality. You can mix metals, add pops of enamel, or wear a single statement piece and call it a day. This is where cluster rings come in, giving you the stacked look without trying to match five different bands in your bathroom mirror while you’re already late. They’re bold, they’re eye-catching, and they make your iced latte hand shots look intentional in your stories.
Resin and glass rings are also making a quiet takeover, bringing in that pop of color without feeling costume-y. They’re lightweight, easy to wear at the beach, and won’t give you a heart attack if you misplace one in the sand.
Chains Are Staying, Just Smarter
Chains are the backbone of a summer jewelry collection, but this year they’re less about tiny, delicate strands you’re afraid to tug on and more about sturdy, sculptural links that feel substantial without weighing you down. Thicker gold or silver chains work as solo statements with open necklines or layered with longer, finer chains that catch the light when you move.
Body chains are sneaking back in for summer, layered over swimsuits or peeking from under cropped tanks. They don’t have to be club-wear only; a subtle body chain under a loose button-down on a beach day looks confident and quietly cool.
Don’t sleep on waist chains, either. They work well with high-waisted shorts and bikinis, adding just enough sparkle without feeling like you’re trying to relive the early 2000s in the worst way. A simple gold or silver waist chain can make a linen set feel styled without adding actual heat to your day.
Parting Sparkle
Jewelry is one of the easiest ways to feel like you’ve put in effort when you haven’t. Summer is about living with less, sweating a little, and letting your style match the energy. A good pair of hoops, a sturdy chain, and a bold ring can carry you through coffee runs, work calls, beach days, and late-night walks without needing a full closet overhaul.
Let your jewelry work with your summer, not against it. Pieces should move with you, feel easy, and add to the stories you’ll collect over the next few months, even if most of those stories happen on your back porch with your feet in a kiddie pool.

Lynn Martelli is an editor at Readability. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University and has worked as an editor for over 10 years. Lynn has edited a wide variety of books, including fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, and more. In her free time, Lynn enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family and friends.