5 Elevated Summer Accessories Everyone Who Wants to Look Stylish Should Own

Shop the highly versatile finds that are well worth the initial investment.

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Influencers wearing summer 2026 accessory trends
(Image credit: @cassdimicco; @nlmarilyn)
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Aside from sun protection, the main objective when choosing summer accessories is to enhance your outfit. The warm weather and lack of layers that come along with it allow for more fun and freedom when choosing your accessories. There may not be many parameters when shopping for summer accessories, but something I always avoid is ones that lean tacky. Good news: The five summer accessory trends I'm highlighting below are anything but. In fact, they do the opposite of cheapening your outfits—they elevate them in one fell swoop.

Why just five accessories, you ask? Well, these are big ones, and among them all, they cover pretty much every category: a bag, a sandal, a jewelry piece, a sunglasses style, and headgear. Something else to note about these accessories is that I have a strong feeling that they'll be sticking around for future summers, so they'll be smart, worthy wardrobe investments if you choose to make them. Scroll on to find out why they're so very useful and to shop my favorite options from each category.

Logo-Less Raffia Tote

Raffia totes are nothing new, and that's part of the reason they're such a smart purchase. This summer, in particular, the fashion crowd is gravitating toward classic logo-less totes.

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Influencer wearing summer 2026's raffia tote trend

(Image credit: @nlmarilyn)

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Wraparound Sunglasses

You probably know by now that the coolest sunglasses to wear right now have a futuristic wraparound shape. They're so chic that they elevate literally any outfit they're paired with, so they're basically magic.

Influencer wearing summer 2026's wraparound sunglasses trend

(Image credit: @cassdimicco)

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Leather Flip-Flops

All flip-flops are trending right now, but this most elegant, outfit-upgrading pair you can wear are leather ones—hands down.

Influencer wearing summer 2026's

(Image credit: @monikh)

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Pendant Necklaces

Pendant necklaces are back, and it's bold, summary shapes on a long cord that the chicest dressers are embracing. They look especially chic paired with simple summer clothing.

Influencer wearing summer 2026's pendant necklace trend

(Image credit: @anoukyve)

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Silk Head Scarves

Baseball caps and raffia bucket hats are lovely headwear options, but the most 2026 accessory to wear on your head is a silky scarf. It pairs perfectly with a bikini, among other things.

Influencer wearing summer 2026's

(Image credit: @cocoschiffer)

Shop the Elevated Accessory

Allyson Payer
Allyson Payer
Senior Editor

Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater arts. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.