7 Summer Accessory Trends Fashion People Are Wearing With Their Favourite Dresses

If you're a dress person, you probably love summer. You're likely thrilled that you can finally get away with wearing dresses as much as your heart desires without freezing. There are a million beautiful dresses out there to shop for, but I'm not here to talk about those. (Although, we have plenty of other stories filled with pretty dresses to buy.) What I'm here to discuss today are the items that take summer dresses to the next level—accessories. In my opinion, they're just as important as the dress itself.

Even though we're only halfway through spring, there are several summer accessory trends that have already emerged and are perfectly suited to be paired with dresses or anything else. I've never encountered a dress that didn't benefit from a few carefully chosen accessories, and these particular pieces are sure to be summer 2024's greatest hits. Keep scrolling to read all about them and shop them before June 20 hits.

1. Metal-Frame Sunglasses

Woman wearing a black dress outfit.

(Image credit: @annabelrosendahl)

Style Notes: Celine can be credited with starting the metal-frame-sunglasses trend after its pair went viral last summer. They're a great option for pairing with fancy dresses, as they, too, are kind of fancy.

Shop the Look:

2. Chunky Silver Jewellery

Woman wearing a pink dress.

(Image credit: @kitkeenan)

Style Notes: Silver jewellery has been back in style for a few seasons, but I predict that this summer, more than ever, silver jewellery could become just as popular as gold.

Shop the Look:

Style Notes: Given the Mary Jane frenzy of 2024, it should come as no surprise that you're going to see a lot of them paired with dresses this summer.

3. Mary Janes

Woman wearing a black dress with Mary Janes.

(Image credit: @slipintostyle)

Shop the Look:

4. Slouchy Bags

Woman wearing a red minidress.

(Image credit: @_jeanettemadsen_)

Style Notes: Slouchy bags are one of the biggest bag trends of the season, and they lend a relaxed, effortless look to a dress outfit.

Shop the Look:

5. Chain Belts

Woman wearing a long dress with belt.

(Image credit: @alyssainthecity)

Style Notes: Chain belts are an easy, chic way to dress up your dress. Throw one over a simple dress and you're suddenly ready for a night out.

Shop the Look:

6. Red Bags

Woman wearing a maxi dress with red bag.

(Image credit: @monikh)

Style Notes: I doubt you're surprised that a red accessory made this list. Red bags weirdly go with so many different colours of dresses, making them a great summertime investment.

Shop the Look:

7. Puffy Heart Necklaces

Woman wearing a red minidress with heels.

(Image credit: @tamaramory)

Style Notes: They're not not random, but puffy heart necklaces are popping up on the necks of the coolest girls. They're a "sweet without being too sweet" finishing touch to a dress outfit.

Shop the Look:

Explore More:
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. 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.