The Complete Guide to Summer Accessories 2026
Everything you need to know about summer 2026 accessories — from straw hats and raffia bags to statement sunglasses, anklets, wedge sandals, and slides. Practical styling advice for every piece.
By TRY Editorial Team · Published 2026-06-09
Summer accessories do more than finish an outfit — they define it. The right hat, bag, or sandal can take a simple linen dress from basic to editorial. This guide breaks down the six essential summer accessory categories for 2026, with practical advice on how to choose, style, and care for each one.
Straw Hats: The Non-Negotiable Summer Staple
A straw hat is the single most versatile summer accessory you can own. It serves a dual purpose — UV protection and instant style elevation — which makes it one of the rare accessories that are both practical and decorative. In 2026, the trend leans toward wider brims and natural, undyed straw, but the classic fedora-brim and bucket-style options remain strong. The key to making a straw hat work with multiple outfits is choosing a neutral tone (natural, tan, or ecru) and a brim width that suits your face shape.
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Wide-brim straw hats (4+ inches) offer the most sun protection and pair best with flowy silhouettes — maxi dresses, linen pants, and kaftans.
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Fedora-brim straw hats (2-3 inches) are more structured and urban, working equally well with tailored shorts, a tucked tee, and flat sandals.
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Bucket-style straw hats are the most casual option, ideal for beach days and farmers' markets. They pack flat, which makes them travel-friendly.
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Avoid hats with overly decorative bands or embellishments if you want maximum outfit versatility — a simple grosgrain ribbon or no trim at all pairs with everything.
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Store straw hats stuffed with tissue paper to maintain their shape between seasons.
Raffia Bags: Texture That Elevates Everything
Raffia bags have moved well beyond the beach. In 2026, designers are treating raffia as a year-round material, but it remains at its strongest in summer — the natural texture reads as intentional and relaxed without trying too hard. The best raffia bags function as a neutral: their warm, tactile surface pairs with cotton, linen, silk, and denim equally well. Think of a raffia bag as your summer equivalent of a leather tote — it goes with everything but adds visual warmth that leather lacks in hot weather.
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Tote-style raffia bags are the most practical for daily use — look for ones with a flat base and interior pocket so they function as actual carry-alls, not just props.
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Structured raffia clutches and crossbodies are the dressier option, appropriate for summer dinners, rooftop bars, and outdoor weddings.
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Round raffia bags (the circle crossbody style) remain popular but are a more specific aesthetic — they work best with bohemian and vintage-inspired outfits.
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Color-blocked raffia bags (natural straw with a leather trim or contrasting handle) bridge casual and polished contexts effectively.
Anklets and Body Jewelry: The Subtle Trend of 2026
Anklets are having their strongest moment since the late 1990s, but the 2026 version is more refined. Thin chain anklets in gold or silver are the default — delicate enough to wear daily without feeling costume-y. The key to modern anklet styling is restraint: one simple chain on one ankle, visible with cropped pants, sandals, or bare feet. Layered anklet sets exist but trend younger; a single fine chain reads as more intentional and grown-up.
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Gold-tone anklets pair naturally with warm-toned summer wardrobes — think terracotta, olive, cream, and tan.
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Silver-tone anklets suit cooler summer palettes — white, navy, lavender, powder blue.
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Anklets are most visible with open footwear (sandals, slides, mules) and cropped or rolled hems. With sneakers or closed-toe shoes, they disappear — plan your outfit accordingly.
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Avoid chunky or heavily charmed anklets for everyday wear. The current aesthetic favors a barely-there chain that catches the light rather than dominates the ankle.
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If you're new to anklets, start with an adjustable chain that sits at the narrowest part of the ankle bone — this is the most flattering placement on every leg shape.
Statement Sunglasses: Function Meets Fashion
Sunglasses are the one accessory that transforms your face — and therefore your entire outfit — in a single move. In summer 2026, the trend favors two ends of the spectrum: oversized acetate frames in rich colors (amber, deep green, burgundy) and slim geometric shapes that reference late-90s minimalism. The middle ground of generic aviators and wayfarers still works but reads as safe rather than stylish. The trick is choosing a frame shape that contrasts your face shape: round faces benefit from angular frames, and angular faces benefit from rounded or oval frames.
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Oversized acetate frames in tortoiseshell, amber, or olive green are the most versatile statement option — they dress up and down easily.
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Slim rectangular or cat-eye frames work best with polished, minimalist outfits where the sunglasses are the focal accessory.
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For maximum outfit range, own two pairs: one oversized neutral (tortoiseshell, black, or brown) for everyday and one colored or geometric pair for personality moments.
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Polarized lenses aren't just about comfort — they reduce squinting, which means fewer wrinkles and a more relaxed facial expression in photos.
Wedge Sandals and Slides: Summer Footwear That Works
Summer footwear needs to balance two competing demands: comfort for walking and enough polish to look intentional. Wedge sandals and slides each solve this equation differently. Wedges add height and leg-lengthening without the instability of stilettos — the continuous sole distributes weight evenly, making them walkable on cobblestones, grass, and uneven surfaces. Slides (backless, slip-on sandals) prioritize ease and airflow, making them ideal for hot days when anything strappy feels like too much. Both belong in a summer wardrobe; the question is which situations call for which.
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Espadrille wedges (jute-wrapped platform) are the quintessential summer dressy shoe — they pair with midi dresses, linen pants, and wide-leg trousers for a polished warm-weather look.
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Leather slides with a molded footbed (think Birkenstock-adjacent but dressier) bridge casual and smart-casual. Pair with tailored shorts or cropped chinos and they look intentional, not lazy.
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Platform slides add height without heels — useful for petite frames or anyone who wants the leg-lengthening effect of a wedge in a more casual silhouette.
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For vacation packing, one pair of wedge sandals and one pair of slides covers beach-to-dinner and everything in between.
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Neutral tones (tan, cognac, black, white) maximize pairing options. A colored or metallic slide can serve as a statement piece if the rest of your outfit is simple.
Building a Summer Accessories Capsule
The most efficient approach to summer accessories is a capsule: a small, coordinated set that mixes and matches across your wardrobe. Rather than accumulating accessories randomly, choose pieces within one or two metal tones (gold or silver), one or two bag textures (raffia and leather, for example), and a footwear pair that covers casual and dressy. This capsule approach means every accessory works with every outfit — no orphan pieces gathering dust. Use TRY to photograph different accessory combinations with your existing clothes and you'll quickly see which pieces earn their place and which are redundant.
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Start with a straw hat, a raffia tote, one pair of slides, and one pair of wedge sandals — these four pieces cover 90% of summer accessory needs.
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Add a delicate anklet or bracelet in your preferred metal tone for a finishing layer.
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Choose one pair of statement sunglasses as your personality piece.
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Keep metal tones consistent — if your anklet is gold, your sandal hardware should lean gold too. This creates a quietly coordinated look that reads as intentional.
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Test before you commit: if an accessory only works with one outfit in your closet, it doesn't earn a capsule spot.
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TRY Editorial Team — Editorial
The TRY editorial team covers wardrobe strategy, sustainable style, and outfit building. Pieces without a named byline are collaborative work by our staff writers and editors.
Covers · wardrobe strategy · capsule wardrobes · sustainable fashion
Published 2026-06-09