These Are the 5 Accessory Trends I’m Bringing Back From Europe and Into Summer

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Like the rest of your Instagram feed, I recently went to Italy. And while the crystal clear ocean, warm weather, endless pasta and Aperol Spritzes were all major highlights, European summer fashion got me truly inspired.

In Europe, people go bold. Whether it’s the locals or travellers, Italy seems to bring something colourful out of everyone. As I ventured down the coast of Sardinia and into Sicily, it was impossible not to notice some of the unique accessory trends scattered all throughout Italy.

Below, I’ve compiled five of the main accessory trends I saw (and bought into), and where you can shop something similar in Australia.

Blue Jewellery

Little pops of blue were everywhere in jewellery. I’ve never thought of myself as a blue girl, but when a friend insisted I try on these beautiful blue paper mache dangle earrings (below) in Rome, my mind was changed.

This royal blue seems to be the flavour, with many people wearing this colour in earrings, necklaces and even bangles. Often, they were paired with another block colour, such as a green or yellow dress.

These Mercedes Salazar Fantasy Earrings ($111.21) are a great shade of blue and the flower design definitely has a summery vibe. Wooden beaded and made in Colombia, these earrings are actually clip-ons — so you don’t even need to have your ears pierced to adorn them!

I also love these FAIRLEY Royal Enamel Huggies ($99). They have a little more of a classic European feel. Plated in 24k Italian gold, combined with semi-precious stones handpicked personally by designer Susannah Fairley — these earrings will be kind to your ears, too.

I know it looks extra, but this Harry Styles-inspired Royal Blue Resin Beaded Choker ($17.60) is the epitome of the bold jewellery I was seeing all through major European cities like Milan and Rome. Plus, it’s Harry Styles-inspired. Sold!

Block-Coloured Baguettes

Baguette bags have been back for a while now, but just in case you were wondering… they’re still pretty big overseas. Almost every fashionable babe under the age of 35 was holding a baguette in a bold colour. While I spotted almost every colour at least once, green, royal blue and yellow were my faves.

As you can see (in the photo above), I bought myself a little green fabric baguette, with a rose detail on the front. Honestly, it really Italian-ised my outfit.

This JW Pei bag ($106.46) is an obvious hit, loved by influencers and celebrities all over the internet. This one is an affordable option if you’re keen on the look but don’t want to make a huge investment.

This Poppy Lissiman Tay Tay Bag ($180) is a little more practical, as you can fit more into it as well as shorten or lengthen the arm strap. Also, this shade of orange is *chef’s kiss*.

Chunky Chains

Chunky chains were everywhere in Italy. They’re a really timeless piece of jewellery that can jazz up any outfit, and polish up a look that might otherwise be casual.

Alternatively, they can elevate going-out looks too.

This Oroton Mika Necklace ($349) is divine. With a brass base and plated with 18CT gold, this necklace will be kind to your skin while also not weighing you down. It’s bold while still being classy.

This MANNING CARTELL Fob Chain Necklace ($199)  has an abstract design, which really catches the eye.

Bold Platform Sandals

I feel like I’ve been yabbering on about platform shoes for months now, but they’re not going anywhere. And personally, I’m glad about it. There’s something so youthful and fun about a platform, and if you’re comfortable in them, they can truly be the stand-out part of any look.

I couldn’t help but buy myself a pair of orange platform sandals to match my dress (above), as the trend in Europe was brightly coloured shoes. There was colour everywhere! When I did see some black platforms, they were adorned with jewels and chains — so it’s safe to say that Italians don’t do subtle footwear.

These Prada Logo Plaque Sandals ($618.64) would fit right in on the streets of Rome. They’re made out of 100% leather and also made in Italy, which seems fitting. Also, let’s bring back the jelly sandal style. It’s thriving in Europe and will no doubt be an emerging summer trend.

These St. Sana Bristol Platform Sandals ($134.80) are an easy buy. They’re a simple but comfy style that will literally go with anything.

Mis-Matched Earrings

In almost every jewellery store I went in, there were mismatched earrings. At first, I wasn’t so sure about the mismatched designs, lengths and colours, but when I tried some on — I was obsessed.

There’s something super interesting about wearing mismatched earrings, because people don’t expect it — it catches their attention.

These Stella Carena Minimalist and Abstract Lotus Mismatch Drop Earrings ($49.78) are stunning. They’re already such an interesting design on their own, but the mismatched lengths add something extra edgy.

These joolz by Martha Calvo Protection Mismatched Earrings ($252.75) are really beautiful and also tie in that super on-trend royal blue colour I mentioned above. Made from 14k gold-plating and with freshwater baroque pearls, these give off huge I-just-went-on-a-holiday energy.