6 Cult Summer Designer Accessories I Tried That Are Worth the Investment

The Luxury List is a monthly column on all things luxury, exploring cult items from heritage brands, tapping the foremost experts in the fashion space, and doing deep dives into the investment pieces that are worth it.

Summer means a few things: mood-boosting weather, vacations on the horizon, and the arrival of some of the best accessories of the year. While the fall and winter months are all about great outerwear and layering pieces to carry you through the season. Summer, in turn, is all about the cool sandals, sunglasses, bags, and jewelry that add personality to easy looks and compliment-worthy outfits for a calendar filled with weddings and events. 

As an editor, I constantly have my eye out for the best new accessories and test-drove the cult designer items that are already defining summer 2023. From reimagined takes on iconic bags and the earring trend every celebrity and fashion person is wearing right now to the sunglasses taking over my Instagram feed and the viral sandals that are almost impossible to track down, see the summer designer accessories I'm recommending this season and how I'm styling them.

There are sandals, and then there are Hermès sandals. Regardless of the style, shoes from the French fashion house are hard to come by, but that is especially true for the cult Chypre sandals. Finished with a chunky rubber sole and leather straps in the design of a classic "H" shape, the shoes are as comfortable as they as cool. Perhaps that is why they have been adopted by fashion insiders as the go-to sandals for off-duty weekend looks and vacation outfits. Classic colors including black and gold will always be smart buys, but frequent Hermès shoppers pay special attention to limited-edition colorways. They fit in seamlessly with swimwear, which is why I'm naming them a go-to piece for summer holidays.

Nineties fashion is core to the style code of Prada, and the brand has masterfully made it feel relevant to wear in 2023. Case in point: the just-launched Galleria bag. The boxy bag—finished with the brand's iconic triangle motif and top-handle silhouette—immediately won me over. The shape reminds me of the 1995 Re-Edition bag that was introduced last year, but it has a slightly pebbled leather that seems like it would hold up to everyday wear. The larger styles feel primed for the office, while the smaller styles are perfect weekend bags. One of my favorite things about the bag? The vast range of colorways it is available in. Whether you're after black, dove gray, kelly green, bubblegum pink, or something else, you'll probably find exactly what you're looking for.

I never leave the house without a pair of sunglasses. In part, I chalk it up to living in L.A., where it's almost always sunny, but in part, I don't feel like my look is complete without a pair of great sunglasses. While they are a practical accessory, they can also transform a look by taking something as simple as jeans and a T-shirt to the next level. For those reasons, I consider a great pair of sunglasses to be a solid investment as well as a piece that I keep in my wardrobe for years and years. This season, my top pair to shop are Chanel's just-dropped CC sunglasses with gradient lenses available in both a shield silhouette and a rectangular design. They have already started taking over my Instagram feed, and I'm predicting they are a key buy for the season.

What makes a piece investment worthy? In this editor's opinion, it comes down to its staying power. There's no better example of staying power than the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag—a style finished with a signature bamboo handle and a clasp that was designed over 75 years ago and remains just as in demand today. At once classic and modern, the iconic bag is topping my shopping list right now for its unique design and versatility as well as my confidence knowing that it is a smart buy. I'm often searching for the right bag to wear to dinners and events, so I have my sights set on the mini version.

While I didn't see it coming, '80s-inspired jewelry has taken over in 2023 as one of the biggest accessory trends of the year. In large part, we have Saint Laurent Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello to thank for that. His recent collections set the direction for the jewelry trend with metal cuff bracelets and large, statement-making earrings. The earrings, in particular, are selling out everywhere and have been spotted on a long list of celebrities, including Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Dua Lipa, and Hailey Bieber. The earrings are truly outfit-makers, and it is easy to see why they have garnered such a cult following. I styled them with a halter top and trousers but already know they would be the secret to a best dressed wedding guest look. The only thing left to decide is which silhouette to add to your cart.

Right now, we're seeing a shift in fashion as the pendulum is swinging toward elegant, sophisticated pieces. The movement to more polished pieces immediately makes me think of one brand: Valentino. The iconic Italian fashion house is known for beautiful clothing and expert craftsmanship, but the one piece I can't stop thinking about right now is the Locò bag. The small shoulder bag is designed with signature VLogo hardware and a leather handle that is the perfect silhouette for tucking under the arm. The leather and canvas styles are perfect for day-to-day wear, while the styles embellished with crystals practically double as jewelry.

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Next: These Summer Accessories Went From Want to Need After I Tried Them IRL