More Jewelry, Less Clothing: A Proven Guide to Stacking Summer Necklaces
The best stacks aren't about polish or perfection—the beauty is in the imbalance.
There are certain pieces of jewelry that belong to specific seasons. To me, winter is about rings and items worn around the wrists. Think: statement rings wrapped around fingers while hands clutch oversized coffee mugs. Chunky bracelets and cuffs worn over the sleeve of a grey cashmere sweater in a way that feels vaguely aristocratic and maybe a tad bit impractical. Serious watches that signal time is quieting, and the days are a bit shorter and darker. Winter jewelry is sharp and precise. Little flashes of polish breaking up all the wool and layering.
But summer? Summer belongs entirely to necklaces.
There is just nothing better than gold or silver against bare, slightly sun-kissed décolletage, if I’m being completely honest. Jewelry just comes alive with a little warmth underneath it. Gold looks richer. Stones sparkle harder. Everything feels more sensual, more relaxed, and maybe even a little more expensive. Show me a Slim Aarons summer girl, and I’ll show you a tanned goddess with the most insanely cool array of necklaces around her bronzed neck. Decadent while also chic. Just how we like it.
Unlike winter, summer allows necklaces to breathe. No scarves that swallow them whole. No chains getting tangled in chunky knits. No pendants disappearing beneath twelve layers of practicality. One of my biggest pet peeves is having jewelry get caught on my clothing—it’s like wearing lip gloss on a windy day with your hair down. The idea is lovely, but the reality is infuriating.
Worn in a well-curated stack with a scoop-neck tank, a linen button-down, or a crochet cover-up, summer necklaces get their standalone moment.
The thing about stacking necklaces in the summer is that there really aren’t any hard-and-fast rules beyond mood. Some days might be tiny, delicate chains layered tightly at the collarbone. Other days might be long, dramatic strands mixed with turquoise, shades of amber, or a random pop of color that feels Mediterranean. The beauty is in the imbalance. It should never be too considered or overthought. The best stacks look collected over time, as though you absentmindedly threw them on before a night of oysters, a beach walk, or a long lunch that turns into dinner.
Perhaps that’s why summer jewelry feels so different from winter jewelry altogether. It isn’t really about polish or perfection. It’s about ease. About looking as though you’ve lived a little in your clothes and your accessories, rather than meticulously styling every inch of yourself. A great summer necklace stack should feel personal, slightly impulsive, and maybe even a bit sun-faded around the edges. Like treasures picked up over the years, vacations, phases, old loves, and all great outfits.
I can’t wait to begin stacking—weather, can you please start accommodating? But in the meantime, keep scrolling to shop my favorite beaded necklaces, chains, and pendants that I'll be wearing all at once this season.
