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This summer’s biggest trend, quite literally, is chunky jewelry. Unlike most seasonal trends, this one is not going anywhere anytime soon. Once you fall for chunky jewelry, it quietly becomes part of your personal style, to the point where people can’t imagine you without it.
No one embraced the spirit of chunky jewelry quite like the late, great fashion icon Iris Apfel. Long before oversized bangles and sculptural necklaces took over the fashion world, she built an unforgettable personal style around maximalist jewelry. Her bold accessories became a reflection of her fearless personality, making it almost impossible to picture her without them. And from what we’re seeing now, maybe we’re all channeling our inner Iris Apfel this summer.
Whether it’s a beach day, a city stroll, dinner plans, or a night out, chunky jewelry belongs everywhere. After all, an accessory is the finishing touch that can completely transform any outfit.
Although the chunky jewelry trend can be traced back to the 2010s, fashion has been moving in this direction again over the past few years. Schiaparelli was among the first to bring statement jewelry back into the spotlight in 2023 with its surrealist accessories. And as maximalism gradually made its way from the runway into everyday wardrobes, surrealist jewelry evolved into something far more wearable.
This change became even more visible on the latest runways, with Sarah Burton’s debut Givenchy SS26 collection showcasing oversized necklaces and statement earrings, while Zimmermann’s SS26 collection featured sculptural jewelry alongside its romantic summer aesthetic.
This summer, the bigger the better. Less layering of dainty pieces, and more styling with larger accessories. Sometimes, all it takes is one great find to become the centerpiece of your wardrobe. My go-to summer outfit formula starts with a white tank top, relaxed linen trousers, oversized sunglasses, kitten heel mules, and as much chunky jewelry as I can get. Colorful resin bangles, sculptural earrings, and playful shapes always work together. The only rule I stick to is keeping each jewelry category consistent: silver with silver, resin with resin. Another key element is to let just one jewelry category do the talking.
During the day, style a sheer cape top with denim shorts, flip-flops, and oversized resin bangles for an effortless summer look. For evenings, pair a simple midi summer dress with sculptural gold earrings, chunky gold rings, and strappy heels. For me, everything else in your outfit can change, but a great chunky ring stack can remain your signature finishing touch. The trick is this: chunky rings are the ultimate day-to-night jewelry, and, sometimes, even piece you’ll wear for a lifetime, like Dua Lipa’s chunky engagement ring, which has quickly become one of the most talked-about jewelry pieces of the year.
In the summer, chunky jewelry can take the form of an abstract shape, like fruit, flowers, or seashells. Pair oversized shell earrings with a monochrome matching set for an effortless vacation look, or let a stack of colorful resin bangles elevate a simple white sundress. One of my personal favorites in my jewelry drawer is a pair of oversized cherry earrings, which I happily wear with everything from a white tank and denim shorts to a simple midi dress. Whichever way you choose to style it, chunky jewelry is the perfect trend to express yourself and be as loud as you want, like Apfel proudly did.
And when fall arrives, Valentino’s FW26 collection proves that oversized jewelry also works just as well layered over knitwear and tailored coats. You can also layer thick bracelets over fitted long-sleeve tops and style oversized chokers over turtlenecks. Voilà, you’re ready to take this “summer” trend into the cooler months.
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A heatwave? No problem. As temperatures continue to rise, bikini tops are no longer just beachwear; they’ve become a practical and stylish solution for summer style, whether you’re on vacation or in the city. This is the trend we’ve all been waiting for, because your bikini top definitely deserves a chance beyond the pool side this summer.
There’s just something about an outfit that feels slightly unfinished that perfectly captures the carefree spirit of summer and gives me a real sense of freedom. Even when I’m not on holiday, summer itself inspires me to be more creative with the way I dress.
This season, the bikini top has evolved from being that “just in case” item tossed into your vacation suitcase to becoming one of the go-to tops for grabbing a coffee, stopping by the market on the weekend, or heading out for dinner. Thanks especially to Dua Lipa’s summer wardrobe, the line between swimwear and citywear feels more blurred than ever this season.
There are countless ways to style your bikini top, but with the rising temperatures and ever-changing trends, it can be more confusing than ever to know where to start. Need some styling tips? There are a few celebrity-approved ways to wear the trend. From Kylie Jenner’s latest bikini rotation and Gigi Hadid‘s effortless off-duty style to the festival style inspired by Charli XCX’s Brat era, your starting point for making this trend your own is ahead.
Swimwear design is also starting to shift in parallel with this trend. Rather than relying on traditional swimwear prints and beach-inspired aesthetics, recent collections are increasingly drawing inspiration from everyday city life.
For example, in the recent KHY x Frankies Bikinis collaboration, founder Francesca Aiello told WWD that the collection was inspired by her shared love of Los Angeles with Kylie Jenner, hoping that it “felt as unique and sexy as the city itself.” So, rather than looking to the beach as its primary source of inspiration, the collection looks to the city’s aesthetic for a modern approach.
And just like that, this summer’s unofficial “holy trinity” has practically formed itself: a timeless bikini top, comfortable flip-flops you can walk all day in, and a hand fan you’re never willing to put down. Suddenly, getting dressed during a heatwave feels much less complicated. My favorite styling trick is letting colorful bikini details and string straps peek out from under a tiny white tank top and barrel-leg trousers.
Throw a lightweight linen shirt over your shoulders or tie it around your waist, then accessorize with chunky gold earrings, layered necklaces, and a tote bag. Just a few touches make the outfit feel intentional rather than accidental, turning the bikini top into a natural part of your everyday summer wardrobe.
If you’re spending your sunny days in the city rather than on vacation, take inspiration from Dua Lipa’s effortless vacation aesthetic by pairing a black triangle bikini top with relaxed denim shorts, a lightweight oversized jacket, and simple strappy sandals. Boldly colored bikinis with relaxed jeans also simply give an instant cool-girl feel.
For a summer night out, you can swap the shorts for fun pants, adding a metallic bikini top, black sunglasses, and kitten mules. The look is instantly evening-ready, making it a great choice for a club or festival.
My personal favorite is wearing a polka-dot bikini top over a white baby tee with a midi skirt, flip-flops, and a mini handbag. The fun part of this trend is that there are no rules; it’s just an experiment with different silhouettes, colors, prints, and accessories until you find your own style.
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In an ideal world, I’d never wear a strapless bra again. No hate to them, but with summer finally here, I can’t think of a more unappealing undergarment when it comes to tiny-tank-top-and-strappy sundress season — the marks that it leaves on the hot skin, the constricting material, the underboob sweat marks, the constant slipping… As if my phone was listening to my innermost thoughts (I’m not convinced that it isn’t, for the record), my social feeds started to get flooded with ads for Cakes, a brand of nipple covers that has intrigued me since first making rounds on TikTok over a year ago.
After first becoming popular for its Grippy Cakes, adhesive-free nipple covers, the brand has more recently unveiled the heat wave-friendly Sticky Cakes, which have a tacky adhesive layer to offer more support (and peace of mind). Cakes’ nipple covers come in a few different sizes (“itty bitty” for AAA-A cups, “OG” for B-DD cups, and “+” for DDD cups and up), skin tones (Honey, Caramel, and Cocoa), and shapes (circles and triangles).
I’ve had mixed success with nipple covers in the past. While the objective is to create a smooth surface underneath tight and/or sheer clothing, some of them made my breast outline even more pronounced as a result of thicker material or uneven edges, defeating the point entirely. Others made an early exit (this happened during my wedding reception, and I didn’t realize until the after-party — oops!) and fell off.
So, I set out to find out if Cakes, with their $33 price point — which hovers just above many of its competitors — were the real deal. (Although they are 30% off right now, BTW.) From white tees to bikini tops (yes, bikini tops!) to backless dresses, I put Cakes Grippy Circles, Grippy Triangles, Sticky Circles, and Sticky Triangles, all in the “OG” size and Honey colorway, to the test. Ahead, my thoughts.
First up, I tried the Grippy Cakes Circles. The silicone was smooth and soft, with a contoured shape that was thickest in the center and gradually thinned out towards the edges. As with any nipple covers, I applied them to clean, dry skin. I probably could’ve sized down in the circles because they nearly covered my entire breast. This is not necessarily a good or bad thing, especially considering that nipples and breasts vary in size and shape, but something to be aware of if your breasts are on the smaller side of the brand’s range.
The brand recommends wearing this style under tight clothing to help the Cakes stay in place, but I wore mine under a loosely fitting white T-shirt, and they were not only undetectable as advertised but felt secure all day, even in summer heat. After wearing them for a full day, I gently removed them, rinsed them with warm water, and patted them dry. According to the brand, if you follow these instructions, Grippy Cakes are reusable since they use your body’s heat, not adhesive, to naturally cling onto the skin. (Buying fewer, better things? Here for it.)
The circle-shaped “style” was most similar to other nipple covers I’ve tried in the past, but I found that these held up better with sweat and seamlessly blended with my skin (none of those uneven-edge issues I’ve experienced in the past). I would definitely wear these again under a sheer blouse or a plain white tee.
Later that week, I gave the Grippy Triangles, which have an elongated, pointed shape that offers coverage for trickier styles, a try; since they have a sleeker profile, they work for low-cut or V-neck styles that the Circles may have peeked out from. What’s more, Cakes says you can wear these with swimwear (and for working out, but I tend to need more significant support if I’m doing anything more intense than walking). To test this theory, I threw on a triangle bikini and hopped in the pool. I was honestly impressed that the covers stayed in place through swimming and then laying out in the sun; water and sweat didn’t affect the grippiness of the silicone whatsoever.
Would these make it through surfing in Montauk? Probably not. But a little dip and/or playing mermaids is more than fine for these. I probably wouldn’t wear them again under swimwear because I look for styles that already have light padding in them. However, I appreciate having the option for sweat-filled days, and would recommend these for brides who want to dance the night away without worrying about a wardrobe malfunction like mine or, worse, a nip slip.
Lastly, I tried the new Sticky Cakes, which are nearly identical to their grippy counterparts in look and feel (they come in the same silicone material) but are coated in a thin layer of medical-grade adhesive. Sticky-front bras have been in my wardrobe arsenal for years now, providing light support and lift in backless, strapless designs. But I’m always on the hunt for something better, whether that’s in terms of comfort, performance, or both. (Cakes just released their version, called the Cleavage Bra, which I am eager to try.)
Sticky Cakes are a nice middle ground between going braless and the aforementioned sticky bras. The design has a small divot in the center (called a “nip nook”), so you don’t get adhesive anywhere near the delicate nipple area. When compared to Grippy Cakes, these felt more secure. The adhesive was tacky enough to stay in place (even in 90°F summer heat) but wasn’t so sticky that it hurt to remove it at the end of the day. Per the brand, the sticky versions can be worn at least 10 times with proper care and storage, which involves gently rinsing with warm water, air-drying them, and storing them in the included pouch. I would save this style for my backless summer dresses on the hottest days of the season or an outdoor summer music festival.
So, is Cakes worth the hype? I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t impressed. The grippy styles are great from a sustainability perspective. To me, the triangle shapes are a game-changer thanks to the way you can rotate them to accommodate even the trickiest neckline work. I also felt like these were the most seamless, invisible alternative to bras I’ve tried so far. Out of all the combinations I tried, the sticky triangles ended up being the winner in my book, since the shape was a universal fit for any tricky wardrobe situation, and I like having the adhesive as an insurance measure.
Bonus: The brand is dedicated to supporting women’s health via Cakes Cares, the brand’s philanthropic arm, which has donated over a million dollars to breast cancer research and support programs. (As the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, I love this.)
Now that I’ve got a full wardrobe of Cakes at my disposal, I feel that my search for the perfect nipple cover has ended. From future wedding dance floors to music festivals and other sweaty, bra-unfriendly scenarios, I may never wear bras again — or at least for the summer.
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