Freshen up your wardrobe this summer with the hottest accessories

Accessories are the easiest way to freshen up your closet. The Kit’s Shopping and Social Media Editor, Renée Tse highlights the hottest accessories for summer.  

Hats 

The '90s bucket hat is still going strong, and what's so great about Uniqulo's version is that it features Uniqlo's UV protection technology, so it doesn't penetrate through the fabric. Baseball caps are classic and sporty, and we love these from Lululemon – the Fast and Free Running Hat for only $38 available in eight shades; sweat-wicking and quick-drying for those steamy summer days. If you’re into cotton, check out these colourful options from Gap–only $14. And lastly, another classic – the straw hat. Aritizia has some super chic options that scream “European vacation”. 

SHOP: UV Protection Pile Bucket Hat; $29.90 at Uniqlo | Women's Fast and Free Running Hat; $38 at Lululemon | 100% Organic Cotton Washed Baseball Hat; $14 at Gap | Wilfred Odilon Hat; $48 at Aritizia | Sunday Best Eau Claire Hat; $30 at Aritizia

Sunglasses

Similar to hats, a fresh pair of sunnies will add style and function to your look in the summer, and we’re going to focus on three key styles: colour-tinted, flat top and cat eye. Colour-tinted sunnies are EVERYWHERE this summer, and the sky’s the limit when it comes to shades. These are from BonLook– we love the pink and blue options, both in a narrow, rectangular silhouette. Another big trend is flat-top sunglasses – sporty and chic. And then we can’t forget about the classic cat eye – they’re a retro shape that so many people love. These are from Canadian designer Jenny Bird. These frames come in four shades – black, tortoiseshell, mother of pearl and yellow. 

SHOP: Whimsy Sunglasses; $99 at BonLook | The Cateye; $225 at Jenny Bird 

Jewelry 

Delicate jewelry like charm earrings and anklets are having a serious moment right now. These 14k yellow gold charm earrings from Mejuri come in five different gemstone options; wear them solo or layer them up! Anklets are trending, too. Jenny Bird has some amazing gold options from chunky to fine chains. And then there’s something about the summer months that has a lot of us gravitating towards technicolour palettes, which is where candy-coloured jewels come in. Designer Roxanne Assoulin makes some beautiful coloured pieces, including this slip-on enamel bracelet set and these beaded necklaces.  

SHOP: Single Emerald Cut Gemstone Hoop Charm; $78 at Mejuri | Henry Anklet; 150 at Jenny Bird | Roxanne Assoulin Set Of Three Midnight Madness Bracelets; $345 at Holt Renfrew

Bags

No surprises here–the ‘90s are also dominating the summer bag trends. For example, the ‘90s shoulder bag is back! Sustainable brand Reformation recently launched their all-new bag collection, including this gorgeous convertible bag in chartreuse and the mini pink edition. They’re both two-for-ones that can be worn as both a shoulder bag and a cute wristlet for a night out. It’s nice to travel light in the summer, when you can, so sticking with the mini vibe—check out these mini knit bags from Canadian brand, ai Seoul. They’re hand crocheted and come in these three shades, blue, pink and taupe. Lastly, what is summer without a straw tote? Coach has some beautiful options to choose from, including this structured tote for all of your summer essentials.   

SHOP: Medium Chiara Convertible Bag; $565 at Reformation | Mini Chiara Convertible Bag; $360 at Reformation | Mini Knit Bright Blue; $120 at ai Seoul | Structured Tote; $480 at Coach