After a Winter that seemed like it would never end I am more than excited to introduce to you the best Summer accessories for this year! With a sustainable twist, of course. After all, this is the Outlandish Blog.
In this article I’ll give you 3 of my favourite Summer accessory categories equipped with suggestions of sustainable brands that I would personally recommend. I’ve done the research for you about these brands, so you don’t need to.
For more sustainable brand suggestions check out the Sustainable Fashion Brands section on this site.
The Best Summer Accessories You Need This Year
Summer is the best time to be alive, isn’t it? Sun is shining, people are smiling and suddenly we find ourselves appreciating free time a little bit extra. Summer is also a brilliant time to show off our personal styles because we don’t need to cover up under multiple layers anymore!
The way to top off any outfit is to accessorize it well. Monochrome outfits can be taken to a whole new level with a bright bag, and even pajamas look like an office-appropriate outfit when paired with the right shoes.
1. Practical tote bags
If you know me, you’ll know I prefer everything in my life to be as practical as possible. That’s why bags that are in any way complicated to maneuver are OUT for me.
Tote bags are a safe bet because they are practical in terms of design and size: stylish and spaceous. The necessities a tote bag should be able to accommodate are a beach towel, water bottle, sunscreen, some snacks, etc. I found perfect bags for this Summer from couple sustainable fashion brands that you should check out.
My favourite sustainable brands for tote bags:
- ABLE – Basic style tote bags
- PIHKA collection – Elegant bags in delicious colours, made in FinlandÂ
- S̩zane РQuirky woven tote bags
2. Colourful sunglasses
Protect those eyes people! As a Northener who knows how much damage sun can do to our eyes, I truly recommend investing in proper eyewear this Summer. Look for sunglasses that provide 100% protection against UVA and UVB.
If you already have a pair that you love, but the glasses don’t protect you against the aforementioned, fret not! You can get the lenses changed to protective ones. And in case you’re looking for a new pair, check out the hottest eyewear colors for summer 2023.
My favourite sustainable brands for sunglasses:
- SOLO Eyewear – Sunglasses made out of repurposed bamboo and recycled plastic
- WoodZee – Sunglasses made from recycled skateboards
3. Comfortable footwear
One can’t list their best Summer accessories without including in the list footwear. The hotter our Summers get, the more important choosing good footwear becomes. I mean, nobody wants to be that person on public transport whose feet smell like sulphur, right?
A good pair of Summer shoes has to tick certain boxes: they should be light, comfortable, breathable and stylish. In addition one should remember that sandals are NOT considered appropriate footwear in some offices.
I’ve gathered here some brands that can provide you with comfy but stylish footwear for this Summer:
My favourite sustainable brands for footwear:
- Palmroth – The most comfortable and also stylish shoes on the planet
- Lemon Jelly – Portuguese award-winning footwear brand
- Veja – Light sneakers made from plastic bottles and recycled cotton
4. A Show-Stopper Hat
Maybe it’s the age, or maybe I’ve come to the conclusion that ignorance is no longer bliss. Whichever it is, a hat is one of the best Summer accessories you can invest in this year!
Simply because it just makes sense: it can provide shade, it prevents you from getting sun stroke, and it can make you look like royalty. Haven’t you noticed that European royalty usually show up in public wearing a hat of some sort? Well, pay attention next time!
Whereas us lowly folk tend to avoid head-ware. I don’t know why particularly, but recently I’ve come to think I’d like to amp up my personal style with a statement hat. What do you think of these European hat brands?
- MTM (Manufacture Textile Meridionale) – French quality and craftsmanship designed and created in Europe
- Ribiinia – A unique selection of trendy and extraordinary hats, fascinators, etc. from Estonia.
- Atlantis Headware – More laid-back hat brand from Italy focused on sustainable operations.
5. Sunscreen
Oh yes, even if some twat on TikTok says that humans don’t need to protect themselves from UV radiation it doesn’t make it true! Quite the contrary, if someone claims something on TikTok, that’s reason enough to go and check the facts yourself.
Because of course we must protect ourselves from UV radiation! We know more than enough of the fact that not protecting yourself from it can result in skin cancer. And if you knowingly let things develop that far… Well, I think you deserve what you get.
And since capitalism has ensured the enshitification of a lot of familiar products, including sunscreens, we should prefer local, sustainable brands that actually want to protect our skin from the Sun. It’s not easy to find a sunscreen brand that isn’t owned by American or isNOTreal multinationals but I did the research!
As one of the best Summer accessories in 2026 is sunscreen, check out these options:
- ACO Nordic – Nordic naturality and innovation to provide the best protection and care for your skin
- Avène – French dermatology brand (86% owned by the Pierre Fabre Foundation but with connection to isNOTreal…)
How to Choose the Best Summer Accessories This Summer?
I hope this list of my favourite summer accessories for your consideration has given you inspiration and brought new brands to your knowledge. I love to shout out about sustainable brands because they truly offer the best quality for a reasonable price!
But how does one choose from among all of these brands and products? Well, you should start by figuring out what is your personal style like. No, that does not mean you need to go on a shopping spree!
- Instead, go through your current wardrobe and select the pieces that you love wearing.
- Next, figure out how you can dress a piece of clothing in different ways: find 3 different tops for a skirt, different bottom options to go with 1 blouse, etc. You’ll be surprised how many outfits you already have in your wardrobe!
- And before you start thinking that some pieces have been seen publicly too many times, upstyle them!
The pieces in your wardrobe offer endless opportunities for new outfits again and again. And the simplest way to upstyle an outfit, is by using different kinds of accessories. One outfit changes 180 degrees when you wear it with sneakers versus with high heels. Just try! And have fun with it ♥
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