Silver, Leather, and Other Jewelry Trends from the SS26 Catwalks

Don’t underestimate the power of jewelry to dial up the drama — not just on the catwalk, but in everyday life, where a single statement piece can make an outfit. The spring-summer 2026 runway looks ranged from the futuristic — like the lucite and silver cuffs at Courreges and ultra-long skewer earrings at Alexander McQueen — to the organic, with wood, shells and feathers at Balmain and beyond. One standout moment was the illuminated salt-lamp jewelry at Schiaparelli, which glowed from the inside.  

Here are some of the most notable trends in a season that’s proving to be anything but subtle. 

Sterling silver 

With the price of gold slipping over the $4,000-per-ounce mark, there must be some relief in the jewelry world that fashion designers have literally found the silver lining, accessorizing their looks with sterling silver — although even the price of that is now rising. Of course, maybe designers are simply appreciating the beauty of this white metal. On the catwalk, it had the greatest impact in the futuristic sculptural cuffs from Courreges, the sculpted shell necklaces from Ralph Lauren, the smooth, tactile silver earrings at Bottega Veneta, and the chunky link necklaces from Chanel, some of which had colorful enameling. Simone Rocha’s sweet, disheveled debutantes offered a different aesthetic, mounting crystals in silver tiaras and flower necklaces. 

Leading with leather 

Mindful of gold’s rising cost, jewelry designers are already seeking alternative materials to replace gold chains on their charm necklaces, including leather thongs and cords. On the catwalk, designers similarly dialed back the chains, swapping them for leather at Tod’s and Coach — two brands that already count leather-crafting as an intrinsic part of their savoir faire. Michael Kors’s Western-themed show included elegantly sculpted gold pendants on leather thongs, while Isabel Marant had slider cords holding amulets. Coach and Victoria Beckham chose a more practical role, hanging tiny purses and glasses cases around the neck on slender leather straps like fashion accessories. 

Grow your earrings 

The winter season was all about long drop earrings, and that trend has now gotten a whole lot bigger — or rather, longer. Earrings are not simply dusting shoulders; they now stretch right down the ribcage, as Michael Kors showcased with the Western-style leather tassel earrings that accompanied the brand’s long dresses. Isabel Marant accessorized its similarly bohemian vibe with an eclectic mix of beads, crystals and tasseled feather earrings. After Givenchy’s bare, bejeweled top went viral last season, the house’s dramatic touch this time was its ultra-long silver earrings strung with little sculpted birds. Earrings dripped with beaded tassels at Chanel, while a solo baroque pearl drop swung like a pendulum from one ear at Erdem and as a pair at Ralph Lauren. 

Back to nature 

Beautifully grained wood is carving a niche for itself in fine-jewelry collections at the moment, and an appreciation of natural materials is appearing on the catwalk as well. It was particularly noticeable at Balmain, where departing creative director Olivier Rousteing presented his swan-song collection — including entire dresses consisting of polished wooden beads or carefully threaded, sustainably sourced seashells, all draped in massive necklace-like rows. Seashell necklaces gave a summery vibe to other runway collections, with Tory Burch showing large clamshells, and Ralph Lauren sculpting giant shell shapes in silver to go with his breezy summer slips. 

Main image: A model on the Simone Rocha SS26 catwalk wears a silver-tone floral necklace and earrings. (Simone Rocha)