How to Transition Your Jewelry From Summer to Fall: The Swap-Out Guide

There's a strange couple of weeks every year where it's 72 degrees at noon and 55 at sunset, and nothing in your closet feels quite right. Your summer dresses feel too light. Your fall sweaters feel too heavy. And somewhere in the middle of all that is your jewelry drawer, which you already put together for warm weather and haven't had the energy to rethink.

Here's the good news: you don't need to rethink it. The pieces you loved in July are not banned from your outfits in September — they just need to be styled a little differently. The best summer-to-fall transition trick is not buying anything new. It's learning how to wear what you already own into the next season.

One bag, one necklace, one pair of earrings — each styled two ways. Scroll for the full breakdown and shop these pieces and more below.

This post is built around three pieces in the JuJu Loves collection that we styled both ways on purpose, side-by-side, so you can see the transition in action. Plus a handful of quick moves at the end for the rest of your accessory drawer.

Quick Picks: The Three Pieces That Do Double Duty

• Best bag for both seasons — Navy Woven Crescent Bag — $158
• Best statement necklace for both seasons — Chunky Beaded Statement Necklace Navy — $118
• Best earrings for both seasons — Gold Leaf Fringe Dangle Earrings — $78
• Best cocktail ring that works year-round — Cushion Gemstone Cocktail Ring — $118
• Best fall bag upgrade — Croc-Embossed Clutch Burgundy — $148
• Best brooch for the transition — Gold Filigree Lion Brooch — $128

The Rules of a Good Seasonal Transition

Before we get into the side-by-sides, a few principles that carry through:

Navy is the bridge color. Navy works in summer (against white linen, cream dresses, coastal palettes) and in fall (against camel, burgundy, cream, chambray). If you have navy jewelry or a navy bag, it's the easiest piece to carry across seasons.

Gold is the bridge metal. Gold warms in the summer sun and deepens in fall light. A gold piece that looked good at the beach in July looks just as good against a turtleneck in October. Silver is trickier — it reads more specifically cool and modern, which can feel off against fall earth tones.

Change the context, not the piece. The fastest way to make a summer piece feel fall is to put it next to fall-coded items. A summer necklace under a chambray shirt suddenly reads as fall. Same necklace, different outfit, different season.

Add one fall-specific piece. You don't need to replace your whole drawer. Adding one brooch, one cuff, or one pair of boots to an otherwise unchanged outfit does most of the work.

Transition Move 1: The Navy Woven Bag

A navy woven bag is one of those pieces that quietly earns its place in your closet because it refuses to be a one-season piece. Navy reads nautical in summer and preppy-fall the second you pair it with something earthy.

Summer styling: a crisp white shift dress, the Crystal Conch Shell Brooch Ocean Blue ($98) pinned to the neckline, the Baroque Pearl Gold Cocktail Ring ($78) on one finger, and the Scarf Necklace Gold Conch Shell Pendant ($138) tied loosely at the neck. The woven texture of the bag and the ocean-themed jewelry echo each other without feeling literal.

Fall styling: the same bag, now with a chambray button-down, burgundy trousers, the Tortoise Shell Oversized Round Sunglasses ($78), the Gold Hammered Leaf Dangle Earrings ($78), and the Crystal Schnauzer Dog Brooch ($68) pinned to a collar. Tie a silk scarf you already own around the handle for extra warmth and color, and add a bag charm if you're feeling playful.

Same bag, completely different mood. The twilly scarf trick works with any woven or straw bag you already own — it's the single easiest move for making a summer bag feel fall.

Transition Move 2: The Navy Beaded Necklace

A chunky beaded statement necklace is the piece most people assume is strictly summer. It's not. The summer version wears it bare against skin — the fall version wears it over a crisp white blouse with the beads landing at the collarbone.

Summer styling: a strapless white dress or sundress, the Gold Butterfly Cuff Bracelet ($124) on one wrist, the Gold Flower Stud Earrings with Crystal ($88), and the Stacked Look Gold Ring ($88) as the ring. The bare neckline lets the necklace be the full moment.

Fall styling: the same necklace, now layered over a crisp white button-down with jeans, the Gold Filigree Lion Brooch ($128) pinned to the blouse, and the Cushion Gemstone Cocktail Ring ($118) in labradorite for a hand statement. The necklace no longer reads as a beach accessory — it reads as considered, editorial, a little French.

The rule here: the necklace doesn't change, but the fabric underneath it does. Bare skin is summer. Crisp cotton is fall. Silk is winter.

Transition Move 3: The Gold Leaf Fringe Earrings

Gold leaf earrings are the best argument in the JuJu Loves collection for why you don't need separate summer and fall jewelry. The leaf motif is literal fall coding. The gold is warm year-round. The fringe adds movement that catches light against both a tan and a turtleneck.

Summer styling: the earrings worn at a farmers market with a white sundress, a denim jacket, and the Pink Gingham Crystal Headband ($78) holding back sun-lightened hair. Add the Gold Enamel Flower Cuff Bracelet ($124) on one wrist — the floral shapes echo the summer setting without being literal.

Fall styling: the same earrings, now worn with a black turtleneck for dinner or drinks. Swap the pink headband for the Black Knotted Headband with Pearl and Crystal Embellishments ($78), the flower cuff for the Brown Leather Cuff Bracelet with Gold Studs ($138), and the woven summer bag for the Woven Striped Clutch ($128).

Fringe earrings under a turtleneck collar are one of the quietly best moves of sweater season — the fringe moves against the high neckline and makes the whole look feel intentional. For more on this, see our guide to what jewelry to wear with sweaters.

Other Quick Transition Moves

Beyond the three hero pieces, a few smaller swaps that take less than a minute but change the whole feel of a summer accessory:

Wrap a silk scarf around your summer bag handle. Any twilly, skinny scarf, or silk square folded into a long strip will do. Tie one end at the base of the handle, wrap it up, tie the other end. This one trick transforms a straw or woven bag from beach-coded to fall-coded instantly.

Pin a brooch on your summer sun hat. The Gold Leopard Cheetah Rhinestone Brooch ($98) on the ribbon of a straw hat gives you one more wear before the hat goes into storage. The Cognac Crystal Starburst Brooch ($88) works the same way.

Swap your raffia clutch for a textured leather one. Raffia, straw, and rattan clutches peak in August. Once you hit September, replace them with the Croc-Embossed Clutch Burgundy ($148) — burgundy and croc texture is the fall clutch you'll reach for through Thanksgiving.

SHOP Croc-Embossed Clutch Burgundy ($148)

Keep wearing your statement cocktail ring. Cocktail rings are the only jewelry category that doesn't have a season. The Crystal Dome Cocktail Ring ($98) that you wore all summer keeps working in fall, especially when your hands are the most visible part of your outfit under long sleeves.

SHOP Crystal Dome Cocktail Ring ($98)

Don't retire your pearls. Pearls are one of the most misunderstood transition pieces — people pack them away with their summer stuff, but pearls against wool, suede, and cashmere read richer than they ever could against bare skin. Layer the Gold Pearl Bangle Bracelet ($78) next to a leather cuff for a texture contrast, or wear the Multi-Stone Pearl Drop Earrings ($98) — the warm sunset palette already bridges both seasons.

Add a cuff bracelet to any outfit you're still wearing from summer. A white linen dress in September with a Gold Snake Embossed Wrap Cuff Bracelet ($148) at the wrist reads fall immediately. The cuff does all the work.

What to Actually Retire

A short honest list of what doesn't make the jump no matter how much you loved it this summer:

Shell and coral jewelry that's literally shaped like the ocean. Conch shells, starfish, seahorses — these read as summer-specific. The exception: anything in a neutral gold tone without obvious beach imagery, which can often work.

Neon crystal anything. Bright turquoise, hot pink, lime — these colors can transition into fall but only in small doses and only if you're styling them deliberately against neutrals. Save them for spring.

Plastic or acrylic bangles that read beachy. Fall jewelry wants weight. If a bracelet feels hollow or looks like a summer coverup accessory, it doesn't belong in your September rotation.

Straw headbands. This is a specific one. Pearl and rhinestone headbands (like our Black Knotted Headband with Pearl and Crystal) transition. Raffia and straw ones do not.

FAQ: Summer to Fall Jewelry Transition

When should I switch my jewelry from summer to fall?

There's no rigid date, but the general rule is mid-September in most of the country. You don't need to do it all at once. Start by adding one fall piece to your summer outfits (a brooch, a cuff, a textured leather clutch) and gradually phase the summer-specific pieces out as the weather cools.

Can you wear summer jewelry in fall?

Most of it, yes. Gold jewelry works year-round, navy jewelry bridges both seasons, and pearls are seasonless. The exceptions are pieces with explicit summer motifs — shells, starfish, anything in neon colors, anything obviously beachy. For the rest, the trick is changing the outfit context, not the jewelry.

What jewelry colors work for both seasons?

Navy, gold, cream/ivory, burgundy, emerald, and smoky neutrals. These tones have enough depth to carry into fall and enough warmth to still work in late summer. The Chunky Beaded Statement Necklace Navy ($118) and Gold Chain Necklace with Topaz Pendant ($128) are both good examples.

How do I tie a twilly scarf on a bag handle?

Fold your scarf lengthwise until it's a narrow strip. Tie one end at the base of the handle with a small knot. Wrap the scarf in a spiral up the length of the handle until you reach the other end. Tie a second knot to secure it, and let the ends hang loose. Any silk scarf or skinny scarf from your drawer will work — you don't need a designer twilly.

Should I put away my summer bags completely?

Not the woven or navy ones — those transition beautifully with a scarf tied to the handle. Do pack away obvious straw totes, pastel raffia, and anything with summer-specific embellishments (shells, sequins, pool colors). For your fall bag rotation, the Croc-Embossed Clutch Burgundy ($148) and the Woven Striped Clutch ($128) are the two pieces that do the most work.

What one piece should I buy for fall if I'm only buying one thing?

A wide leather cuff. It transforms every single outfit you already own and bridges summer and fall more effectively than any other single purchase. The Brown Leather Cuff Bracelet with Gold Studs ($138) in particular pairs with everything from white linen (late summer) to black turtlenecks (full fall).

Can you layer summer necklaces for fall?

Yes — and it's one of the best transition moves you can make. A single delicate chain that felt light in summer reads richer when layered with one or two additional pieces. Mix lengths, mix metals if you want a contrast, and don't be afraid to layer a beaded piece like the Chunky Beaded Statement Necklace Navy ($118) over a chain pendant. Layered necklaces against a crisp white blouse or a V-neck sweater is the most effortless fall styling move there is.

Where can I see these pieces in person?

A curated selection of JuJu Loves pieces is available in person at Maris DeHart, 32 Vendue Range, Charleston, SC. The full collection is online at jujuloves.com/collections/jewelry.

More Style Inspiration

• What Jewelry to Wear With Sweaters: The Cold Weather Accessory Formula
• Fall Jewelry Color Trends: Burgundy, Cognac, Forest Green and Navy
• Statement Brooches for Fall: The Pins That Were Made for Autumn Dressing
• Seasonal Brooches: How to Style Pins for Every Season
• One Cuff Bracelet, Five Outfits: The Gold Enamel Flower Cuff
• Dark and Moody Jewelry for Autumn
• Leather Cuff Bracelets: The Bold Wrist Statement