Three pieces of shell jewelry on a colorful, graphic background.

57 Ways to Cover Yourself in Shells This Summer

For too long, shell jewelry meant one thing and one thing only: puka shell necklaces (and occasionally, anklets). These surfer staples were must-haves in any early aughts summer wardrobe. Warm weather meant the smell of sunscreen, wavy hair doused with lemon juice, and some kind of flip-flop—worn alongside an anklet crafted from rough shell pieces. But over the last few years, shell jewelry has seen a kind of renaissance—and puka shells are no longer the only thing on offer. These days, we can adorn ourselves with pearly conches, painted cowrie shells, pink scallops, and everything in between.

Shell jewelry began making its comeback in February 2017, when Prada debuted several shell pieces at its Fall 2017/Winter 2018 runway show. Nearly a year later, shell jewelry started trickling into retailers—just in time for spring and summer 2018. Before we knew it, our Instagram feeds were filled with imagery of bright, minimalist shell pieces. The trend proved so popular that it returned for an encore in 2019—and then another one in 2020. And with each passing year, the shell jewelry trend grew a little kitschier, a little campier, and a lot more colorful.

These days, the shell jewelry landscape is vast, varied, and utterly charming. Pearl necklaces are punctuated by cowrie shells that have been dip-dyed pink and orange. Barrettes are lined with scallop shells that are crafted from gold and brass. Hoop earrings are covered in puka shells that have been smoothed out to create dainty, round beads. Options abound, making it easy for each of us to find a piece of shell jewelry that precisely fits our aesthetic.

And of course, more classic iterations of the trend persist. So if you’re looking to relieve your glory days in a seriously surfer-chic puka shell necklace, the zeitgeist has your back.

Here at Unruly, we’re committed to featuring plus-size pieces we genuinely love and want to share with you. We’re connected to an affiliate revenue program, which means we might make a small commission when you buy products through our shopping guides. This in no way affects the pieces we choose to feature, and it never will. (Confused? We’d love to answer any questions you have about this. Email us at beunrulyinfo@gmail.com!)

1. Shell Drop Statement Earrings

A pair of drop earrings with teal and white cowrie shells on them.

shop the earrings – $14.99 from J.Crew Factory


2. Eliou Paxi Necklace

A rainbow beaded necklace with cowrie shells on it.

shop the necklace – $128 from Shopbop


3. Lelet NY Linear Pearl and Shell Barrette

A hair barrette lined with gold-plated scallop shells.

shop the barrette – $78 from Shopbop


4. Natural Pearl Shell Hoop Earrings

A pair of black and white beaded hoop earrings with shell pieces on them.

shop the earrings – $9.99 from Zara


5. Venessa Arizaga Moonlight Beach Bracelet

A blue and yellow woven bracelet with painted cowrie shells on it.

shop the bracelet – $37.50 from Shopbop


6. Isabel Marant Gold-Tone Shell Earrings

A pair of gold hoop earrings with cowrie shells hanging from them.

shop the earrings – $42 from Net-a-Porter


7. Eliou Trento Anklet Necklace

A beaded necklace, lined on one side with cowrie shells.

shop the anklet/necklace – $150.50 from Shopbop


8. Jennifer Behr Babette Barrette

A hair barrette with beads, pearls, and metal shells on it.

shop the barrette – $64 from Shopbop


9. Maison Irem Shelly Terracotta Tiger Earrings

A pair of cowrie shell drop earrings.

shop the earrings – $115 from Shopbop


10. Beaded Shell Bracelet Set

A pair of rainbow beaded bracelets with cowrie shells on them.

shop the bracelet set – $7 from J.Crew Factory


11. Mallarino Ceramic Charm Necklace

A white beaded necklace with metal scallop shells on it.

shop the necklace – $82.50 from Shopbop


12. Venessa Arizaga Moonlight Beach Earrings

A pair of drop earrings lined with pearls and painted cowrie shells.

shop the earrings – $28.50 from Shopbop


13. Pendant Necklace

A pendant necklace featuring a single cowrie shell.

shop the necklace – $4.99 from H&M


14. Scallop Pearl Hair Pins

A pair of hair barrettes with scallop shells on them.

shop the pins – $38 from Free People


15. Isabel Marant New Amer Hoops

A pair of gold hoop earrings with painted metal cowrie shells hanging from them.

shop the earrings – $135 from Shopbop


16. Eliou Crete Necklace

A gold chain necklace punctuated by painted cowrie shells.

shop the necklace – $168 from Shopbop


17. Oscar de la Renta Scalloped Earrings

A pair of earrings crafted from metal scallop shells and pearls.

shop the earrings – $224 from Farfetch


18. Sardinia Beaded Necklace

A blue beaded necklace with a cowrie shell at the end of it.

shop the necklace – $32 from Free People


19. Maison Irem Shelly Orange Dot Earrings

A pair of drop earrings featuring cowrie shells covered in painted polka dots.

shop the earrings – $115 from Shopbop


20. Tohum Mega Gold-Plated Necklace

A model wearing a gold choker crafted from large brass cowrie shells.

shop the necklace – $176 from Net-a-Porter


21. Cowrie Shell Beaded Hoop Earrings

A pair of cowrie shell hoop earrings.

shop the earrings – $9.99 from Urban Outfitters


22. Barnett Shell-Embellished Headband

A headband crafted from puka shell pieces.

shop the headband – $48 from Anthropologie


23. Venessa Arizaga Moonlight Beach Earrings

A pair of drop earrings crafted from pearls and painted cowrie shells.

shop the earrings – $95 from Shopbop


24. Eliou Anzio Bracelet

A gold chain necklace lined with cowrie shells.

shop the bracelet – $101.50 from Shopbop


25. Painted Cowrie Shell Huggie Mini Hoop Earrings

A pair of small gold hoop earrings with pink cowrie shells hanging from them.

shop the earrings – $11.99 from Madewell


26. Eliou Rivoli Sunglasses Chain

A pair of sunglasses attached to a beaded, shell-covered sunglasses chain.

shop the sunglasses chain – $126 from Shopbop


27. Mercedes Salazar Tropic Earrings

A model wearing a drop earring with three scallop shells on it.

shop the earrings – $162 from Farfetch


28. Pascale Monvoisin Cauri Necklace

A pendant necklace with a red cowrie shell at the end of it.

shop the necklace – $420 from Net-a-Porter


29. Luiny Amor Shell Drop Earrings

A pair of conch shell earrings with heart- and moon-shaped studs.

shop the earrings – $59.95 from Anthropologie


30. Puka Shell Beaded Necklace

A rainbow necklace crafted from rounded puka shells.

shop the necklace – $14.99 from Madewell


31. Madewell Imitation Pearl and Clam Shell Earrings

A pair of plastic earrings molded to look like scallop shells.

shop the earrings – $28 from Shopbop


32. Maison Irem Rainbow Macrame Bracelet

A colorful woven bracelet with a cowrie shell on it.

shop the bracelet – $85 from Shopbop


33. Venessa Arizaga Moonlight Shell Necklace

A blue and yellow woven necklace with painted cowrie shells on it.

shop the necklace – $61 from Farfetch


34. Puka Shell Hoop Earrings

A pair of drop hoop earrings covered in rounded puka shells.

shop the earrings – $19.99 from Madewell


35. Aurelie Bidermann Panama Enamel Necklace

A gold chain necklace with painted cowrie shells on it.

shop the necklace – $242.40 from Net-a-Porter


36. Sweetest Shell Headband

A headband lined with cowrie shells.

shop the headband – $19.95 from Free People


37. Iridescent Shell Mismatch Drop Earrings

A pair of asymmetrical earrings with iridescent plastic scallop shells on them.

shop the earrings – $18 from Urban Outfitters


38. Anni Lu Wave Chaser Bracelet Set

Three beaded bracelets, one of which has a cowrie shell on it.

shop the bracelet set – $196 from Farfetch


39. Isabel Marant Gold-Tone and Shell Choker

A gold chain choker with cowrie shells on it.

shop the necklace – $138 from Net-a-Porter


40. Venessa Arizaga Summer Shells Earrings

A pair of drop earrings featured pink and orange dip-dyed cowrie shells.

shop the earrings – $33 from Shopbop


41. Beachfind Necklace Set

A pair of layered necklaces, one of which is lined with rounded puka shell beads.

shop the necklace set – $24.99 from Madewell


42. Venessa Arizaga Palm Tree Charm Hoop Earrings

A pair of hoop earrings with painted red cowrie shells on them.

shop the earrings – $99.99 from Urban Outfitters


43. Cowrie Shell Rainbow Beaded Necklace

A beaded necklace with a cowrie shell on it.

shop the necklace – $16 from Urban Outfitters


44. Madewell x Warm Shell Drop Earrings

A pair of scallop shell earrings.

shop the earrings – $19.99 from Madewell


45. Venessa Arizaga Summer Shells Pearl Bracelet

A pearl bracelet lined with pink and orange painted cowrie shells.

shop the bracelet – $39 from Farfetch


46. Beaded Shell Statement Earrings

A pair of drop earrings covered in cowrie shell pieces.

shop the earrings – $14.50 from J.Crew Factory


47. Cowrie Shell Beaded Short Necklace

A rainbow beaded necklace with a cowrie shell on it.

shop the necklace – $9.99 from Urban Outfitters


48. Eliou Costa Earrings

A pair of cowrie shell drop earrings.

shop the earrings – $84 from Shopbop


49. Venessa Arizaga Rainbow Shell Bracelet

A rainbow woven bracelet with rainbow woven cowrie shells on it.

shop the bracelet – $38.50 from Shopbop


50. Mother of Pearl Beaded Earrings

A pair of drop earrings lined with rounded puka shell beads.

shop the earrings – $19.99 from Madewell


51. Amber Sceats Shell Bobby Pin

A hair barrette with a collection of shells on it.

shop the barrette – $58 from Anthropologie


52. Venessa Arizaga Rainbow Stripe Shell Earrings

A pair of drop cowrie shell earrings painted rainbow.

shop the earrings – $55 from Shopbop


53. Eliou Amalfi Necklace

A rainbow beaded necklace with cowrie shells on it.

shop the necklace – $94.50 from Shopbop


54. Calla Cowrie Shell Post Earrings

A pair of pearl drop earrings with gold metal cowrie shells dangling from them.

shop the earrings – $18 from Urban Outfitters


55. Venessa Arizaga Fantasea Bracelet

A pastel woven bracelet with cowrie shells on it.

shop the bracelet – $55 from Shopbop


56. Eliou Pearth Earrings

A pair of asymmetrical drop earrings crafted from pearls and cowrie shells.

shop the earrings – $160 from Shopbop


67. Venessa Arizaga Summer Shells Pearl Necklace

A pearl necklace lined with painted cowrie shells.

shop the necklace – $71 from Farfetch