Signed 'Vogue' necklace set
Lightwieght plastic and glass beads top the list of the choice of necklaces for summer, plastic beacuse they're lightweight, glass beacuse it's cool on the skin. Yummy summery citrus colors and light, cool pastels are the colors most mentioned.
Canary yellow glass bead droplet necklace
Chunky pink lucite flowers and clear leaves necklace
Longer plastic beads necklaces worn with simple tanks
Orange and yellow plastic flower moonglow beads
and big, fun glitzy earrings worn with embellished tops are perfect in hot sticky weather when necklaces are just too much.
Pink aurora beads dangle earrings
Bangles are favored over bracelets, and anything lightweight and fun will work:
Tropical painted wood bangle
Heavily carved orange bakelite
Hot pink plastic bypass bangle
Of course, nearly everyone mentioned summer's basic staple: white. White beads are a hit, as are faux pearls this season:
White and red glass bead necklace
Faux pearl and glass bead lariat
While most metal jewelry such as copper and gold or silver plated pieces are put away in the hot weather, Mexican and Native American sterling are popular choices with summer boho fashions, especially pieces with turquose and other natural stones
Navajo turquoise sterling cuff
Rhinestones and glitz, except in earrings to go with glitzy tanks, were almost unanimously put away in favor of the more fun and lighter looks of the season. But those who love glitz and glam, don't worry, Labor Day is not too far off, and after that, out come the rhinestones, especially all those yummy fall topaz and amber colors.
Update: After seeing this article yesterday, Ginger Moro, author of European Designer Jewelry and others, contacted me and showed me this phenomenal Coppola e Toppo necklace, which she wears in the summer. Ginger describes it as 'light and frolicsome', and even with a centerpiece of glass beads measuring 6" x 10", it manages to be just that! Perhaps the quintessenial piece of summer jewelry, satisfying all the survey responders most important qualities: fun, citrus-y and/or pastel colors, glass beads and a little funky:
Ginger's Coppola e Toppo summer necklace.