Sunglasses chains are back and you need one – shop 21 of the best from Mango, Fendi & Etsy

Sunglasses chains are back, taking inspiration from fashion matriarchs the world over and not only making a Bella Hadid-approved sartorial statement, but aiding in a smooth passage through the summer season, too.

Yep: sunglasses chains sit in the fabled useful-yet-chic sweet spot. The play on a simple idea, really: they have little loops each end of the chain which hook over the arms of your sunnies and hold them in place around your neck. Think of the mittens your mum might have sewn onto your coat when you were three years old – but make it chic. When you take your Justin Bieber-adored Le Specs sunglasses off, instead of propping them on top of your head like a hairband (or hooking them on your top, or leaving them on a chair to get lost / sat on), they’re attached to you, meaning they will never go astray. Game-changer.

Past their practicality credentials, the the chicest sunglasses chains also double up as necklaces that play into some of the season's hottest jewellery trends. Mango's new-season beaded sunglasses chains pay homage to the nostalgic beaded jewellery trend that everyone from the most luxurious of designers (~ahem~ Roxanne Assoulin) through to independent jewellery brands and the high street behemoths are championing, while the pearl iterations featured below nod to the 2023 XXL pearls favoured by Anissa Kermiche, CompletedWorks and Ilaria Icardi.

Where to head to buy them? The high street is home to an abundance of brilliant sunglasses chains outside of our favourites highlighted above. ASOS, as always, in a one-stop shop for sunglass chains under £10, with designs by Daisy Street and Jeepers Peepers proving the most popular, while Oliver Bonas stocks some seriously chic options that sit around the £19 and come housed in cotton fabric pouches with drawstring fastenings. It's all in the details.

For a handmade vibe, Etsy is a treasure trove of hand-beaded sunglasses chains, and if you have a little more money to spend, Fendi's glasses chain, which has been made in Italy and features Fendi lettering – or Saint Lauren's snake chain cord – will elevate your accessories game endlessly.

After more updates for your SS23 wardrobe? Shop our edits of the best summer dresses, best bikinis, one-piece swimsuits, beach bags and summer wedding guest dresses.

Ahead, more of the best sunglasses chains to add to cart.