The shell belt is the accessory you didn’t know you needed

Shell jewellery was the summer trend that took everyone by surprise last year, and if you thought it would be a passing fad, you'd be wrong. Not only are shells back this season, but they've invaded all our other accessories too: shoes, bags and yes, belts.

Now I know shell belts sounds a little bit like you're going to a Little Mermaid cosplay, but trust me, they are just what you need to jazz up your outfit.

I first saw them at the Rixo SS19 presentation, where gold shell hardware enhanced bold printed skirts, and now Mango have a chain belt embellished with conches, that will look great paired with neutral linens.

Needless to say, this is a decorative belt rather than a practical one, so I wouldn't advise using it to hold up loose jeans.

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Instead, either wear them over a dress a la Rixo, or with linen trousers and a shirt, and even though it's more of a summer vibe, I'll be wearing mine over a chocolate knitted midi dress.

So. Much. Joy.

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.