Frogs and Water Lilies: Accessories for a Fairytale Summer

In the headlong rush towards the future that is so typical of fashion lovers, we often find ourselves thinking that, to be truly branchée, we need to take inspiration for summer from the upcoming Autumn–Winter shows, and, by a kind of magical retroactive effect, designers have learned to preserve a hint of summer in their Autumn collections. And so the Dior Autumn–Winter 2026–2027 show, conceived as a stroll through the Jardins des Tuileries, is already haunting our Summer 2026. Jonathan Anderson designs sandals that make us feel as if we were hopping from one water lily to another on the Octagonal Basin, and in this dreamlike universe we are already fantasizing about meeting a frog that will turn into Prince Charming.

A frog-shaped minaudière is surely worthy of all our attention, whether it is Dior’s irreverent version, with button appliqués suggesting the amphibian’s eyes, or the more alluring one by Judith Leiber, the American brand created by the Hungarian designer and entrepreneur who left us in 2018. Judith Leiber creations are the liveliest presence at New York parties. They are reinvented every year, starting from iconic models that have spanned the last century. For our “flowers” theme, the perfect Judith Leiber minaudière is the Magnolia Pink, an accessory that inspires deep wonder: made of crystal, exquisitely crafted in delicate peach and coral tones, its petals are coloured glass with gilded edges.

Yet the queen of May gardens is still the rose: think of Dolce & Gabbana’s resin box bag in the shape of a rose. The rose theme is reinterpreted every year by the Milanese maison and is linked to the realm of Marian devotion, in which the flower is a recurring motif. Since 1965, the rose has also been a recurring symbol in the creations of Roger Vivier. The house, founded in Paris in 1937 and now owned by the Tod’s group, dedicates one of its most poetic collections to the rose: everything is in silk-blend satin – yes, ceremonial shoes should always be in silk – with heels shaped like thorny stems. They seem to say: “come closer, but not too close”, or even “too beautiful to be touched”. And the matching pink clutch bag is a masterpiece: a rosebud built from pleated satin straps.

If flowers and amphibians are not for you, do not give up on sequins and a generous touch of vampish romance. Jimmy Choo is always a solution. This season, the Stevie 100, pink powder satin-effect pumps with crystals, are enchanting. The pointed toe elongates the silhouette, and the golden crystal ankle strap is the kind of jewel no one will miss. Pair them with the Callie clutch in grapefruit-coloured satin with dégradé crystals.

And if your party takes place in the height of summer and not far from the sea, the Belle Vivier canvas set is the pinnacle of elegance. The 4.5 cm heel is perfect from morning until 6 p.m.; it tells a story of extreme ease and quiet well-being, like walking briskly through a crowd without the slightest hesitation, so at ease that you cannot help but smile. Our grandmothers used to say it, and we need to remember it: the perfect shoes are the ones that make you smile, my friends! Whether you are in a garden or in a gleaming marble hall that opens onto the sea, your smile will always be your must‑have.

© Francesca Manzari