Riding the wave of mermaidcore aesthetics, statement jewelry is now making its way to the beach too

One of my favorite facts I’ve come across on social media is that no matter how old we are, almost everyone pretends to be a mermaid at the beach. It’s a fantasy we never really grow out of, a sweet delusion that brings us back to carefree times. At least for me, it’s because going to the seaside is tied to my most cherished childhood memories, and whenever I’m facing the endless blue, I feel the most free. Every time I step into the sea, I become that little girl again, pretending to have the power to control water or imagining I’m Ariel discovering treasures with Flounder. That’s exactly why mermaidcore is my favorite aesthetic, one that, luckily, returns every summer to remind us that, even for a moment, we can pretend to be mythical beings and bring our childhood fantasies to life.

Mermaidcore is trending nearly every summer, and these mystical creatures and their magical world continue to be an endless source of inspiration for designers. We’ve seen touches of this aesthetic on runways, from Jean Paul Gaultier’s couture collection that looked like an underwater fairytale, to Dilara Findikoglu’s Fall 2025 collection featuring a surreal shell corset. What we call mermaidcore materializes in fashion through pieces in deep blue and green tones (to me, the most beautiful colors in the world), shimmering fabrics that resemble fins, and flowing silhouettes that move like waves. And even though we wear less clothing in summer — especially at the beach — that doesn’t mean we can’t live out our mermaidcore dreams. This is where statement jewelry comes in, turning even a swimsuit into a chic outfit.

For the perfect mermaidcore look, this summer we’re pairing swimsuits and beach cover-ups with big, shiny jewelry. Think Ariel’s eclectic underwater collection, crystals, stones, charms, and full-on maximalism. While searching for the perfect jewelry I could wear from the beach to the city, a local crystal jewelry brand called Kalyss caught my eye. And even though I’d love to keep gems like these to myself, young regional talents deserve all the attention, plus gatekeeping this brand would’ve been impossible anyway. Lately, Kalyss pieces have been spotted on Dakota Johnson, Alessandra Ambrosio, Kate Hudson, and Francesca Versace, proving that mermaidcore and crystals are trends here to stay. And now, at the height of summer, Karlo Hečimović, the designer behind the brand, is launching a new collection that brings every ocean-inspired dream and fantasy to life.

“The seed of inspiration for this collection was planted during my last trip to India in March this year,” Karlo tells me. “I went there with the intention of finding one specific thing, but I came back with something completely different, and much bigger than I expected.” Knowing that Karlo first fell in love with crystals during a trip to Mexico, after which he always carried them in his pockets, fascinated by their energy, I was curious to hear that this new collection draws from an entirely different part of the world.

He returned from India completely enchanted, something you can sense in his voice as he talks about the trip. There, he discovered new and perhaps unexpected materials, which he brought back to Berlin and transformed into a collection worthy of the most beautiful sea sirens. “With this collection, I went all in on materials. There’s gold, silver, emeralds, diamonds, baroque pearls, and all sorts of stones I found in India,” Karlo explains, adding that quartz, his signature, also plays a key role. “Beyond beautiful jewelry, the whole idea of Kalyss is to bring people closer to the energy and power of crystals. That’s why I started this entire project in the first place. As you can see, I wear them every day,” he says, pointing to a row of stunning crystal necklaces around his neck. “I wear quartz every day. I think it carries the highest vibration, and I love pairing it with gold and emeralds.”

Kalyss jewelry shimmers in the light and reminds me of the necklaces I used to make on the beach from pieces of glass, seashells, and pretty stones I’d dig up from the fine sand. The jewelry is beautiful because of its rawness, and because of the designer’s clear love for the materials he works with. Karlo emphasizes that the inspiration behind this eclectic jewelry collection has stayed the same from the beginning: “It’s always been clear that my main inspiration will be the underwater world, those ancient civilizations and past eras, now coming back in a new, contemporary form.” His words reminded me of the previously mentioned collections from renowned fashion houses, the ones I haven’t stopped dreaming about since they were shown. Just like Karlo, I’ve felt a strange pull toward these eclectic aesthetics that flirt with surrealism and fit perfectly into the kind of escapism I fall into every summer, no matter how much I resist it.

This new Kalyss collection is also the first to include my favorite piece of jewelry — rings. The solid gold rings, set with rubies and emeralds at the center, are irresistible pieces that not only match the bracelets and necklaces in the collection, but are also designed to allow the wearer to fully feel the energy of the crystal at their core.

Statement jewelry is my go-to summer favorite because it’s incredibly easy to style, perfect for those days when the heatwave melts the ice in our mimosas and lemonades faster than we can drink them. Paired with simple T-shirts and shorts, crystal statement pieces give off a boho vibe that’s once again trending this summer. Worn with swimwear, they look like accessories from another era and an unreal world. And if that cool style and feeling come with crystals that carry good energy and, in Karlo’s words, “actually work”, then it becomes clear that this summer, mermaidcore isn’t just about looking like a siren. It’s about carrying that free, positive ocean energy with us wherever we go.

Photo: Karlo Hečimović
Model: Ruta Normantaite