By Riley Dauber
Elm Staff Writer
With summer quickly approaching, many people will be looking to spruce up their summer wardrobe.
Whether you’re planning to follow the trends or looking for a few simple pieces to add to your closet, the following guidelines can help any aspiring fashionista find what they’re looking for.
According to a Vogue article by Madeline Fass, “It isn’t a surprise that some of our favorite looks have the summer wardrobe pairings we love: a striped tee with a tiered midi-skirt; a breezy maxi dress and lace-up sandals; or a cardigan and a jean short.”
Summer fashion is simpler, since layering isn’t exactly an option due to the warmer weather.
Recent trends prove that certain colors, patterns, and styles are growing in popularity. Even if you’re relying on your current summer closet, chances are you’ll have a piece or two that matches the styles below.
Y2K Influence
Thanks to the 20-year fashion timeline, where fashion trends from 20 years ago start popping up on the runway again, we’re likely going to see many summer outfits loosely inspired by Y2K fashion. This means low-rise jeans may be making an unwelcome return.
Motifs such as butterflies are sure to pop up on shirts, dresses, and accessories.
Camo and stripes will dominate, as well as crop tops, mini-skirts, and motorcycle jackets.
According to a Vogue article by Ellie Pithers, many articles of clothing will also focus on asymmetry and grandeur in terms of length and focus.
Mini-skirts will have cut-outs and diagonal hems. Dresses will have high-low hems, so longer in the back and shorter in the front; a style that was popular in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Social media’s obsession with Y2K can be blamed for these fashion trends returning, and while some will hopefully be forgotten (looking at you, low-rise jeans), others will be accepted in the fashion world, especially cut-outs. Cut-outs are everywhere.
Bright Colors and Clean Lines
When shopping for your summer wardrobe, be prepared to accept bright colors with open arms.
Neon pink and electric green are currently popular colors, while yellow and pale purple make the occasional appearance as well.
For those looking for articles of clothing that can easily pair with anything, the color white is also growing in popularity. You’ll find white tank tops and skirts, dresses and pant suits, trousers and platform sandals.
Incorporating one white piece of clothing in your wardrobe will help give your outfit a clean, simple look. You’ll look sophisticated and put together, but also comfortable.
Easy and Breezy (But Not Quite)
Due to the warm weather, you’ll want to be dressing in clothes that are comfortable, light, and flowy.
Channel your inner Donna Sheridan from “Mamma Mia” and grab as many maxi skirts, peasant blouses, and overalls as you can get your hands on.
Not only are overalls and prairie-style clothes back in style, but you’ll be comfortable and cool despite the summer weather.
However, according to Pithers, “super sheer, super tight, and super short” are all back in style.
See-through tops and mini-skirts are going to make a return, and tight dresses and skirts will be everywhere. Every article of clothing will have cut-outs, in case you missed it.
Why the mixture? Well, the tight and sheer clothing may be pulling inspiration from “Euphoria,” the teen drama that has viewers by the throat in terms of fashion trends.
However, the sun dresses and long skirts are much more practical. Who knows? You may be inspired to mix both styles to make a whole new outfit.
Sparkles and Sequins
If you saw Harry Styles’ outfit at Coachella, you know that sparkles and sequins are going to be all the rage this summer.
Decked-out in a rainbow sequined jumpsuit, Styles had many people talking about both his look and performance at the music festival.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see many copycats, in both masculine and feminine-presenting styles.
“Sequins, chainmail, sparkling mesh, crystals, and heavily-embellished styles abounded on the catwalks as sweet release from challenging lockdowns beckoned,” Pithers said. “Being overdressed is incontrovertibly a thing of the past.”
Based on the trends, it feels like many people will be going all-out this summer.
They’re possibly making up for the fact that we’ve seemingly been locked in our houses forever, and we need to make a grand gesture this summer. Go big or go home.
Photo by Andy Shrunk
Featured Photo Caption: Summer fashion tends to rely heavily on dressing for the weather, with breathable fabrics and shorter hemlines.