Revamp Your Wardrobe With Our Summer Fashion Guide

Styles always come back in fashion, but this year’s hot looks will never retire to the back of your closet. Your busy schedule and wallet will definitely like that. Check out our summer fashion guide and get inspired.

Summer fashion trends: French riviera

The most classic pieces this summer are quintessentially French. No surprise there. French stripes are spreading across runways in only their purest form: soft cotton blends and boat necklines.

My mother has been buying this style for me since I was an infant, so believe me: it will never be passé.

Fashion minds are far from the beaches of Brazil this year so you can lose the itsy bitsy bikinis and opt for more flattering cuts inspired by French babes.

High necklines and high-waisted bikini bottoms because leaving a little to the imagination is the best kind of sex appeal. Perfect for any age, you should have at least one good one-piece—and no, I don’t mean one of those backless, tummy-less things.

Class and practicality are everything you search for in a pair of shoes, right? The time-tested espadrille finds its home in the Pyrenees and is once again being flaunted in haute couture.

I’ve sported my mother’s vintage espadrilles since high school—the perks of sharing a shoe size! From Marrakech to Florida’s beaches, they are always my go-to for comfort and style.

Stray from the norm with strappy espadrilles, wedge espadrilles, and platforms! Tip: the best ones are made in Spain.

East Coast summer fashion must-haves

Look to America’s very own east coast for another inspiration this summer. Shift dresses, boyfriend chinos, and button-ups are perfect for the office and terrace happy hours.

Brighten it up with cheerful colors and patterns. Check, plaid, and seersucker stripes, if properly thrown together, are a smart fashion statement to make this summer.

For shoes, think nautical. Like espadrilles, boat shoes are appropriate more times than not. Paired with boyfriend chinos, they can take you to the beach, mid-week lunch or of course a boat. And, unlike espadrilles, a pair of leather boat shoes will last you quite some time.

Everyone should have two good blazers: a fitted and black blazer reserved for work or interviews as well as a more relaxed, perhaps even soft, blazer perfect as a casual light coat. The latter is one of this summer’s essentials and goes with just about anything.

Flower power

French simplicity and clean preppy cuts are great for bouncing between work days and happy hours, but what about lounging, you know, beach bum style?

The flowing cloth and bright colors of the ‘70s are ideal at the beach where the ocean breeze can show them off. These baby-boomer trends made a comeback a few years ago and it seems they’re here to stay, so hold on to those peasant tops and saris.

They are perfect for protecting yourself from the sun whether poolside or bum on the sand.

The last time embroidery was this big, my mother was sewing skirts for me. Good embroidery is an art and, thus, never out of style. However, a lot of pieces are overdone, meaning they won’t slide under the radar when it’s no longer a hot trend.

Unfortunately, truly timeless embroidery is usually of a higher price range. To keep things affordable—and of course practical—look for understated pieces or accessories that will blend into future trends. With some caution, I trust you’ll make the right decisions.

Textures

This summer’s fabric trends have a worldly, yet innocent feel. Dutch batik, a wax printed pattern with origins in Indonesia (once the Dutch East Indies), can be paired with any of the trends I’ve listed above.

Its blue and white paisleys and florals, sometimes bold and always refreshing, are perfect for blue skies and the sunshine.

Eyelet, or broderie Anglaise, is adorable when paired with dutch batik. Though you can find it every spring, you’ll feel extra hip with it this year.

On a very different note from pristine whites and navy blues, animal skins are totally in. Cheetah prints and snakeskin are peeking out from the accessories aisle.

Keep an eye out. Fortunately, this summer’s fashion is pretty tame, so don’t hesitate to splash some jungle in there via shoes or accessories. I’d be surprised to learn you don’t own some of these trends already. If not, now you have a reason to go shopping!

Are you excited about this summer’s trends? Share your thoughts below and don’t forget to like and share this article.