2024 Summer Trends
It’s cool girl summer. Or clean girl summer, messy girl summer, maybe even rot girl summer. These labels, once used for microtrends, are broadening into a lifestyle to mirror the different ‘aesthetics’ happening across social media and the world: from simplistic shoes to intricate jewelry, these are the defining styles of summer 2024.
This summer, the basics return. There’s a clear focus on simple, versatile and practical outfits, such as a baby tee or tank with jeans. They are pieces that can be worn anywhere: at the grocery store, out shopping, getting coffee, meeting with friends. Casual and adaptable to any environment, these outfits emphasize both comfort and style, while staying affordable and accessible to almost everyone. This also falls in line with the intent of the ‘office siren’ trend, where everyday corporate workwear was reinvented into sleek, classy outfits with cool neutrals that underscored femininity and women’s role in firms and businesses. Some people have deemed this style as ‘recession core’: moving away from flashy, extravagant jewelry and accessories, instead embracing basic, gender-neutral staple pieces. Often the ‘decoration’ on these easy outfits is a pair of sunglasses, hair clip, and/or stylish everyday shoes: still cute, but also useful. With the fashion market becoming more and more saturated, these outfits highlight the value of getting pieces that will last and can be incorporated into many different outfits, moving away from the quick-paced fashion cycle that churn out microtrends faster than they can be consumed.
Adversely, maximalism may be on the rise: some people are gravitating towards adorning their outfits by layering statement pieces, patterns, colors, and designs. Copious amounts of gold jewelry is common, with rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets seen stacked on top of each other. Leopard print, popularized in the 1960s, can be spotted on shirts, belts, shoes, even jeans. The tops of choice are colorful baby tees with a graphic print - usually a large flower or a fruit cross-section. Popular shoes this summer are from Adidas, either the sambas or spezials. Featuring over eight styles and twenty-five colorways, they appeal to a wide audience and can be paired with any outfit. Uniquely themed nails in various styles, such as fruit or ocean themed, add distinctive personality to an outfit. The cherry on top is a pop of red: either with a shoulder bag, charm, or headband, it draws the eye and becomes a striking point in any outfit. The longevity of these pieces can’t be attested to yet, but they are the current movement nonetheless.
Tomboy aesthetics are also making a comeback: baggy jorts, oversized jerseys, and a sunburnt-esque blush placement emulate a boyish, youthful energy that many people, not just masculine, are embracing. This combined with more girly pieces like skirts, bows, and lace create an easygoing, laid-back look, echoing how lively, indulgent summers felt like as a child. Across social media, men are also leaning into the same relaxed outfits, cropping their t-shirts to a boxier fit and transitioning to more oversized jeans. The carabiner-on-jeans phenomenon also, like before, stresses the importance of utility in functional outfits. Overall, when the lines of ‘boy’ and ‘girl’ clothes are blurred, it opens up many more opportunities for styling outfits and adding individual, new touches to self-expression. This summer, at heart, is a time meant to be bold, individualistic, and experimental.