There’s so much to do to properly prepare for summer. Reserve a great beach house for at least the month of August. Stock up on books to read surf-side. Switch out all wintry interiors in favor of lighter decor, possibly linen. Open the pool. Close the fireplaces. Take up horseback riding and perhaps pickleball. But topping the list is, inarguably, getting your wardrobe locked. Below, see eight trends to help inform the season ahead—from a new flock of party dresses and Technicolor suiting, to the return of the easy pencil skirt and a new crop of cutouts, to the key accessories to pair with all of it.
DRESS CODE: PARTY
Every decade had its reasons for needing some serious time on the dance floor—creating aesthetic distance from hippie culture (’70s), emerging from a major recession (’80s)—but it might be argued that spending more than a year at home might be the worthiest cause for celebration. Enter: your uniform of bold, body-conscious, possibly very short dresses designed for nights on the town, clubs at dawn, and maybe even your neighborhood barbecue. You deserve it.
SHOP DRESS CODE: PARTY
NET, NET
When it comes to beach days, the look is decidedly minimal, elevated, and netted. In cover-ups, crop tops, and dresses, the look is fishnet inspired and not just a little sexy. Go all in poolside and beyond.
SHOP NET, NET
THE GREAT WHITE TANK
Before you begin to argue that the white tank top is hardly a trend, and rather truly a closet staple, allow us to interject. When Prada puts a triangle logo on a white tank, allowing it to take center stage, and Matthieu Blazy makes his Bottega Veneta debut with a white tank and jeans as the first look out, the white tank is officially having a moment. Invest in a well-made ribbed tank, get on board, and wear it with, well, everything.
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CUT IT OUT
Cutout culture has taken over. From swim to dresses to tops, designers from Tom Ford to Christopher Esber to Valentino have a long running game of peekaboo going with their most loyal customers, and we’re all in.
SHOP CUT IT OUT
SUITS OF MANY COLORS
Though the universal appeal of a great white, black, or neutral suit has been well documented in recent seasons, there’s no arguing that the world is ready for a bit of Technicolor. Start with a suit that stands out in a sea of standard separates in shades ranging from orange to cobalt to lavender.
SHOP SUITS OF MANY COLORS
JUST SLIDE, BABY
The shoe of summer is shaping up to be a slide that also provides a little lift. Not quite a full platform, it offers some height and is far from dainty. It radiates ease and unabashed cool. Pair it with everything from linen maxi dresses to slouchy trousers.
SHOP JUST SLIDE, BABY
THE RETURN OF THE PENCIL SKIRT
The pencil skirt may have remained a workwear staple, but it hasn’t seen this level of cool-girl appeal since Gwyneth Paltrow wore one with an open button-down in the ’90s film Great Expectations. Anthony Vaccarello went all in with the pencil skirt for Saint Laurent pre-fall, as did man-of-the-moment Glenn Martens at Diesel. The trick is opting for a skirt that’s less tailored, more casual, and pairing it with a top that’s either fitted, cropped, or, like Gwyn, just a bit undone.
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SO EXTRA
The accessories add all the flourish to summer 2022’s story. The main takeaways? The classic clutch is back, ushered in, in part, by The Row and Saint Laurent. The baseball hat remains the moment—just add a logo. Take your beach bag big … and anywhere you want. And get ready for the bangle bracelet again. We can almost already hear you coming.
SHOP SO EXTRA
