The summer 2021 fashion trend season is well underway. Which look will come to be your favorite by the end of it? To help get a handle on everything you'll want to try in the next few months, we've tapped buyers and experts at some of the biggest retailers to tell us which fashion items are this summer's greatest style contenders.
While some trends are to be expected — see: denim shorts and sandals (though, this year, with a '90s twist!) — others feel like uniquely post-pandemic finds — hi: bodycon party dresses and skin-revealing cut-outs — resulting in a warm-weather wardrobe that straddles the line between practical and fun.
Ahead, the summer trends worth noting — according to fashion insiders.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Denim Shorts
"Denim shorts are the ultimate staple for summer-friendly outfits that everyone should own. They’re such a versatile piece, that you can wear them from day to night and change up your look with just the switch of a shoe. This season, I’m opting for a longer-length style — perfect for a day at the beach or dressed up for a fun night out."
- Caroline Maguire, Fashion Director at Shopbop
Agolde Pieced Angled Shorts, $, available at Shopbop
Pistola Denim Kelly Shorts, $, available at Shopbop
Bodycon Mini
"After endless months of being stuck indoors shrouded in comfortable layers, the re-emergence from lockdown brings with it a certain boldness, and a willingness to test drive more daring pieces than we may have before. The mini bodycon dress will be a star of the summer.”
- Celenie Seidel, Senior Womenswear Editor at Farfetch
Louisa Ballou Heatwave Sheer Mini Dress, $, available at Farfetch
The Attico Belted Cut-out Fitted Dress, $, available at Farfetch
Heeled Flip-Flops
"We have seen a great reaction to heeled-toe thong sandals this year so far. ASOS DESIGN Haven has sold phenomenal units and often sell out immediately [upon release]! We have dropped lots of colors already this season including lilac toweling and neon — the most popular color being all-white which is perfect for summer."
- Vanessa Spence, Commercial Design & Visual Director at ASOS
ASOS DESIGN Haven Padded Toe Thong Heeled Sandals In White, $, available at ASOS
ASOS DESIGN Haven Braided Toe Thong Heeled Sandals In Gold, $, available at ASOS
Wanderlust Prints
"Dressing like you are on vacation (even if you are still sweating it out in the city) is a must. This is the season for wanderlust prints."
- Divya Mathur, Chief Merchant at INTERMIX
Agua By Agua Bendita Avena Canarios Tiered Mini Dress, $, available at Intermix
Cara Cara Whitney Tropical Fruit Shorts, $, available at Intermix
Mini Bags
"The mini-bags trend isn’t going anywhere! This summer, I’m excited to see variations of the style sweep the streets of New York. If the past couple of months have shown us anything, it’s that there has been and will always be a need for a bag big enough to carry your phone and small enough to make an impression."
- Telsha Anderson, T.A. owner and buyer
Reike Nen Pebble Long Mini Bag, $, available at T.A.
Peet Dullaert Orange-Gold Clutch, $, available at T.A.
Cottagecore
"Over the past year, we have all enjoyed spending time in nature and exploring the great outdoors. We see this continuing and reflecting in the way we dress this summer — romantic dresses in soft fabrications, rubber boots, and clogs are the perfect pieces for picnics in the park or staycations outside of the city. "
- Liane Wiggins, Head of Womenswear at MATCHESFASHION
Alemais Rosa Floral-Embroidered Midi Dress, $, available at MatchesFashion
Ganni Chunky Recycled Rubber-Blend Chelsea Boots, $, available at MatchesFashion
Clogs
"The clog has made an unexpected and cool comeback, and the must-have collaboration of the season comes from The Frankie Shop x Porte and Paire. These styles are set to become a staple in every wardrobe. "
- Libby Page, Senior Fashion Market Editor at NET-A-PORTER
Porte & Paire x Frankie Shop Glossed-leather platform clogs, $, available at Net-A-Porter
Bottega Veneta Puddle Rubber Clogs, $, available at Net-A-Porter
Smocked dresses
"Maybe it's the anticipation of the next season of Bridgerton, but I’m so excited for corset tops and smocked dresses! I love how flattering these dresses are while also being super comfy when it's 90 degrees! I will also throw on a boot and cardigan and wear this throughout the fall.”
- Melissa Thompson Charatz, Division Merchandising Manager at Anthropologie
Daily Practice by Anthropologie Tiered Maxi Dress, $, available at Anthropologie
Sunday In Brooklyn Smocked Midi Dress, $, available at Anthropologie
Cut-Outs
"This is the summer of the cut-out! Baring some skin is suddenly appropriate for day, night, and everything in between."
- Divya Mathur, Chief Merchant at INTERMIX
Cult Gaia Cameron Knit Cut-Out Midi Dress, $, available at Intermix
Intermix Mylie Cut-Out Rib Knit Sweater, $, available at Intermix
Stripes
"Stripes are the print of the summer! From bold stripes to tiny stripes, no pattern feels more suited for the warmer weather."
Lele Sadoughi Striped Terry Cloth Oversized Scrunchie, $, available at Shopbop
Anytime Metallics
"The Roaring '20s 2.0 is on everyone’s lips, and fittingly metallics are having a major moment — from sequins and glittering paillettes to Glomesh mesh to shiny Lurex. Where sparkle traditionally emerged after twilight, it now qualifies a perfectly acceptable choice with denim for a bodega run. Anything in the interest of sparking joy!”
- Celenie Seidel, Senior Womenswear Editor at Farfetch
Bambah Glitter Pleated Culottes, $, available at Farfetch
ANOUKI Disco Ball Midi Pencil Skirt, $, available at Farfetch
Baseball Caps
"As parts of the world emerge from life in lockdown to a life of more freedom, we are seeing certain pieces that were adopted as part of our lockdown wardrobes become ‘hangover trends,’ transitioning into our new way of dressing and finding new identity. The baseball cap, paired with activewear for daily walks, now finds its way into highly stylized looks."
- Celenie Seidel, Senior Womenswear Editor at Farfetch
We11done Embroidered Logo Baseball Cap, $, available at Farfetch
Balenciaga Glow-in-the-Dark Baseball Cap, $, available at Farfetch
Marble Print
"Graphic prints are splashed all over ASOS this summer, especially marble print."
- Vanessa Spence, Commercial Design & Visual Director at ASOS
ASOS DESIGN Marble Print Square Neck Bodysuit In Black, $, available at ASOS
ASOS DESIGN Marble Print Bodysuit In Beige, $, available at ASOS
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On Tuesday, at a sculpture park outside of Paris, Nicolas Ghesquière presented his latest cruise collection for Louis Vuitton, the French fashion house he’s sat at the helm of since 2013. For the collection, Ghesquière focused his attention on the future and the uplifting possibilities it holds.
That futuristic theme manifested itself especially in the footwear selection, particularly the space-cowboy boot hybrids that many of this season’s models wore during the show. Featuring pointed toes, mid-calf shafts, and “VUITTON” logos, the boots were styled with bubble-hem mini dresses — a silhouette Ghesquière introduced in the fall ‘21 collection — padded leather space-age pants, patterned bomber jackets, and more from-the-future attire. If the collection arrived earlier, the style would have no doubt appeared in Dua Lipa’s “Love Again” music video. (That, or Disney’s Zenon!)
Given fashion’s obsession with Western tropes these days, it’s no surprise that the brand would set its sights on the cowboy shoe. Add to that the recent talk of space exploration — Jeff Bezos is saying goodbye to Earth for the indeterminate future — and Ghesquière’s fondness for space travel, and it was only a matter of time before the two aesthetics collided on the runway at Louis Vuitton. But don’t expect these boots to be a one-off runway hit. Given all that buzz, and the reaction shoppers had to the brand’s ‘spring 21 pillow boots, we’re predicting Louis Vuitton’s latest boot selection to be all over Instagram (and beyond!) in the next few months, too.
In the meantime, check out how Louis Vuitton styled them for its cruise ‘22 show, below.
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Wedge sneakers are gearing up for a comeback — at least, according to Isabel Marant. Ten years after the brand first launched the controversial shoe style that everyone either loved or hated, the French designer announced on Tuesday that the Beketts, suede wedge sneakers with velcro closures, got a makeover.
Though trends from the 2000s have been popping up left and right these days — hello visible thongs, platform flip flops, and low-rise jeans! — we weren’t expecting a return to the mid-2010s for at least another decade. Marant, however, doesn’t believe wedge sneakers were ever out of style. “I’ve never stopped wanting to wear them,” Marant said of her signature style in a press release. “The most comfortable things are the things you will always wear and that you are never fed up with.”
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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Teva has the answer for shoppers looking to elevate their activewear game this summer. The go-to action sandal brand has partnered with British designer Christian Cowan for a vibrant, glittery collaboration that’s bringing a disco-ready aesthetic to everyone’s favorite “ugly shoe” style.
The two-piece collection fuses Teva’s sporty silhouette with Cowan’s signature hues (bold pinks) and material (glitter and metallics). The unisex styles include the Hurricane Gladiator-CC (pictured left), a Cowan-style take on Teva’s classic sandal in fluorescent pink and featuring recycled polyester straps, and the Hurricane XLT2 (below), a classic Teva sandal with a Durabrasion Rubber™ outsole, made for maximum traction, embellished with iridescent and plant-based glitter straps.
“This collaboration is fun, free-spirited, and functional, and blends both our worlds together harmoniously,” said designer Christian Cowan in a press release. “I loved working with existing Teva silhouettes and dialing up the sparkle, a testament to Teva’s free-spirited nature.”
With this collaboration, Cowan is joining a long lineup of designers and brands, including Outdoor Voices, Anna Sui, and UGG, Polaroid, and Opening Ceremony, that have partnered with Teva to remake their iconic sandals. Retailing between $90 and $175, the capsule collection is now available in select retail stores, as well as online at Teva.com.
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