As summer labors on, you may find yourself in need of a warm-weather wardrobe refresher. Those sundresses and wide-leg pants that felt so fresh and cool in May now may be waning a bit on the style front. If you’re looking to revamp your summer style, here are a few of-the-minute trends to boost your seasonal looks as the hot days come hard and fast.
First up, jelly shoes. Yep, you read that right: jellies are officially trending. Whether you go for a pop of color or stick to a classic clear, these mesh flats will add a playful touch to your summer look. For a quality jelly, check out Ancient Greek Sandals’ Ellie Ballerina, which features a low wedge and oval toe shape. This comes in six different colors and is a more grown-up take on this trend. For a nostalgic and budget-friendly version, Asos’s London Rebel flat jelly has a fisherman-sandal silhouette and treaded sole. Wear jellies with cut-off shorts and a tank top or with your sundress and a big floppy hat. These shoes are for very low-impact days and are great for lounging by the pool or hanging out on the deck.
Another retro-feeling trend that’s gaining popularity is capri pants. Once a mainstay of the 90s and 00s, pedal pushers can be refreshingly chic for summer, especially when styled with kitten heels and a vest top. There are cropped pants out there of the cargo variety, but for this trend, you’ll want to go with a more fitted, legging-like silhouette. Zara’s ZW Collection capri pants feature an adjustable waist with buttoned tabs and front pockets. This version is nicely tailored for a polished summer office look. Mango’s Capri Leggings have a sportier feel but can still be chic when styled with a pointy-toe flat and wrap-style blouse.
Speaking of vests, the effortlessly elegant linen vest is a favorite this season. It’s a versatile piece that goes with everything from capris, as mentioned above, to full skirts and jeans. Banana Republic has the Lina Linen vest in black, white, or natural. This longer vest is tailored but semi-fitted to wear as a top or layer over a button-down. You can also pick up something similar from Target and their Allegra K Women’s suit vest jacket. This comes with a lapel and is a bit more formal, so it may not be as breezy as the BR option. Or check out the linen offerings over on Etsy for a more authentic raw material look.
Nothing says summer quite like fit-and-flare dresses. Both mid and maxi-length versions will add a bit of summer romance to your style. Gap’s Mixed Media midi dress comes in off-white, black, and smokey brown, with removal straps and pockets. This is a great throw-on-and-go dress with very little needed to create a summer look. Pair with flat sandals and sunglasses for a breezy yet sophisticated outfit. If you want to go more dressy, say for a late summer wedding, check out J.Crew’s Fit-and-Flare Midi dress rendered in a cotton poplin material with a chocolate floral print. With espadrille wedges and goal jewelry, this dress is appropriate for just about any events still upcoming this season and can transition into fall with boots and a cardigan.
If you’re more interested in adding little touches to spruce up your style midseason and not necessarily a whole dress, try a corded necklace or two. Choose a bold pendant like PacSun’s John Galt Stone cord necklace. Featuring a green stone and adjustable cord, you can wear this with any summer look for boho-inspired vibes. If you’re feeling classier, check out Ana Luisa’s Logan cord necklace with a golden circle pendant to add a bit of shine to a minimal all-black or all-white outfit.
Another easy summer accessory is a silky printed scarf. Tie this under your chin to instantly make any outfit look luxe, or drape it over the shoulders for some extra coverage with a sleeveless look. I’d go second-hand or vintage for a scarf. There are re-selling sites like TheRealReal and Poshmark if you’re looking to score a designer piece or check out your local Goodwill or thrift store to source unique summer scarves.
In all fairness, these trends aren’t necessarily for everyone. There are some levels of difficulty in styling these pieces, but if you’re up for the challenge, these ideas can take your look from subpar to super stylish.
