The World's Best Shoppers Share the Noteworthy Trends to Buy This Summer
Welcome to our World's Best Shoppers series, a monthly feature in which we tap the shopping leaders of the fashion world—the best fashion directors, buyers, and stylists—for sartorial insight on what to buy each season.
Summer is just a month away, and I'm already dreaming up all the cool, of-the-moment pieces I want to style together this warm-weather season. I find that summer is the perfect time to have fun with trends, and luckily there are plenty of chic styles that will add a fresh and fashion-forward touch to your ensembles. To get sartorially inspired (and excited for summer!), I tapped some of the most fashion-savvy women at our favorite retailers to share the noteworthy trends they believe are worth investing in this season. Keep scrolling to take a peek at what's currently on the shopping lists of some of the world's best shoppers, from timeless yet trend-forward staples like raffia bags to joyful pops of color.
Lisa Aiken, Fashion & Lifestyle Director, Neiman Marcus
Raffia Tote Bag
"In our opinion, the most important trend-driven purchases are ones that have longevity in a wardrobe, and perhaps we switch up the way we style them. This Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Raffia Tote Bag perfectly captures the basket-bag trend that will take us through the summer months no matter the locale and will, no doubt, live in our vacation wardrobes for years to come."
Colorful Sandals
"There is an overarching sense of optimism in fashion right now that allows us to embrace color and print in a way we haven't done in quite some time. That can be a little intimidating at times—particularly if you consider yourself to be more of a minimalist. The easy way in is by way of a pair of color-pop heels. We love this incredible shade of orange at Bottega Veneta with the Stretch Sandals, which will look just as good with head-to-toe neutrals as it will juxtaposed with something completely unexpected. We styled it with this purple slip dress from Loulou Studio for a presentation earlier this month and loved the contrast."
Crochet
"Anything crochet is a great purchase heading into summer, and we are particularly excited about this lime-green Ronny Kobo Toput Crochet-Knit Cutout Halter Dress, which is an incredible shade for a vacation or warm summer nights in the city. A lot of the crochet styles around are very open, so it can be challenging to style, but this one reveals just enough."
Tiffany Hsu, VP Fashion Buying, Mytheresa
Lingerie-Inspired Swimwear
"I love this piece by Nensi Dojaki for Mytheresa. We have seen a lot of minimal fabric with maximal exposure on swimwear that was inspired by last summer's hottest trends. I love wearing this as both a swimsuit or as a top under a jacket."
Platforms
"Platform shoes are the coolest new trend on the block after the debut of the infamous Versace Mary Jane pumps and the Valentino Tango platforms. We've been seeing more and more brands doing their own version of the platform style. This is a super modem and stylized version from Bottega Veneta."
Visor Eyewear
"A continued trend from last season, 80s visor-inspired eyewear is both retro and futuristic. We have seen sporty versions from Balenciaga and more glamorous styles from YSL and Versace."
Jumpsuit
"The body-con jumpsuit is one of the biggest trends this summer, and YSL's 70s jumpsuit is one of the most coveted. It’s really a fun trend that you can style with a big belt or a blazer."
Caroline Maguire, Fashion Director, Shopbop
Long, Breezy Dress
"The number one trend I return to every summer is long, breezy dresses, something that can be worn everywhere, from the beach to a romantic date night. I'm particularly obsessed with this iteration from Odile Jacobs. The bold print and color scream summer! Easily top this chic look off with flat platforms, simple gold hoops, and your favorite clutch."
Large Tote Bag
"I'm always on the go—whether it's heading across town, running errands, or hitting the beach. A trending item that I absolutely need is a chic tote that doesn't compromise on space or style. This Among Equals tote is my favorite everyday bag for the season. It fits both my kids' and my things perfectly."
Dark Shades
"Obviously, I've been loving extra-dark shades to shield the rays away! The more tinted the frame, the better. You'll catch me with this pair on all summer long."
Tracy Margolies, Chief Merchandising Officer, Saks Fifth Avenue
Colorful Hues
"We are loving colorful, bright dresses for summer. This beautiful Johanna Ortiz halter-neck wrap dress features asymmetric draping and a mini length that lends to an easy yet elegant cocktail look."
Raffia Bag
"Raffia is always a summer staple, and Loewe does it best with its annual Paula's Ibiza capsule collection. This bucket bag, in particular, has both ruffles and raffia—the perfect way to sum up summer in one bag."
Clear Party Shoes
"It's all about the party shoes this season, and these Mach & Mach sandals are sure to impress at any summer event."
Danielle Williams Eke, Design Director, 11 Honoré
Bold Prints
"I love the bold, bright stripes in this versatile tank dress. It can be dressed down with subtle slides or dressed up with sexy strappy heels."
Summer Suiting
"I'm loving suiting for the summer. Neutrals and muted colors in a variety of silhouettes, including cropped lengths, are great paired back to flowy trousers or over a sexy tank dress."
Oversize Button-Down
"Crisp shirting continues its dominance this summer with so many iterations. We took the classic shirt to the next level with a longer dress length and a bold hue. I love the bright pop paired with light-wash denim and sexy heels."
Sherri McMullen, Founder & CEO, McMullen
Cutout Dress
"I love this Baes dress from Beaufille. It's the perfect little summer dress that can be dressed up or worn casually with sandals. It has an A-line shape that offers fluidity and ease to a cutout silhouette."
Raffia Tote Bag
"This Apointetc raffia bag has a great green color that still works as a neutral."
"Mara Hoffman is always a favorite for summer dresses. This dress is great for any summer occasion, and the embroidered details make it that much more special."
Kate Bellman, Fashion Managing Editor, Nordstrom
Vacation Sandals
"Farm Rio is a favorite of mine—just looking at its vibrant printed dresses puts a smile on my face. Its new shoe collection embodies all the same joyousness and will absolutely be my go-to vacation sandals. Definitely a reason to get a pedicure ASAP!"
Modern Pearl Earrings
"I love the contrast of the organic nature of these freshwater pearls against the bold gold oversize, brassy drop. I could easily wear them with jeans and a T-shirt or dressed up for one of the many weddings I have to go to this summer."
Colorful Statement Top
"I am so excited to get dressed up again this summer, and I am going all out. This top by Black-owned brand Kimberly Goldson checks all the boxes for my summer wardrobe needs—bold color, statement ruffles, and shiny finish."
Up next, 9 Major 2022 Trends You'll Want to Wear on Vacation This Summer
Judith Jones is the senior fashion market editor at Who What Wear who specializes in shopping content and trend stories with high-affiliate impact. She shares the coolest, most desirable fashion market finds and brands for every budget. Previous to working in fashion, Judith worked as a TV host on the PBS travel show Globe Trekker (airing on Netflix and Amazon Prime) sharing her passion for travel and culture.
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