We've been reporting on summer 2021 trends for quite some time now. Whether you've actually been paying attention or not is another story. However, now that summer is here, we have a feeling you might have entered into the panic-buying stage of your seasonal shopping, and that just won't do. The time has come to buckle down and dive into the season's hottest trends, and we've got the ultimate summer 2021 trend shopping guide that will deliver all your sartorial needs and then some.
Featuring a handful of the trends you've surely seen pop up on Instagram, this roundup of new styles is here to enhance your summer wardrobe, not be your wardrobe in its entirety. Accompanied by the proper assortment of summertime basics, the trends listed below will ensure that you live out your most stylish summer yet.
It turns out there is nothing easier or cooler than a matching set. While this summer has surfaced many iterations of the matching-set craze, thanks to Hot Girl Summer, ones that are barely there have risen up as the cream of the crop. Including crisscross halters, micro miniskirts, and much more, if you're itching to bare it all this season, this is the one trend you shouldn't skip out on.
Shop the trend:
Shop the matching Sheer Mesh Tropic Skirt ($168).
Shop the matching Willa Skirt in After Hours ($75).
Shop the matching Kaia Skirt ($292).
Thanks largely in part to the return of early 2000s style, belly chains are officially back, as are all the other Y2K trends you used to think so highly of. Now, before you knock the trend, let me assure you it's not as daunting as it sounds. So far, we've spotted the fashion set wearing their belly chains with swimsuits the most, but I personally have enjoyed seeing them worn with low-rise pants, sets that expose your midriff, and even over more formfitting dresses.
Shop the trend:
If you're not crushing on crochet, you might be doing something wrong. The trend is currently at its peak, which means it's now coming in every form imaginable. From bikinis to handbags, this crafty texture is quickly becoming the most photographed trend of the summer, and we don't expect it'll slow its roll any time soon.
Shop the trend:
Cutouts are the summer trend that truly won't quit. What started as subtle skin-exposing moments has developed into fully bare backs, dresses that gape open on the sides, and even fully exposed midriffs. In case you haven't caught on, summer 2021 is all about showing a little skin, and we're here to make sure you do it in style. These dresses below are a great place to start.
Shop the trend:
Up until recently, I had considered the platform trend "pending." It's a shoe style that is always lingering, but it's been a while since it's had a true moment in the spotlight. Well, that moment is officially now, so get ready to embrace it. Don't worry if a platform heel isn't for you—more approachable flatform styles are trending as well. Basically, a platform boost of any kind is in style this summer, all you have to do is pick your fighter.
Shop the trend:
Sarong skirts are the moment, period. We love seeing them matched perfectly to your swimsuit (okay, fine, we have a matching-set obsession), but the $11 pair of skirts currently available on Amazon is just as stylish. Whether you have a beachy vacation planned or not, these breezy little cover-ups make for the easiest swimsuit styling technique one could ever ask for.
Shop the trend:
Add some color to your life via a tinted, translucent pair of sunglasses. The most popular colors of the moment are yellow and blue, but the crazier the hue the better if you ask us. When shopping for these new summer shades, be sure to opt for big frames. After what felt like years of miniature sunglasses, the look is now finally the bigger the better.
Shop the trend:
That childlike spirit we all have lingering inside of us is being sartorially expressed this summer in the form of youthful jewelry. Think summer-camp friendship bracelets, neon rings, and kitschy charms galore. From flowers to hearts to rainbow beads, the jewelry you should be shopping for this summer should serve one purpose and one purpose only: to bring you joy.
Shop the trend:
No shoes, no psychedelic pants, no service. If you're sick of wearing your jean shorts on repeat, wildly printed pants are the obvious answer. Retro prints are very much the vibe this summer, and besides a swimsuit, the pant version of the trend is the absolute easiest to wear. All you have to do styling-wise is pair them with a cropped ribbed tank or easy T-shirt, and you've got yourself a trendy 'fit in seconds flat.
Shop the trend:
