Emilie Oceane Lespinasse
Edited by Ella Querin
Summer is THE time to experiment with one’s style as the weather allows us to be more playful rather than focusing on trying not to freeze in the cold. As the sweet, slow days of summer come to a close, here is a recap of some of the top trends of the season, from the extravagance of mermaidcore to the ever classic and timeless model off duty look.
Mermaidcore
The prominence of this trend may have to do with the release of the live action film: The Little Mermaid, but regardless, I love the versatility of this trend—there are so many ways to incorporate this style into one’s existing wardrobe without going out of your way to purchase specific pieces. The mermaidcore color palette focuses on pale greens, blues, and purples, anything iridescent and metallic. Pearl and seashell jewelry are the perfect accessories to accompany this look, while scalloped edges, sheer fabric, and dangling ruffles give dresses a flowy and mesmerizing appearance, mimicking luminous jellyfish. Beyond clothing and accessories, hair and makeup are also fun elements of the mermaidcore aesthetic: “effortless” beach waves or slicked back hair, dewy skin with watercolor-like blush and glossy lips, iridescent eyeshadow, and of course, chrome nails (which seem to be an everlasting beauty trend).
Barbie Pink
I am certainly not the only one to have experienced this growing up: liking the color pink, but pretending not to, because it was “too girly,” fearing being portrayed as immature or childish. I found it embarrassing to wear the color, to have my room covered in varying shades of it, from baby pink to bright fuschias. I remember my mother being confused when I started refusing anything she picked out for me that happened to be pink. Years later, I’m able to confront those early feelings of internalized misogyny, and I no longer perceive girliness to be a negative thing, but rather, a spirited, unapologetic and bold expression of femininity. Similar to mermaidcore, this is a trend that has stemmed from the release of a highly anticipated movie, Barbie directed by Greta Gerwig. This summer, you can often see large crowds of smiley individuals standing outside movie theaters, decked out in an outfit full of pink ready to watch the film in style. Take inspiration from Margot Robbie’s absolutely iconic Barbie press tour looks, to Valentino’s Paris Fashion Week runway from last March. On the beauty side of things, cool toned pink blushes have been going viral on social media, such as the classic Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush in shade 001 Pink or the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in shade Happy (like the name suggests, wearing it does make me feel happy—it’s the magic of Barbie Pink.)
Ribbons & Rosettes
This is not only a summer trend, rather a year-wide one, but I couldn’t resist including it because it’s my personal favorite. It’s truly all about accessorizing and or a “DIY” piece; a simple outfit is elevated by tying bows into your hair, onto the straps of a tank top, using scraps of fabric to make a rosette choker, or adding texture and detail. These trends rose to popularity along with the balletcore aesthetic, thanks to Sandy Liang, an up and coming prominent designer incorporating this look in her recent runway shows. Many celebrities have been seen embracing this trend, from Jennie Kim to Zendaya, and singer Gracie Abrams. At Abrams’ Good Riddance tour, the universal yet unspoken dress code was wearing bows and ribbons in your hair, creating such a fun way to bond with a crowd of strangers over shared appreciation for fashion and music.
Crochet
Yet another DIY trend, but rather a summertime essential more than a trend that comes and goes. Crochet seems to have been a staple for multiple summers in a row now. It is quintessential for warm weather, from bikini cover ups to cute tote bags, evoking memories of sunny days at the beach or tanning by the pool. Of course you can find pieces like this at places like Zara and H&M, but I would argue that part of the appeal of crochet is the fact that you can recreate these looks yourself as an arts & crafts activity. There are plenty of tutorials and patterns you can find all over Instagram, Tik Tok, and Youtube, and not only is it a fun way to express your creativity, but it’s also an accessible pathway to sustainable fashion.
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