The unofficial first day of summer is upon us – Memorial Day weekend! Time to break out the grill, buy those hot dog buns, and put on your hottest summer outfits. Red, white, and blue regalia are filling the shelves, and as we begin to pack our weekender, let’s chat about the fun trends coming our way along with these amazing sunny temps.
What I’m eyeing first for the upcoming barbecues? Crochet, crochet, crochet. It’s everywhere by nearly every brand and in many cuts and colors. Polos? Cardigans? Crop tops? It’s on our Instagram feeds, on the runways, and on our minds. And while crochet can be worn at the beach as a chic cover-up, designers like Vanessa Bruno have quite a few pieces from their collection that can be worn to work or a casual picnic. And Vince, another spring and summer favorite, has updated the preppy polo with a boho twist. The style can be equally sophisticated as it can be laid back, allowing endless opportunities that will last the season. I bought a crochet top and had countless compliments before my second cup of coffee.
Now we can’t talk about the upcoming bright holiday without discussing all things Nautical. No longer just for those in Nantucket or Newport Beach, stripes, linen, and cable knits are for all of us, even without a sailboat. (Although that’d be nice.) Frame has countless stripe options channeling the trend as we dive headfirst into boating/picnic/patio season. Ulla Johnson’s newest arrivals also give a nod to the nautical with gorgeous linens and cotton sweaters. And have we mentioned sailor pants? Those have become SO popular with their flattering silhouettes and cute pockets. AskkNY (have you heard of them?) has some of the coolest sailor jeans I’ve seen. The company is female-founded, made in LA, and designed in NYC. What’s a better combo?
Let’s not forget dresses! Rails just delivered one of my favorite shift dresses this year – it leans into the nautical theme, and the silhouette can do double duty, dressed up or used as a swimsuit cover-up. And speaking of that, Xirena’s dress game is really hitting all the right notes (and colors) this year. They have a line of breezy shirt dresses that can be belted with wedges or more casually with your flip flops as you navigate the beach for the perfect place to post up. The best thing about dresses is that they’re easy, breezy – they’ll take you from the beach to happy hour as your best friend as you navigate the warm season ahead.
Now it’s time to talk about shorts. Yes, it’s a topic every year, and it seems scary at first as we figure out how to free our legs from Pant Prison. Good news is that now almost every cut and silhouette has hit the trend board. Nili Lotan, a denim legend, has multiple styles and washes this season, including one of the most chic trends this year – the long shorts. Frame has a pair that can ease you into the silhouette just right. Bonus here is their versatility. As much as I am loyal to a shorter cut, they’re not really office-friendly, so the long short trend is a way to combine worlds. For sunny hangs ahead, I love to pair my shorts with my favorite basics from either Michael Stars or Enza Costa.
As always, I recommend pushing your style boundaries, especially when the weather warms up. Play with silhouettes, textures, cuts you haven’t tried, and see how it goes. It’ll get you in the spirit for the fun long weekend ahead, hopefully filled with activities that sing summertime. (P.S. – See something you like? Feel free to call us at 503.223.6649 or visit us in person! Happy to help inspire your style for the upcoming season.)
Until next time,
