With the end of the pandemic finally in sight, many people are looking forward to things returning to normal. In particular, a fun-filled summer doing all the things summer is meant for that we haven’t been able to do for over a year. Whether it be traveling, visiting local public pools, or shopping, many hopes are pinned on this summer to make up for a very, very hard year.
Summer is also a time for fashion, and after so long being cooped up at home, it will be nice to finally be able to go out and show off our sense of style. But even the most personal styles can be influenced by popular trends. Finding out what’s in season and where you can buy it can be made very easy with modern technology; it doesn’t have to go beyond a simple Google search. But sometimes, to be truly en vogue, a little digging may be required.
One surefire way to find out what’s hot right now is with prominent fashion magazines such as Vogue or Elle. Right now, these fashion outlets are promoting articles such as “15 Ways to Wear White After Labor Day,” “The 7 Trends You’re About to See All Summer,” and “The 12 Biggest Spring/Summer 2021 Trends.”
Another, newer way to learn what everyone is wearing is by looking on social media platforms such as TikTok. According to an article written for Vogue, TikTok creators have been responsible for reviving styles from the beginning of the millennia, called Y2K fashion. According to the article, this caused “a ripple effect into the mainstream fashion industry: Brands such as Juicy Couture…and Von Dutch even revived themselves from the dead and re-launched due to popular demand.” In short, don’t be afraid to flaunt your look on your TikTok account, because you might set the new hottest trend.
Of course, not everyone has the means to fill their wardrobe with high-end brands such as Gucci or Chanel, but there are still many affordable brands. According to an article written for Insider, one of the most popular brands with teenagers right now is American Eagle. The article says that it’s a “combination of reasonable prices, uplifting messages, and emphasis on comfort” that make this brand resonate with many teenagers. And of course, many brands can be found on Amazon, where they’ll often be a bit cheaper than buying their clothes in-store or on their websites.
Thrifting has also been making a comeback as an alternative that is both easy on the wallet and good for the environment. Stores such as Goodwill or Plato’s Closet will accept donated clothes, or even buy gently used clothing, to be sold at a discounted price. Thrifting is an excellent way to find that pièce de résistance without spending your entire clothing budget. Thrifting also reduces waste, so less clothes are finding their way to landfills.
Whether you’re carefully curating each outfit or simply throwing on whatever’s in the closet, clothes should be an expression of who you are. They should make you feel comfortable and beautiful, and most importantly, like you.
