The Key 2024 Summer Trends That You Can’t Miss

As we enter the latter half of summer, it’s time to embrace the joy of a chic little white dress paired with ballet flats and soak up the sun. Fortunately, for spring 2024, designers had the same idea. Fashion weeks in New York, Paris, London, and Milan showcased an array of both stunning and functional pieces to anticipate for the summer.

This season, designers are leaning into nostalgia. While low-rise jeans may still be divisive, the great news is that many key elements of this season’s trends are likely already in your closet. A few stylish tweaks—like a crisp white shirt or some playful accessories—can easily refresh your look. Ballet flats, Mary-Janes, and tailored blazers remain timeless staples, while shorts are trending shorter than ever, celebrating our legs with flair.

Scroll on to discover the must-have trends set to make waves this season.

Polo Club

Miu Miu continues to reign supreme on the fashion calendar, showcasing the versatile collared cotton style in a myriad of creative ways. From pairing it with men's board shorts to ruffled micro-mini skirts, and from gold brocade shift dresses to sequin-embellished blouses, the humble collar is taking center stage. This country club vibe wasn't limited to Miu Miu, as Ralph Lauren and Ganni proved the timelessness of a navy and white palette yet again, while Jacquemus brought tenniscore to couture for Zendaya's Challengers.

Short Shorts

The micro shorts making waves this season are breathtakingly short, akin to high-waisted boyleg underwear (hello, Bella Hadid for Adidas Originals SL 72). This trend embraces a mix-and-match approach, pairing the shorts with baby tees, embellished, oversized shirts, matching sets, singlets, and cardigans. This evolution in bottoms isn't surprising when you consider the post-pandemic shift away from traditional pants. In recent years, leggings, sweatpants, and even underwear have taken center stage in various ensembles. Now, it appears designers are guiding us into the era of women's shorts. Good for us when we get legs for days.

Ballet Flats

After a decade of '90s obsession, we're now revisiting 2000s trends. Ballet flats are back on the high-fashion radar, re-emerging in spring/summer 2021 collections. Iconic brands like Dior, Chanel, and Alaïa have embraced the trend, with Lanvin relaunching its popular ruched ballerinas from the 2000s. Today’s ballet flats come with imaginative twists: crystals, eyelets, and mesh. Alaïa’s fishnet ballerinas were the shoe of summer '23, while Khaite’s floral-embroidered and Miu Miu’s logo-emblazoned pairs are hot items. Some styles even subvert girlishness with rebellious details, like Ganni’s pointed toes and Louboutin’s spiked Mamadrague pumps.

Jerseycore

Athleisure has evolved from workout wear to encompass jerseys, sports shorts, oversized hoodies, and sleek sneakers in our everyday wardrobes. Rugby shirts made a splash this season at Dries Van Noten and DSquared2 and even the most feminine fashion girls are now wearing football shirts for lunch, drinks, or shopping—embracing jerseycore. Celebrities have been leading the charge, rocking vintage football shirts and providing ample style inspiration. Dua Lipa was one of the first to embrace this trend, regularly sporting various jerseys and setting the tone for this playful fusion of athleisure and casual wear.

Beauty Merch

Branded merch is nothing new, but recently, beauty brands have been launching Instagrammable items beyond makeup and skincare that sell out in minutes. Take Rhode for example— these limited-edition pieces allow superfans to show their loyalty and flaunt their favorite brands, blending functionality with fun.

Big Bag Energy

Bags are evolving to mirror the lively, messy nature of modern life, giving you permission to embrace your chaotic, yet functional self. At Coach, quirky tchotchkes dangled from purses, infusing them with personality while YSL’s Icare in raffia is currently a celebrity favourite.

Yes To The White Dress

Designers are steering away from the usual spring bursts of color and frothy pastels, instead embracing a spectrum of swan-white dresses. These range from diaphanous and sheer to embroidered and densely-worked, signaling a clear shift in seasonal trends.