10 key fashion pieces for summer

Summer is almost here and I, for one, couldn’t be more excited! Summer means no more school, no more stress, and endless cups of fro-yo. One thing I’ve always loved about summer is the casual/cool style that comes along with it. This season’s style is all about adding twists — like texture, detail, and bright colors — to casual and comfortable clothing. With clothes that are just as fun and detailed as they are wearable, it’s no surprise that summer style has always been my favorite.

In this month’s column, I’ll be covering 10 of my favorite summer trends and personal seasonal favorites that I’ll be wearing all of this season. These are the key pieces that will give any outfit already in your closet a stylish summer update.

In the Style File spirit, I encourage you to have fun with the trends that you like and be brave with your style this summer. If there’s a trend that you’re interested in, try it out and make it your own. Having fun with your clothes is what fashion is all about!

Fringe:

Fringe is hands down one of my favorite summer trends! It’s so simple, but adds a ton of eye-catching detail that will take any outfit to the next level of awesomeness! I’d pair this Forever 21 tank with a pair of flowy pants for a cute and casual look.

Tank– $12, Forever 21

Off the Shoulder:

I love off the shoulder tops because not only are they super trendy, but they’re a fun way to show a little skin in the summer time. This crop top alternative is cool, comfortable, and very versatile! This top I found at H&M is perfect — pair it with some distressed denim shorts for a day around town or with a midi skirt for an instantly dressier look!

Top– $40, H&M

Suede:

I love suede — the feeling, the look, and basically everything about it! It’s subtle texture is soft-yet-sophisticated and it always adds an interesting, glamorous touch to any outfit. Although you can find almost anything in suede these days, it can get really expensive. I thought that these faux-suede Forever 21 shorts (with a cool stitched detail) were kind of unexpected and would look great paired with a plain white tee and some jewelry.

Shorts– $18, Forever 21

Bralettes:

Bralettes have been a go-to for me and I couldn’t be happier that they’re trending this season. The cool cutouts paired with intricate lace patterns make them perfect for summer because they’re simple, but add a fashion-y twist to all of your outfits. I like getting bralettes from Forever 21 because they’re inexpensive and come in lots of colors and styles.

Bralette– $10, Forever 21

Tie-Dye:

I’ve seen tie-dye clothes everywhere lately and I can’t help but wish that I saved all of the tie-dye t-shirts I made at summer camp when I was younger. This colorful trend has been printed on everything from socks to dresses to headbands, but these joggers from UrbanOG drew my attention. The combination of the bright and bold tie-dye on the (somewhat) structured pants would look great with a soft, plain t-shirt.

Joggers– $20, UrbanOG

T-Shirt Dress:

This might just be my favorite piece for summer. The simplicity of this item makes it so easy to dress up or down for any occasion. Leave it as it is or add a statement necklace and add slip-on sneakers for an instantly fancier look.

Shirtdress– $34, Lulus

Slip-On Sneakers:

Classic. Stylish. Simple. What more can I say?

Canvas Sneakers– $13, H&M
Kimonos:

Kimonos are amazing for so many reasons. They’re comfortable, detailed, great for layering, casual, textured, they’re weightless and breezy — the list could go on and on. They come in lots of different prints, so I found two different types that I just love for summer. The print (above) is fun and funky, whereas the floral (below) is more classic.

Printed Kimono– $60, Zara

Floral Kimono– $50, ModCloth

Bucket Bags:

Bucket bags are perfect for summer because the depth of the bag makes it easy hold all of your essentials, but they aren’t bulky, so you can carry them around with ease on a hot summer day!

Colorful Bag– $38, Urban Outfitters

Faux-Leather Bag– $25, Forever21

Rompers and Jumpsuits:

Rompers and jumpsuits are must haves for summertime because they’re so easy. Think about it: They’re basically an entire outfit that’s already been put together for you! This always cool and effortless piece can also be really personalized since they come in all different lengths, prints, cutouts, and colors.

Printed Romper– $40, ASOS

Jumpsuit– $60, Missguided

My fashion column, The Style File, will be running every month here on HelloGiggles Teen! If you have any topics you want me to cover, style-wise, please contact me via my email! Keep an eye out for next months articles!

(Images via here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.)