Jennifer Mackie (0:01)

Well, here we are. A new season is underway, and with it, lots of fun, fresh new looks. Today, I'm breaking down what all the cool girls that's you will be wearing this summer. Let's get started. Hello, gorgeous. Welcome back to the Everyday Style School, the podcast that gives real life style advice to real life women. I'm your host, Jennifer Mackie. Mary. I'm a wardrobe stylist who's been dressing everyday Women for over 25 years. And I'm the founder of Everyday Style, where we are on a mission to inspire women to love the way they look and give you the tools to make getting dressed easy. It's that time again. Every three months, another new season, more new trends. You know, it's funny, as I've been shopping lately and looking at what's trending in stores, I've had this overwhelming sense of deja vu. Like, have I talked about this one before? When did I talk about this? I know I talked about it somewhere. So I went back and I looked at the trends I covered from last summer, and wow. So many of the things that were Runway trends have really picked up steam and are solidly what I like to call real way trends this year. And when I do these episodes, I like to share what was big on the runways that we are seeing show up in regular stores. And there are tons of Runway trends that just don't translate to everyday life, so we don't talk about those. And I choose to focus on the most wearable. And, you know, sometimes the trends from my episodes show up in a big way, and sometimes they're harder to find, but that's a lot easier to do in the spring and fall. And because those are the big fashion collection releases, right, you've got your spring summer shows and your fall winter shows. From a Runway perspective, we've kind of already seen everything we're going to see for summer. We're not wondering or waiting to see what's shown up. Right. There's no new summer Runway show coming now. It's really more about seeing what is actually big in stores. So instead of sharing what's coming to the stores from the Runway, I thought I would share some of the biggest trends already in the stores where you're already shopping. And because my team and I spend a lot of time looking at clothes both in stores and on websites, we always have an idea of the trends that are running through the stores. But if you don't dedicate entire days to clothing, which I hope you don't, you might not have put those pieces together yet. But after today, your eyes are going to start to spot these trends everywhere and you will be in the know. And that's just one service we like to provide. Okay, there are so many, so many real weight trends in stores right now. It was really, really hard to narrow it down to just 10. So keep your ears open. I'll probably mention a few others. I'm not going to go in depth on them, but there's probably a few extras in there as well. And there are also so many shoe trends this season that I've decided to cover 10 summer shoe trends in the bonus episode on our Members Only podcast. So if you are already a Style Circle member, make sure you go and you check it out. The episode is out right now. Also inside the Style Circle you will find our style classes, our supportive community, personalized coaching, and of course, our famous capsule wardrobe guides. The summer 2025 capsule guide is here. It's all already in our member dashboard and it's showing you how to use wardrobe basics that you probably already have, combined with a couple of on trend pieces to create a versatile mix and match wardrobe that keeps you looking fresh and current and will save you time and money and give you a ton of style all season long. And the link to join us if you're not already a member is in the Show Notes and also in the Show Notes. Just like every season, we've got links and examples for the 10 official trends that I'm talking about today. So head over there, head to our website, check those out, maybe do a little wardrobe updating since I've already done the hard work of shopping for you. Before we get to the list, I just want to share a couple of thoughts about summer and trends in general. When I used to ask my clients what season they like to dress for most and which season they like to dress for least, it will probably come as no surprise that fall was the favorite and summer was the style loser. Women struggle to get dressed in the summer and I get it. There are a few things that make summer style a lot harder. And the first one is it's hot, right? It's just hot. The temperature and the humidity mean that layering is off the table and you want lightweight fabrics which can wilt and look sad really easily. And sometimes you don't even want those extras touching your skin like a necklace or a bracelet. And the heat and the humidity, they take away a lot of things that we normally use to create more interesting outfits. And when those are gone, we're often Just left with lackluster looks. Another challenge is as a season, summer is just more relaxed and more just. It's just lazier, right? A summer dinner for my family could be an entire watermelon followed by a trip to an ice cream shop. Like winter me would never. When my girls were little, swimming in the pool after dinner, that totally counted as bath time. And don't judge me. They're fine. They turned out okay, right? But that vibe just translates to how we feel about getting dressed. But that who cares? It's summer attitude or often leaves us feeling frumpy. Even if we don't like the thought of putting a lot of effort in and getting properly dressed each day. So what is a stylish woman to do? I know it feels like you've got two choices. You can be comfortable and effortless and look comfortable and like you made no effort. Or you can look cute and put together while your eyeliner runs and your thighs chafe. But those are not your only choices, my love. There is a third way and that is to buy cute, comfortable everyday versions up leveled versions of the things you're already wearing or the things you need to wear anyway. And this is why I think summer is a time to lean into trends instead of forgetting about them and just saving it all up for fall when it matters. Again, one question I get a lot is along the lines of my style is simple and I don't like a lot of color or pattern, but how do I keep from looking boring? And my answer is always when you only have a few pieces, each one matters more. So a really easy thing to do is trade the plain Jane version for something with a little bit more style. For example, if you're just wearing basic medium wash straight leg jeans and a neutral crew neck tee, swap them for a wide leg light wash jean and a striped boat neck tee. It's the same outfit, jeans in a tee, right? But one has a lot more personality. Applying that concept to summer, swapping the kind of boring basics for pieces with more punch means that your outfit gets an upgrade without having to add anything. In the layering seasons, fall, winter, even spring, a trendy item might be one of many pieces you're wearing, but in the summer, one piece could be half of your outfit. It's going to stand out more and the style factor of adding a trend will go even further. I also love summer trends because fewer pieces in the outfit means that it's easier to get the outfit right. Layering is great, but layering well can be tough. Summer trends Feel easy to me. So if you're a little bit timid when it comes to trying new things, this is a great season to get out of your comfort zone. It's a lot easier in the summer when you don't have so many pieces to work with. And style is just less serious in the summer, which makes it the perfect time to experiment. All of this to say, don't ignore summer style or summer trends just because you're not as focused on getting dressed. You can't be naked, so you might as well like how you look, especially if it doesn't require any more effort. Okay, let's talk in store real Way. Summer 2025 trends trend number one. I'm calling Farmer's Market Fashion. Have you seen all of the fruit and vegetable motifs out there right now? It's crazy. I don't know what kind of deal Big Tomato has cut with the government and stores, but produce is having a moment. Graphic tees, dresses, scarves, shoes, sweaters, swimwear, bag charms. Everything is covered in fruits and vegetables. And can I just have a quick little sidebar about bag charms? Have you seen the movie Mean Girls, specifically where Gretchen keeps using the word fetch, hoping it'll catch on? And Regina, finally, snapshot. Stop trying to make fetch happen. I feel like I am Gretchen, and bag charms are my fetch. And I feel like y' all might be Regina George telling me to stop trying to make bag charms happen. But no. No, I will not. Adding charms and other accessories to your bags is a great way to add a little oomph to your outfit without having to wear another piece. And they're an incredibly easy way to personalize your style. But it's also kind of unexpected. And it's also, let's face it, completely unnecessary. And when you have unexpected, unnecessary things like that, it says, I put a little extra into my style. It's just a little touch that goes a long way. It gives a little bit more style mileage with almost zero effort. And what is not to love about that? So no matter what your style is, you can find a bag charm or a scarf or something that fits your vibe to put put on your bag. It's another. It's a piece on your bag, not on your body, that will help boost your summer style. Anyway, back to Farmer's Market Fashion. Like almost all of the trends we've talked about in our seasons together, our many seasons together, you can dip a toe into the trend waters with a scarf or a graphic tee, or you can dive into the deep end with an all over vegetable print, maxi dress. It's up to you. Another way to make this trend a little bit more wearable is to go for motifs that we've already seen before, like lemons and cherries and strawberries. Those aren't super out there. If you're not feeling quite so bold, these won't feel as conspicuous as a pair of pants and a matching top with bell peppers all over them. Many, many, many moons ago, I did an episode called the Truth about Trends. And in that episode I talked about the difference between a trend and a fad. Over the years, women have told me that they're hesitant to buy things that are on trend because they're afraid it will be out of style next season or next year. And what I shared in that episode, and a million times since, is that trends don't move that quickly. If something is a trend right now, it'll probably not be completely out next summer. Very, very few things are at the height of fashion one season and nowhere to be found the next. That is not a trend. That is a fad. And why am I telling you this? Because I think vegetable prints are a fad. Fruits are a trend. Veggies fad. Now, personally, I don't care. I bought a cute tomato tea and if I don't wear it next summer, it'll be okay. I don't advocate buying lots of inexpensive disposable clothing, but as cute as I think the veggie cardigan from Anthropologie is, I don't see myself wearing carrots and pea pods for years to come when no one else is. So I can't justify buying that. But you know, a graphic tee, I will absolutely get my money's worth out of that and not feel bad if I don't wear it again next season. So for that reason, I'm just, I'm keeping my purchases of this one small and inexpensive. And if I wanted a longer lasting piece, I would do fruits instead. So just something to keep in mind, trend number two, I am calling Sea Lifestyle. This one is kind of a mashup of the fisherman core aesthetic I talked about in spring and the mermaid core I talked about last summer. In terms of prints in this category, shells are big again. They're on everything from graphic tees to dresses. And I think this one, especially when done in something understated or neutral like navy and white, is really, really wearable. But be careful. I have seen some all over shell prints that remind me of that era when everyone turned their bathroom into a beach themed Getaway, no matter how close to the ocean you lived. Right. And an all over shell print shower curtain was kind of the perfect thing for that. That esthetic when it comes to clothing and that, that pattern, keep the silhouette modern so that you look fresh and not frumpy and not like a shower curtain from the 90s. All right? But beyond shells, sea creatures are a huge motif too. From a little sardine embroidered on a tank top, which is cuter than it sounds, trust me, to a maxi dress with lobsters all over it. Sea life is all over the place. I don't know about you, but I did not see the rise of the Sardine happening in 2025. Big Sardine must be using the same PR firm as Big Tomato, because in my entire life, collectively, all my years on this earth, I have not seen as many sardines on clothing or really anywhere as I have for summer 2025. And we're not really even into the season yet. And it's funny, my daughter came home the other day from shopping and she. We did not talk about this episode at all, but she said, what's up with sardines? They're everywhere. So, yes, everybody is seeing the sardine. Now, if you're thinking, Jen, how do I pick just one whimsical motif for the summer? Do I choose produce or sea life? Friend, you don't have to choose. No. So many prints are doing the hard work for you and combining the motifs into one happy summer item. Do lobsters and pineapples really go together or do they really grow in the same place? I. I don't know. It's best not to think too hard about it. But if you want to do both, you can do both. There are prints out there that have fruits and vegetables and sardines and all the good things on them. So there you go again. By the way, sardines are a fad. Sardines are 100% a fad. And I don't care. I'm here for it. It's just fun to me. Okay? Now, outside of teas and prints, the sea lifestyle trend is showing up a lot in accessories with things like shell necklaces and pendants and fisherman sandals and whimsical little fish shaped bags, all kinds of things. When it comes to the shell necklaces, though, this is not the puka shell necklace that your daughter wore in her VSCO girl era. Nope. These are more like a shell pendant. A summer theme pendant. Bonus trend points if that shell pendant is on a cord. I told you, in spring, that cord Necklaces were going to be gaining in popularity and they definitely did. That is another trend for summer, another one of my little extra bonus trends for you. With our first two trends, you can channel your inner agrarian or your inner seafarer. Just have fun with it. Remember, summer is not that serious. It's the perfect time to throw on a sardine skirt or a tomato tea and have drinks on a patio. Trend number three and I have run out of fun names are skirts. Trend number three are skirts specifically drop waist skirts. And by this I mean there's a really wide waistband or yoke and then the fullness starts at the hip. There are a few mini and a few knee length versions out there, but mostly we're seeing midis and maxis and lots and lots of tiered versions. And these skirts are a little bit reminiscent of the full skirts that my pear shaped clients used to love around like 2013, 2014. But the yoke on this or that flat waist part, it wasn't as wide and the volume started higher. Those factors significantly change how the skirt looks on different bodies. So remember that you want the volume to start where you can afford to add a little visual bulk. So if your hips are your widest part, you may not want volume to start there. You want it to start higher so that your widest part is just kind of camouflaged by all that volume. Right? If those skirts worked great on you before, don't be surprised if these aren't quite the same. It doesn't mean that you can't wear them. Just look for styles that have less of a dropped waist or less volume starting at the hip. On the other hand, if you're one of the people who couldn't wear those old school fuller skirts quite as well, don't count this new style out. It might be exactly what you need. If you're bigger on top than on the bottom and you'd like to add a little bit more volume to balance your body. On a whim. I tried one of these skirts at Walmart because my Wally World now has their free assembly line which is absolutely fantastic. And as an apple, this skirt, this drop waist, full skirt and basic tank was as close to looking like an hourglass as I will probably ever get. It's just a good reminder that there's a way for just about every body shape to make a trend work. It's just about finding the right combination on this one of that waist placement and volume. If the skirt I bought is still available, I will link it in the show notes, but there Are there are a ton of them out there. But this skirt, it combines the on trend skirt with the on trend embroidered lemons. By the way, embroidery is another big trend for summer, making my skirt what I like to call a twofer trend. Right? Or in this case, a three fur trend with the skirt embroidery and fruits on it. There we are moving on to trend number four, which is long shorts. I have been threatening for months now that long denim jorts were going to be a thing for summer. And I wish I was wrong, I really do. But here we are. In addition to knee length jean shorts, we are seeing Bermudas of all kinds. From dressy suiting fabrics and casual chinos to even stretch woven athleisure version. This is the summer of the long short. Now, lots of you are probably saying, oh thank God, I hate my legs. I can't wait to cover them up with 9 to 13 inches of fabric. But I just want you to pause. I want to issue you a deeply, deeply concerned warning because I love you and I want you to look your best. And here is that warning. Long shorts are tough to pull off. They cut your legs right in half, making them look shorter. And most of the time, shorts this length make you look older and frumpy. Is that true for everyone in all situations? Of course not. And should you wear them if you want to? Of course you should. But often the body problem you're trying to solve with long shorts, either A, it makes it worse or B those shorts cause other body problems. Long shorts work best on women who have long legs and shorter torsos. Just like putting volume where you can afford to add visual bulk, reducing visual length of your legs only makes sense if you can afford to lose that length. I am all torso. Short legs and shorts this length look awful on me. Absolutely awful. A better option is either shorter shorts or ankle pants. To keep your legs looking as long as possible, go for either showing more skin or showing more fabric. That half and half is tough. Trend number five is another short trend. This time it's women's shorts inspired by men's boxers. We've been seeing these for a couple of summers now, but they were stuck in that high end or fast fashion only spot that I sometimes see when I do these Runway trends. And that tells me regular women aren't really wearing it yet, right? However, this season they are everywhere. The boxer looking iteration of this trend is a striped cotton poplin short with an elasticized waistband, sometimes a fake button placket and even a little tag at the front waistband. Very men's underwear looking, but this season they've morphed into something a little bit more wearable. They're still poplin, still elastic. Waist stripes are still very prevalent, but most grown up iterations have ditched the buttons and the front tag and now they're off in pockets and sometimes even a drawstring at the waist which makes them much, much, much more wearable. I mean, even Talbots has a version of these shorts, so you can't tell me that only 22 year olds are wearing these now. These are often sold in a set or as part of a set. And while short sets with a button front shirt are a huge trend this summer, this one can veer into looking like pajamas to me. I love these shorts with just a cute graphic tee or a basic tank and sandals. And if you want to do this set, I would wear this shirt open over just a basic tank, just to break it up a little bit. They're really cute, but they can veer into pajama core. I think these are fun for a pop of color and pattern. And again, when paired with a well fitting tank and easy sandals, it's an on trend outfit that is perfect for super hot days and it doesn't get or look more effortless than that. Trend number six is a new spin on the woven handbag. Woven bags, like straw or raffia, they're nothing new to summer. It's like florals for spring. Groundbreaking. But this season the trend in woven bags is cane or rattan. And what's the difference between cane or rattan? Technically, it's what part of the rattan plant is used. But I'm pretty sure that Target and J. Crew aren't getting that deep or technical with it, and that the terms are just being used interchangeably. This is a really good reminder that that while words might have a specific meaning when it comes to being on a website, words mean nothing. But the point is, instead of the more flexible, tightly woven straw bags we're used to seeing in the summer, this is a more rigid, almost woody material with an open weave. Are the typical straw bags still out there? Absolutely. But this episode is about the trends you'll see in stores, and this is a big one. On a slightly smaller scale, you're going to see wicker bags as well. Kind of like that whole picnic basket thing. Whichever updated woven bag you choose, it's an easy way to give your summer outfit a little style bump. You got to carry a bag, you're not adding anything to your outfit. Might as well be an updated Version. All right. Trend number seven is vests. Vests have been very big for a few summers, and every year our Style Circle members say, I really like them, but will they be in style next summer? This piece in particular has given women pause. And I get it, I understand it. This was a piece that we hadn't seen for a long time, and then suddenly it was everywhere. Which kind of has the makings of a fad. But fads usually include something kind of ridiculous like sardines or something impractical like jelly shoes, which is another big trend for summer. Vests weren't really either one. They were just really unfamiliar, which makes them a trend, not a fad. But like trends do, they've changed and evolved over time, and they look a little bit different this season. What's trending in the vest department for summer 2025 are longer length, higher neck, like crew neck vests that button all the way to the top and are frequently cut away at the waist. I think if the vests that we've been wearing the last few years are impractical in any way, it's that they're V neck and they can leave women feeling really exposed. But the on trend styling has been to wear them not layered, so they look less stylish when you wear them over a tank or a tee. But worn without them can be a little bit tricky. So I think that's been giving women pause. These new vests are clearly tops, not vests. They look like vests, but there's so much more coverage and so there's no need to layer them at all, which problem solved. They still look like a kind of like a blazer or they give that third piece look. So I could see these being really good for an office setting. And the waist cutaway is also a really nice thing for women with curves because it allows the vest to lay like it should and not catch on the hips. If you have last year's style or the year before or the year before and you love it, keep wearing it. It's not out of style. I saw tons of them in stores when I was shopping for the capsule. But the trendiest version is the high crew neck style, buttoning all the way up with the cutaway waist. Along with that, slightly less of a trend. There are lots of linen and poplin tops with that same crew neck button front styling. So if you like this one, but you don't want the heaviness of a lined vest or a thicker fabric, try a vest style top instead of the top style vest. If that makes sense. Coming in at number eight is a fabric trend, and that is cotton poplin. If you've got your listening ears turned on, you might have noticed that I've mentioned poplin a few times already in this episode, and that's because poplin is the fabric of summer 2025. Are linen and gauze going anywhere? Absolutely not. Is poplin a new fabric? Absolutely not. It's been around every spring and summer in women's clothing, as well as all year round in shirting fabrics for, I mean, literally decades and centuries. But this summer, poplin is just having a moment. If you're not sure exactly what poplin is, think of, like, men's dress shirts or lightweight woven pajamas. That's poplin, and it's everywhere this season. What's so great about poplin is that it's more breathable and less prone to wrinkling than other types of cotton. And that solves a couple of summer's challenges, allowing you to feel cool while still looking put together. I love linen, but it wrinkles and it. It wilts. It gets sad. Right. Poplin keeps its shape a little bit better, but still allows you to feel cool. This season, you're going to see poplin skirts, dresses, tops, shorts, you name it. The only piece I think is a little tricky to wear is poplin pants. I can't get it out of my head that they look like pajama pants, especially the striped versions. The solid versions are a little bit better, and I've seen some cropped versions that don't look so pajama ish. But you gotta do what feels right to you. If they look like pajama pants in your. In your mind, you're probably never gonna wear them. Don't buy them. If they don't look like PJ pants, by all means, go for it. Okay, Trend number nine is one of those. You have to wear it, so why not wear an updated version? Kind of trends, and that is funky sunglasses girl, I know you love your oversized tortoise shell or black frames and your classic aviators. Me too. Me too. But that is not what's trending this season. What's trending this summer is smaller, narrower frames like ovals or narrow rectangles and smaller cat eyes or funky, bold, geometric shapes and colorful, clear frames. If you love your aviators, you can keep your aviators. But this season, switch those classic metal frames for an acetate version in a little bit more exaggerated silhouette. Personally, I love the idea of acetate aviators because I love the shape it's flattering on so many face shapes, but they always get caught in my hair when I put them on my head. Maybe you can relate. And then it pulls them out and it's a whole thing. But anyway, Another big trend is colorful and less tinted lenses than we're used to. I did a little research, and by that I mean I googled. And less tinted lenses don't mean less protection than their darker counterparts. You just need to make sure they're marked UV 400 or labeled as blocking 100% of UV rays. Remember, sunglasses aren't just a great way to look instantly polished and make it easier to see in the bright sun. They are the SPF for your eyes, so don't skip them. If you're a prescription glasses wearing girly like me, you don't have to be left out of this one either. I am obsessed with Zenni Optical because of the price point. I'm not stuck with one pair of glasses that I have to wear every single day or one pair of sunglasses that I have to keep for years and years and years. Instead, I can treat my glasses like an accessory and I can switch them out to suit my outfit. Or I can try a trendier pair of sunglasses without worrying that I'm going to have to wear them for five years to justify the cost. Right? This is a good example of finding a way around your limitations to participate in style. I hear so many. I want to dress better, but. And then that's usually where it stops. Like, I'd like to have cute shoes, but I have tricky feet. Or I'd like to update my accessories, but I wear prescription sunglasses. I'd like to have better style, but I don't go anywhere. These are just a few examples. And the thing is, there's always a solution. You just have to want to find it anyway. I will link the sunglasses that I ordered. Hopefully you'll be inspired to add a fun pair of sunnies to your collection as well, and you will feel like you get to participate in the trend. All right, last trend of the summer. Number 10 is beaded accessories. This one I talked about last summer, but it picked up steam this year. Headbands, handbags, bag charms, earrings, shoes. If it's a summer accessory, we're throwing beads on it. This is a really good one to do that. Two for trend, right? That's where we combine two trends in one piece because there are so many beaded motifs of fish and foods. I was at Target the other day. I saw one coin purse with a tomato on it and the one next to it had a lobster on it. So again, you can choose your motifs, but not everything is covered in fish and food. There are plenty of understated neutral versions, even with pearls, which can't get more neutral than that, right? So no matter what your personal style is, you can find pieces that match your aesthetic. This trend is another way to punch up the things you're already wearing to keep your summer style from falling flat without requiring a lot of effort. And that's what summer is supposed to be all about. There you have it. 10 Wearable Trends for Summer 2025 I hope this episode inspires you not to take a three month break from style and instead to find ways to create effortless outfits that look like a million bucks. As always, take what works for you and leave the rest. The most important thing is that you have fun with style and feel great in whatever you wear. If you really want to make summer style easy and fun, come join the Style Circle get the brand new Summer Capsule Wardrobe Guide. Not only do we show you how to create a mix and match summer wardrobe and show you all the pieces you'll need and give you a database of shopping links for anything you don't already have, we also give you outfit calendars so you don't even have to think about what to wear each day and it's available now. You can go get it and start dressing better tomorrow. All right Style Circle members, head over to the Extra Credit podcast where I'm talking 10 shoe trends for summer 2025. Everyone, don't forget to head to the Show Notes on our website for links to everything we talked about today. Thank you for listening. I will see you next time and until then, remember that your everyday matters. So get dressed for it and that's a wrap. Thank you for listening today. If you're loving the Everyday Style School podcast, I'd like to invite you to become a member of the Style Circle. It's our monthly all access membership that gives you everything we create to make style easy so you can save time and money, have easier mornings and more confidence all day long. You get our seasonal capsule wardrobe guides, all of the master classes we offer, and our exclusive members only podcast the Everyday Style School Extra Credit. Plus you're invited to the Facebook community where you can get even more style support and inspiration. I would love to get to know you and support your style journey. It's just $19 a month less than the cost of a clearance shirt you're never going to wear. Come join me and make your everyday style easier.