One of the themes for this summer is nostalgia. Think singing Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift playing in the background whilst heart shaped glasses. And think tropical looking cocktails with those paper parasols sticking out. That might sound a bit dramatic but I'm trying to illustrate the feeling. A lot of trends this summer seem to be relating to romance, self-care and taking us back to our childhood self's. Not all these trends are fashion but can be lifestyle impacts that still take inspiration from the past. So sunglasses on and... ‘Let’s go….’ (I think you guess the first one)
Barbie Core
Pink jumpers, pink dresses, clear heels. The colour scheme is self explanatory and the hotter the pink, the hotter the Barbie. Now with the release of the Barbie film on July 21st, fashion retailers such as Boohoo are releasing limited collections of Barbie themed clothes (all very tempting to buy). It is a fun, nostalgic trend that is 80’s inspired and encapsulates the 1959 doll. Yet, there is also a feminist message behind barbie core since the added auditions to their diverse fashionistas line. This is about breaking stereotypes and being vibrant in what we wear this summer - go Barbie!
Twilight aesthetic
Jumping from Barbies to Vampires, this fantasy film is inspiring a lot of artists. Lilac and lavender hues have already been a big colour this year. Also, Speak Now (Taylor’s version) is a purple themed AND Olivia Rodrigo’s new single ‘Vampire’ is glazed in violet tones. Both artists sing about heartbreak in an angsty way, making purple the new romance symbol. I think this will spark a Twilight comeback in seeing darker hued fashion. Maybe not this summer but it will make a return.
Mini breaks
Gone are the two week holidays, it is becoming more common to take short weekends or 3 days away. This could be to a city or to a Greek Island but the point is vacations are making more of a comeback. People aren’t inclined to work themselves into the ground anymore and I think there is a universal feeling of taking breaks being very important. The 4 day working week was a trend and now it is maybe the weekly getaway. Let’s hope my future job allows me to financially budget that!
Rom-com books
Honestly, I have never been a rom-com reader. I have always been a Margaret Attwood fan, delving into more dystopian worlds. However, Book Tok (a sub-community for people recommending their favourite books) has inspired me to read ‘easy’ this summer. As an English student I have had to read some hard stuff this year but I’m looking forward to slowing down my reading. It has been a great trend to escape everyday life and the effect that Book Tok has on the publishing community is impressive. Even in Waterstones they will have a ‘Tik Tok’ table, which is handy as you know the books are well loved by people.
Creative hobbies
Another trend I didn’t think I would be on board with - as I literally can’t draw a stickman - is getting arty. Yet, the arts and craft trend isn’t just about the artistic quality but also a relaxing downtime activity. I have seen so many videos on Instagram of ideas to do with friend such as painting wine glasses or pottery classes. Recently, I bought an Etch Art pad (£3 from The Works) much to my dad’s confusion, as it’s a fun evening activity that declutters my mind. Will it be hanging in an art gallery? Definitely not. But creativity is in season. Also, starting this blog for me is my creative outlet this summer.