Welcome to Your 2021 Aesthetic—7 Epic Trends I Found For Under $96

It’s a brand new year, which means I’m thinking all about what cool fashion trends are ahead of us. Yep, the pieces from the S/S 21 runways are about to drop but if you want to get an early start wearing them like I do, now is the time to start updating your closet.

From the second-skin tops Who What Wear editors can’t stop talking about to the anti-neutral color that’s about to take over to the ‘90s-inspired jeans I can't get enough of, there are plenty of cool ways to update your 2021 aesthetic right now. If you’re sticking to a budget you’re in luck because I hunted the internet for the best finds that ring in under $96 but look just as cool as more expensive buys. Ready to try out some of the coolest pieces for the new year? Here, discover 7 affordable fashion trends to wear in 2021.

Checkerboard Prints

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(Image credit: @champagnemani)

Fun checkerboard prints instantly bring an element of cool punk into any outfit you're wearing. In past seasons, we've seen plaids everywhere, so this feels like a fresh take on checks.

Shop the trend:

Bubblegum Pink

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(Image credit: @emilisindlev)

Neutrals have reigned supreme for many seasons now. While they'll still be sticking around, expect to see bold pops of bubblegum pink everywhere in 2021.

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Second-Skin Tops

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(Image credit: @chrissyford)

I love a versatile basic and for the season ahead the #1 closet staple is anything but boring. Second-skin tops with cool patterns will be the piece to own.

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'90s Throwback Bags

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(Image credit: @camillecharriere; Pictured: Prada bag)

Those cool baguettes that were a defining silhouette in the '90s are back in a major way, thanks to brands like Prada who have reissued the originals. Consider this to be the bag you can wear with just about anything.

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Baggy Jeans

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(Image credit: @emmaleger; Pictured: Zara jeans)

Buh-bye skinny jeans. In 2021, it will be all about the looser, baggier silhouette. Good news to someone like me who lives for pieces that are comfortable.

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House Shoes

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(Image credit: @tylynnnguyen; Pictured: Tamara Mellon shoes)

One of the biggest shoe trends in the S/S 21 collections? Cool, cozy house shoes. These reinvented slippers are finished with everything from plush shearling to buckled straps.

Shop the trend:

Knit Polos

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(Image credit: @fakerstrom; Pictured: Celine bag; Converse sneakers)

The knit polo is a trend I'm very behind. A bit preppy but with a dose of cool, it's a great alternative to your basic T-shirt or button-down top.

Shop the trend:

Next, shop 25 cool fashion finds I’m obsessing over right now.

Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.