I'm Visiting NYC and Spotted Everyone Wearing These Cool Summer Trends
I'm always intrigued to see which trends are happening on the ground in NYC. I'm a former New Yorker and currently live in L.A. but visit every chance I get, and the fashion never disappoints. I consider NYC to be the testing ground for breaking trends and the first place I often spot the pieces that will be considered must-buy staples next season. So, what are the pieces that are absolutely everywhere on the streets of NYC right now?
Right now, New Yorkers are focused on updated proportions above all else. Belt widths are shrinking, denim silhouettes are continuing to relax, and skirt hems are rising. There is also a major throwback momentum in fashion that is being adopted by the NYC fashion set. Nineties-inspired tube tops are a wardrobe mainstay and Y2K bags are officially back, without question. Ahead are the six cool NYC summer trends to have on your radar now.
Tube Tops
In NYC, tube tops are all but replacing your standard tee or tank. They're also being styled in a similar way to a T-shirt with outfits involving trousers, sneakers, and baseball caps.
Miniskirts
Micro miniskirts are a trend we've been talking about at length, but I'm here to confirm that they are absolutely everywhere in New York at the moment. Just look to NYC-based Who What Wear editor Eliza Huber, snapped here in a safety pin-adorned version, for proof.
Micro Belts
I've only started to see the rise of micro belts on Instagram, but naturally, New Yorkers are ahead of the curve and are already wearing them on repeat. Just add a ribbed tank top and cream jeans to tap into the NYC aesthetic.
Relaxed White Jeans
While blue jeans will always be a core wardrobe staple, the It jeans in NYC right now are relaxed white jeans. I've always found white jeans a challenge to wear but think that the looser fit instantly makes them more approachable. Consider these to be a summer staple.
Sleek Leather Flats
Sleek leather flats are more of a staple than a trend but they're certainly having a moment right now. This is most clear looking at the rise of Hermès Oran slides—a classic shoe that is suddenly in huge demand and all over the streets of SoHo.
Y2K Bags
It seems like there are no throwback fashion pieces that the style set can resist right now, and that includes Y2K bags. The most notable? Balenciaga's Cagole bag, which was by far the bag I spotted most in NYC.
Next Up: 7 Major Shoe Trends That Will Be Everywhere This Fall
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.
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