5 Summer Trends I Never Thought I'd Wear—Alas, I'm Into Them Now

As I’ve highlighted before, I have simple style that primarily comprises elevated basics. While I’ll dabble with trendier items from time to time, I pretty much stick to those classic pieces (like black tees, skinny jeans, and the like) when I’m shopping. That said, there are a few summer trends that are a tad out of my typical sartorial comfort zone that I’m really into and excited to introduce into my wardrobe.

The items in question all actually share similarities in that they’re versatile and can be easily teamed with a variety of my go-to basics. That versatility factor is right up my alley. Intrigued? Keep scrolling to uncover five summer trends I’m loving, as highlighted on some of my favorite fashion people. I’ve already purchased some of the looks, while others are in my cart. If you’re into them as well (and shopping at the moment), you’ll also find product recommendations. 

Sporty Sandals

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(Image credit: @brittanybathgate)

I’ve been intrigued by sporty, double-strap sandals for the last few months but never thought the vibe was totally "me" given that I’ve typically worn standard slides in the summer months. Well, I just bought my first pair of Birkenstocks, and yep, I’m in love with them. They’re comfortable, cool, and go with everything.

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(Image credit: @bobbyschuessler)

Here are the Birkenstocks I bought. I'm v into pairing them with white tube socks at the moment (more on that below).

Sweatshorts

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(Image credit: @trustmebuythis)

In the shorts realm, I primarily stuck to tailored or denim cuts. But in spending more time at home, I’ve leaned pretty heavily into the sweatshorts look. The Nike styles are my favorite. In fact, when I do go out and about for various errands, they’re basically the only silhouette I wear.

Tube Socks

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(Image credit: @lefevrediary)

Yep, white tube socks are trending pretty heavily among the fashion crowd given their comfy and cool nature. To be honest, I’ve always worn the sock silhouette as a daily basic—but not typically with shorts (usually opting for the no-show style). Well, white tube socks now complete my vibes with my Birkenstocks and Nike sweatshorts.

Ecru Denim

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(Image credit: @simplytandya)

I guess I wouldn’t necessarily consider white denim to be a trend, per se, but the specific denim silhouette does feel fresh for the season. I primarily live in black jeans, but I continue to be intrigued by ecru styles in a straight-leg for a chic, very-right-now vibe.

Flip-Flops

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(Image credit: @monikh)

As I stated here, I was legit never into flip-flops unless I was at the pool or the beach, but with all the sleek, elevated silhouettes out there these days, I’m coming around—and want to add a pair to my cart.

Next, check out more summer trends to consider.

Bobby Schuessler
Market Director

Bobby Schuessler is a fashion editor with over a decade of editorial experience covering shopping, style, and beauty. He's spent over seven years at Who What Wear, currently leading the market team to deliver highly covetable and convertible content. He creates data-driven shopping guides featuring top retialers like Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter and is at the forefront of Who What Wear's shopping tentpole strategies, including Amazon Prime Day. He also works on branded content initiatives and appears on camera in video and shopping livestream franchises. He has also worked across a variety of other media brands and fashion retailers like Refinery29, PureWow, Men's Health, and Gilt covering commerce, trend reporting, women's and men's fashion, home, and lifestyle.