They're Here: The 8 It-Girl Brands Defining Summer 2026
As a fashion editor, I like to think I have a laser focus on what all the It girls are wearing. You see, the best dressers I know all seem to gravitate toward the same few items each season, and today, I'm making it my mission to document and outline them all here. Consider this your directory for cool summer style.
Whether it's the brand behind Hailey Bieber's viral boat neck tee (that Sabrina Carpenter also loves), the under-the-radar label making the coolest handmade basket bags, or the California label tucked inside the prettiest summer dresses and tops, each of the eight names below come together to represent what truly good style looks like right now. With that, discover the most important It girl-beloved fashion brands of summer 2026.
1. Cou Cou
From Hailey and Sabrina to our very own team of editors, everyone is wearing (and shopping) Cou Cou this summer. The British label was founded on the basis of delivering high-quality lingerie and wardrobe staples in its signature pointelle fabric, but in 2026, its viral Rina Tee is what's igniting an entire movement around the brand. (Luckily, the exact style was just restocked in plenty of colors.)
2. Underwater Weaving
Woven bags are par for the course in the summer months, but this year, all the chicest people I know seem to be carrying one from Underwater Weaving, an emerging line of hand-crafted baskets and basket bags by Erin and Peggy Pollard. Each piece is bespoke, with color variation from the natural rattan fibers, and the shape and size may slightly vary
3. Dôen
Yet again, its a Dôen summer. I didn't think it was possible, but the California label is somehow getting even better at what they do: making airy, boho-adjacent pieces that are as easy to wear and style as they are pretty to look at.
4. Tank Air
The tank tops that have inspired a million copycats? They're none other than Tank Air. Several summers after their classic Studio Tank launched them onto the map, the brand has continued to churn out viral-worthy silhouettes cut from fabrics that will put all your other tanks to shame. This year, the fan-favorites are the Half Moon Halter and Service Tank with their scooped necklines.
5. La Veste
Summer '26 is proving to be all about color, color, and more color, and nobody is doing saturation and unexpected combinations quiet like Spanish label La Veste. Best known for their striped sailor pants, the brand’s playful and irreverent aesthetic feels like a breath of fresh air for anyone fatiguing of quiet-luxury's hyperminimalism.
6. The Anteros
I can't say enough good things about The Anteros. Rooted in shirting that feels chic and elevated but still timeless and versatile, it's become a favorite among insiders and WWW editors alike, and after launching with a tight edit of button-downs, the brand is thoughtfully expanding into pieces like the Coen Shorts, a pair of drawstring Bermudas cut from the most crisp Italian cotton.
7. Tom Ford
It's a Tom Ford sunglasses summer. Everywhere I look, tastemakers are eschewing modern eyewear for one of Ford's popular vintage styles like the Butterfly and Annabelle with their rounded, oversized shapes and early aughts style identity that feel forward and nostalgic at the same time.
8. Emily Dawn Long
If you spend enough time in insider circles, you'll inevitably hear the name Emily Dawn Long floating around. The small NYC label began as the designer's way of making clothes for herself and her friends and has amassed a cult following thanks to her intuitive, cool-without-trying approach.
