Live From New York, These Are the Coolest Outfits of the Summer

New York City is already considered to be one of the world's most stylish cities, but I think it's important to point out that its inhabitants are also especially masterful at seasonal dressing. After all, they (actually we) have to figure out how to tackle beyond-freezing temperatures in the winter, high heat and humidity in the summer, and even transitional dressing for those fleeting moments in spring and fall when the weather is just perfect—all while walking around a lot.

When I see that my fellow New Yorkers are all wearing different versions of the same thing—or, in today's case, things—I feel compelled to share it with all our readers because I know it must be forward in fashion but functional, too. So what pieces are all over the streets of NYC this summer? Just keep scrolling to see the pieces that are a part of the coolest outfits of the season and, of course, to shop them below.

1. Clogs

Controversial? Yes. But when you're walking through the chaos that can be in New York City, it's all about comfort. Clogs just happen to be checking that box.

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(Image credit: @laurenladnier)

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(Image credit: @himichelleli)

Shop clogs:

2. Thong Sandals

The endorsement by It brands and It girls everywhere tells me that, while they may be an acquired taste, thong sandals are definitely back in style and here to stay. Naturally, NYC girls seem to favor flat or low-heeled styles for walking around the city.

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(Image credit: @farahpink)

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(Image credit: @anaasaber)

Shop thong sandals:

3. Summer Sets

Like I said before, it's all about comfort this season. Breezy sets are easy and cool, so it's no surprise that the fashion set is opting for them in the heat. 

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(Image credit: @chrissyford)

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(Image credit: @champagnemani)

Shop summer sets:

4. Bermuda Shorts

Gone are the day of short shorts because the knee-hitting style has fully taken the fashion world by storm. From denim pairs to suit separates, Bermuda shorts are the wardrobe staple worth incorporating into your summer looks. Just take notes from the New Yorkers below.

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(Image credit: @farahpink)

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(Image credit: @meccajw)

Shop Bermuda shorts:

5. Vests

Suiting is a theme that doesn't seem to leave the fashion scene, but it comes and goes in different iterations. Currently, menswear-inspired vests are the way to go.

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(Image credit: @anna__laplaca)

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(Image credit: @hoskelsa)

Shop vests:

6. White Button-Downs

Whether they dress them up or down, NYC girls have figured out that button-down shirts, especially white ones, are the perfect light layer for going anywhere and everywhere this season.

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(Image credit: @trustmebuythis)

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(Image credit: @christietyler)

Shop white button-downs:

7. Crochet

Initially when I thought of crochet, it reminded me of vacation and the West Coast, but my fellow East Coasters have been bringing the kitschy trend to the streets of New York as well. Come fall, I'm expecting to see the knit trend in full force.

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(Image credit: @mariaalia)

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(Image credit: @mfass)

Shop crochet pieces:

Next, From Runway to Reality: The 7 Summer 2021 Accessory Trends to Know

Associate Fashion Editor
Yusra Siddiqui is an editor who resides in New Jersey but bounces between the suburbs and NYC. (She's a Jersey girl at heart.) After interning at Who What Wear in 2019, she found her way to the team after graduating from LIM College in 2022 with a fashion media degree. She's also spent time writing and working for publications such as Fashionista, Coveteur, and Nylon, but she always knew that Who What Wear was where she was meant to be. When she's on the job, she's perusing runway shows, analyzing the latest thing fellow Gen Zers are up to on the internet, and sharing what she can about the modest-fashion market. You can also catch her dabbling in entertainment, talking about the costume choices of the latest Netflix series or diving deeper into how the plotline affects the viewers in a myriad of ways. Lastly, she likes to create content for Who What Wear's TikTok. Her personal time is spent doing similar but also different things—deep diving into almost every new TV show (Bridgerton, Gilmore Girls, and Stranger Things are favorites), planning her next local getaway (whenever that may be), and reading the latest Emily Henry or Sally Rooney novel in one sitting.