I Don't Sail, But TikTok's "Yacht Girl Summer" Is a Look I Can Get Behind
Between the balletcore, "old money" and "tomato girl" aesthetics, we're spending summer 2023 in pretty flats, blazers and shirred dresses, and swapping Y2K grunge for Gen Z's take on luxury dressing. But, whether you subscribe to the latest trends or you're a classic dresser, there is something universally appealing about TikTok's latest aesthetic that might just capture your attention, and it's already a celeb and influencer favourite.
Enter, "yacht girl summer". You might not actually have plans to cruise around the French Riviera this summer, but there's no reason you can't dress like you're about to step onto a boat, and this luxe aesthetic is the key to looking put together and keeping cool—something we can easily get behind. Sorry, regencycore, but this is a moment for the Below Deck fans.
Take one part maritime stripes, add a little '90s glamour, throw in plenty of linen and swimwear and sprinkle with a little French je ne sais quoi, et voila, the yacht-girl uniform is complete. Think Hailey Bieber's holiday looks, Sophia Richie Grainge's honeymoon wardrobe or Katy Perry at Wimbledon. Goodbye, hot girl summer, and hello, luxury vibes. And if you've ever shoulder-robed a breton knit over a swimsuit whilst pouring a chilled glass of wine, congratulations—you've already achieved the goal.
Whilst the look lends itself well to the likes of Ralph Lauren, Toteme and Valentino, it's equally easy to achieve this expensive feel with high-street pieces. All it takes is the right colour palette and silhouette and a handful of chic accessories.
Sold on a yacht girl summer? Keep scrolling. I've rounded up designer, premium and high-street pieces so good that no one will know if they're archival couture or Arket, along with some easy outfit inspiration to help you style your new buys. Happy sailing. I mean, shopping.
HOW FASHION PEOPLE AND CELEBS ARE DRESSING FOR A YACHT GIRL SUMMER
Style Notes: A breton top, linen trousers, sunnies and a raffia bag? Consider this entire outfit the YGS checklist.
Style Notes: The easy way to style swimwear for before and after the pool.
Style Notes: As soon as navy stripes are introduced, this look feels instantly yacht-ready. The bow-tie top adds a pretty edge.
Style Notes: There aren't any sarongs on the yacht-girl moodboard—this summer it's all about chic cover-ups like gauzy maxi dresses and column skirts.
SHOP THE YACHT GIRL SUMMER AESTHETIC:
Nothing says "I own a boat" quite like a neckerchief or headscarf.
The secret to making every outfit look instantly better.
Trust With Nothing Underneath and Collagerie to come up with the most covetable pinstripes of the season.
I can't think of a better looking mini bag.
Sunset party, anyone?
It's impossible to believe you'd be tired of sandals already, but when you're ready to change into something more substantial, it has to be Bobbies loafers.
Next Up: 7 Surprising Trends That TikTok Has Declared "Dated" in 2023
Remy Farrell is a London-based shopping editor with nearly 10 years of editorial experience covering fashion, beauty and lifestyle. After graduating with a journalism degree and working on the editorial and fashion teams for titles such as Grazia, Elle, Cosmopolitan and British Vogue, she moved into the luxury e-commerce sector, working as fashion assistant at TheOutnet.com styling for the social media channels and helping to develop the collections for the in-house brand Iris & Ink. After expanding an assisting and styling portfolio that includes shooting talent such as Gigi Hadid, Victoria Beckham and Miquita Oliver, she also branched out into beauty, creating tried-and-tested reviews and diverse beauty content.In her role as shopping editor at Who What Wear, Remy is interested in discovering new and exciting brands to share with the Who What Wear readership and particularly loves uncovering hidden gems at affordable prices to make shopping accessible to everyone.Born and raised in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Remy moved to London in 2014 and lives in the Docklands with her partner and pug Billie.
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