Jennifer Mackey-Mary: Well, here we are! A new season is underway, and with it, lots of fun, fresh new looks. Today, I’m breaking down what all the cool girls–that’s you–will be wearing this summer. Let’s get started!

Hello gorgeous, welcome back to the Everyday Style School, the podcast that gives real life style advice to real life women. 

I’m your host, Jennifer Mackey Mary, I’m a wardrobe stylist who’s been dressing everyday women for over 25 years, and the founder of Everyday Style, where we’re on a mission to inspire women to love the way they look, and give you the tools to make getting dressed easy.

It’s that time again, another new season, more new trends. You know, it;s funny. As I’ve been shopping lately, and looking at what’s trending in stores, I’ve had this overwhelming sense of deja vu…like, “Have I talked about this one before?”. I went back and looked at the trends I talked about from last summer, and wow–so many of the things that were runway trends have picked up steam, and are solidly what I like to call realway trends this year. 

When I do these trend episodes, I like to share what was big on the runways, that we’re seeing show up in regular stores. There are tons of runway trends that just don’t translate to everyday life, so we don’t talk about those, and choose to focus on the most wearable.

That is much easier to do in Spring and Fall, because those are the big fashion collection releases, right? Spring Summer, Fall Winter. From a runway perspective, we’ve kind of already seen everything we’re going to see for Summer. There’s no new Summer runway show coming. Now it’s more about seeing what’s actually big in stores. So instead of sharing what’s coming to stores from the runway, I thought I’d share some of the biggest trends already in the stores where you shop. 

Because my team and I spend a lot of time looking at clothes in stores and on websites, we always have an idea of the trends that are running through the stores, but if you don’t dedicate entire days to clothes, you might not have put the pieces together yet, but after today, your eyes will start to spot these trends everywhere, and you’ll be in the know.

There are so many real way trends in stores right now, it was really hard to narrow it down to just ten, so keep your ears open, I’ll probably mention a few others, and there are so many shoe trends this season, that I’ve decided to cover 10 Summer Shoe trends in the bonus episode on our members-only podcast. So if you’re already a style circle member, make sure you’re and go check it out, the episode is out now. 

Inside the style circle you’ll also get our style classes, supportive community, personalized coaching, and of course our Capsule Guides. The Summer 2025 Capsule guide is here, showing you how to use wardrobe basics you probably already have combined with a couple of on-trend pieces to create a versatile mix and match wardrobe that will save you time and money and give you a ton of style all season long. The link to join us is in the shownotes.

Also in the shownotes, we’ve got links and examples for the 10 official trends we’re talking about today, so head over there to check them out and maybe do a little wardrobe updating, since we’ve done the hard work of shopping for you!  

A couple of thoughts about Summer and trends before we get to the list. 

When I asked clients what season they liked to dress for most, and least, it will probably come as no surprise that Fall was the favorite, and Summer was the style loser. Women struggle in the summer, and I get it. Here are a couple of thes things that make summer style harder.

First, it’s hot. the temperature and humidity mean layering is off the table, you want lightweight fabrics, which can wilt and look sad, and sometimes you don’t even want extras like a necklace or bracelet touching your skin. The heat takes away a lot of things we normally use to create more interesting outfits, and when those are gone, we’re often left with lackluster looks.

Second, as a season, summer is just more relaxed and lazy. A summer dinner for my family could be an entire watermelon followed by a trip to an ice cream shop. Winter me would never. When my girls were little, swimming in the pool after dinner totally counted as bathtime. Don’t judge me, they’re fine. That vibe translates to how we feel about getting dressed. But, the who cares, it’s summer attitude often leaves us feeling frumpy, even if we don’t like the thought of getting properly dressed each day. 

So what’s a stylish woman to do? I know it feels like you’ve got two choices, be comfortable and effortless, and LOOK comfortable and like you made no effort, OR you can look cute and put together while your eyeliner runs, and your thighs chafe.  But those are not your only choices my love. There’s a third way. And that is to buy cute, comfortable versions of the things you’re already wearing, or the things you need to wear anyway. 

And this is why I think summer is a time to lean into trends, instead of forgetting about them. One question I get a lot is along the lines of–my style is simple, and I don’t like a lot of color, or accessories–how do I keep from looking boring. And my answer is, when you only have a few pieces, each piece matters more. So trade the plain jane versions for something with a little more style.  for example, if you’re wearing basic medium wash straight leg jeans and a neutral crewneck tee, swap them for a wide leg light wash jean and a striped boatneck. It’s the same outfit–jeans and a tee, but one has a lot more personality. 

Applying that to summer, swapping the kinda boring basics for pieces with more punch means your outfit gets an upgrade without having to add anything. In the layering seasons–fall, winter, even spring, a trendy item might be one of many pieces you’re wearing, but in the summer, one piece could be half your outfit–it's going to stand out more, and the style factor of adding a trend will go further. 

I also love summer trends because fewer pieces in the outfit means it's easier to get the outfit right. Layering is great, but layering well can be tough. Summer trends feel easy to me, so if you’re a little timid when it comes to trying new things, this is a great season to get out of your comfort zone. Style is less serious in the summer, which makes it the perfect time to experiment.

All of this to say, don’t ignore summer style or trends just because you’re not as focused on getting dressed. You can’t be naked, so you might as well like how you look, especially if it doesn’t require any more effort. 

Alright, let’s talk in-store, real way Summer 2025 trends.


Trend #1 I’m calling Farmers Market Fashion

Have you seen all of the fruit and vegetable motifs out there right now? Listen, I don’t know what kind of deal Big Tomato cut with the government, but produce is having a moment. Graphic tees, dresses, scarves, shoes, sweaters, swimwear, bag charms…everythings covered in fruits and vegetables.

Can I have a quick sidebar about bag charms? Have you seen the movie Mean Girls? Specifically, where Gretchen keeps using the word “fetch” hoping it will catch on, and Regina finally snaps, “Stop trying to make fetch happen”? I am gretchen, and bag charms are my fetch. And I feel like yall might be Regina George, telling me to stop trying to make bag charms happen, but no, I won’t. Adding charms and other accessories to your bags is a great way to add a little oomph to your outfit without having to wear another, and they’re an easy way to personalize your style. But also, an unexpected, and lets face it, completely unnecessary accessory like this one says “I put extra effort into my style”, and it’s a little touch that goes a long way. It gives you a little more style mileage with almost 0 effort. What’s not to love about that? No matter what your style is, you can find a bag charm, or a scarf, that fits your vibe.

Anyway, back to farmer’s market fashion. Like almost all of the trends we’ve talked about in our seasons together, you can dip a toe in the trend waters with a scarf or a graphic tee, or you can dive in the deep end with an all over printed maxi dress. Another way to make this trend a little more wearable is go to for motifs we’ve already seen before–like lemons, cherries or strawberries. If you’re not feeling super bold, those won’t feel as conspicuous as a pair of pants and matching top with bell peppers all over them. 

Many moons ago, I did an episode called the truth about trends. In that episode, I talked about the difference between a trend and a fad. Over the years, women have told me that they’re hesitant to buy something on-trend because they’re afraid it will be “out of style” next season, or next year, and what I shared in that episode, and a million times since, is that trends don’t move that quickly, very few things are at the height of fashion one season, and no where to be found the next. That’s not a trend, it’s a fad. 

And why am I telling you this? Because I think vegetable prints are a fad. Fruits, trend. Veggies, fad. Now personally, I don’t care. I bought a cute tomato tee, and if I don’t wear it next summer, it will be ok. I don’t advocate buying lots of inexpensive disposable clothing, but as cute as I think the veggie cardigan from Anthropologie is, I don’t see myself wearing carrots and pea pods when noone else is, and so I can’t justify buying in. For that reason, I’m keeping my purchases of this one small and inexpensive, and if I wanted a longer lasting piece, i’d do fruits instead. Just something to keep in mind


Trend #2 I’m calling Sea Life Style
This one is a mash up of the Fisherman Core aesthetic I talked about in Spring, and the Mermaid Core from last summer. 

In terms of prints in this category, shells are big. Again on everything from graphic tees to dresses, and I think this one, especially when done in something understated like navy and white is super wearable. But be careful–I’ve seen some all over shell prints that remind me of the era when everyone turned their bathroom into a beach-themed getaway, no matter where they lived–and an all over shell print shower curtain was the perfect thing. Keep the silhouette modern so you look fresh, not frumpy.

But sea creatures are a huge motif too, from a little sardine embroidered on a tank top (it’s cuter than it sounds, trust me), to a maxi dress with lobsters all over it–sea life is all over the place.  I don’t know about you, but I did not see the rise of the sardine happening in 2025. Big Sardine must be using the same PR firm as Big Tomato, because in my entire life collectively, I have not seen as many sardines on clothing, or really anywhere, as I have for Summer 2025, and we’re not really even into the season yet.

Now if you’re saying, but Jen, how do I pick just one whimsical motif for the summer? Do I choose produce or sea life? Well friend, you don’t have to choose…so many prints are doing the hard work for you, and combining the motifs into one happy summer item. Do lobsters and pineapples really go together, or grow in the same place? It’s best not to think too hard about it. 

Again, the sardines are a fad, and I don’t care. I am here for it. Its just fun to me.

Now, outside of tees and prints, the Sea Life Style trend is showing up a lot in accessories, with things like shell necklaces and pendants, and fisherman sandals. 

When it comes to the shell necklaces, this is not the puka shell necklace your daughter wore in her VSCO girl phase. These are more like a shell pendant. Bonus trend points if that shell pendant is on a cord. I told you in Spring that cord necklaces were going to be gaining in popularity, and they definitely did–another trend for summer.

So, with our first two trends, you can channel your inner agrarian, or your inner seafarer. Just have fun with it…remember, summer is not that serious. Its the perfect time to throw on a sardine skirt and have drinks on a patio.

Trend #3, and I have run out of fun names, are skirts. Specifically, drop waist skirts. By this, I mean, there’s a really wide waistband, or yoke, and then the fullness starts at the hip. There are a few mini, and knee length versions of this out there, but mostly we’re seeing midis and maxis. Lots of tiered versions as well. 

These skirts are reminiscent of the full skirts my pear shaped clients used to love around 2013, 2014. But the yoke, or the flat waist part, wasn’t as wide, and the volume started higher. Those factors significantly  change how the skirt looks on different bodies. Remember that you want volume to start where you can afford to add a little visual bulk. So if your hips are your widest part, you may not want volume to start there. You want it to start higher, so your widest part is just kind of camouflaged by the volume, right? So if those skirts worked great for you before, don’t be surprised if these aren’t quite the same. Doesn’t mean you can’t wear them, just look for styles that have less of a dropped waist, or less volume starting at the hips.

On the other hand, if you’re one of the people who couldn’t wear those old school fuller skirts as well, don’t count this new style out. It might be exactly what you need if you’re bigger on top than on the bottom and you’d like to add a little volume to balance your body. 

On a whim, I tried on one of these skirts at Walmart–because my wally world now has their free assembly line, which is fantastic, and as an apple, this skirt and a basic tank was as close to looking like an hourglass as I’ll probably ever get. 

I think there’s a way for just about every body shape to make this one work–it’s just finding the right combination of waist placement and volume. 

If the skirt I bought is still available, I’ll link it in the shownotes. It combines the on-trend skirt, with on-trend embroidered lemons…btw, embroidery is another big tend for summer, making it what I like to call a two-fer trend, or in this case, a three-fer trend, with the skirt, embroidery, and fruits. Actually, it’s a 4 fer trend, but more on that later. 


Moving on to trend # 4, which is long shorts. I’ve been threatening for months now that long denim jorts were going to be a thing for summer, and I wish I was wrong, but here we are. In addition to knee length jean shorts, we’re seeing bermudas of all kinds, from dressy suiting fabrics and casual chinos to even stretch woven athleisure versions. This is the summer of the long short.

Now lots of you are probably saying “thank god! I hate my legs, and I can’t wait to cover them up with 9 to 12 inches of fabric!”, but I want to issue you a deeply concerned warning because I love you, and I want you to look your best. Here it is. Long shorts are tough to pull off. They cut your legs right in half, making them look shorter, and most of the time, shorts this length make you look older and frumpy. Is that true for everyone in all situations? Of course not. Should you wear them if you want to? Of course you should. 

But often the body problem you’re trying to solve with long shorts either a) makes it worse or b) causes other problems.

Long shorts work best on women who have longer legs and shorter torsos. Just like putting volume where you can afford to add visual bulk, reducing the visual length of your legs only makes sense if you can afford to lose the length. I am all torso, short legs, and shorts this length are awful on me. Absolutely awful. A better option is shorter shorts, or ankle pants. To keep your legs looking as long as possible, go for showing more skin, or showing more fabric. The half and half is tough. 

Trend #5 is another short trend. This time, its womens shorts inspired by mens boxers. We’ve been seeing these for a couple of summers but they were stuck in that high end or fast fashion only spot that I sometimes see, which tells regular women aren’t really wearing it. However, this season they are everywhere. The boxer looking iteration of this trend is a striped cotton poplin short, with an elasticized waistband, sometimes a fake button placket, and even a little tag at the front waistband. Very undie looking. But they’ve morphed into something a little more wearable. Still poplin, still elastic waist, and stripes are still very prevalent. But most grown up iterations have ditched the buttons and front tag, and now there are often pockets and even a drawstring at the waist. Much more wearable. I mean, even talbots has a version.

These are often sold in a set, and while short sets with button front are a huge trend this summer, this one can veer into looking like pajamas to me. I love these shorts with a cute graphic tee or a basic tank and sandals. If you want to do the set, I’d wear the shirt open over a basic white tank to break it up a little

I think these are fun for a pop of color and pattern, and again, when paired with a well fitting tank, it’s an on-trend outfit that’s perfect for super hot days, and it doesn’t get, or look more effortless than that. 

Trend #6 is a new spin on the woven handbag
Woven bags, like straw or raffia are nothing new to summer. It’s like florals for spring. Groundbreaking. But this season, the trend in woven bags is cane or rattan. What’s the difference between cane and rattan? Technically, its what part of the rattan plant is used, but I’m pretty sure Target and J Crew aren’t getting that deep with it, and the terms are being used interchangeably. The point is, instead of the more flexible, tightly woven straw bags we’re used to in summer, this is a more rigid, almost woody material with an open weave. Are the typical straw bags still out there? Absolutely, but this episode is about the trends you’ll see in stores, and this is a big one.

On a smaller scale, you’ll see wicker bags too. Whichever updated woven bag you choose, it’s an easy way to give your summer outfit a little style bump.

Trend #7 is vests. These have been very big for a few summers, and every summer our style circle members say, I really like them, but will they be in style next summer? This piece in particular has given women pause–and I understand it. This was a piece we hadn’t seen for a long time, and then suddenly it was everywhere, which has the makings of a fad, but fads usually include something kind of ridiculous–like sardines, or something impractical–like jelly shoes–huge trend for the summer. Vests weren’t really either, they were just really unfamiliar, which makes them a trend, not a fad. But, like trends do, vests changed and evolved this season. 

What’s trending in the vest department for Summer 2025 are longer length, crewneck vests that button to the top, and frequently are cutaway at the waist. I think if the vests we’ve been wearing the last few years are impractical in any way, its that they’re v-neck, and can leave women feeling exposed, but the on trend styling has been to wear them not layered. So they look less stylish when you wear a tank or a tee with them, but worn without can be tricky.  These new vests are clearly tops, not vests. So much coverage, no need to layer, problem solved. They still look like a blazer or that third piece though, so I could see these being good for an office setting.The waist cutaway is also a nice thing for women with curves, because  it allows the vest to lay like it should, and not catch on the hips.

If you have last years style, and you love it, keep wearing it. It’s not out of style, I saw lots of them in stores when capsule shopping, but the trendiest version is the high, crew neck style with the cutaway waist.

Along with that, there are a lot of linen and poplin tops tops with the same crewneck, button front styling. So if you like this one, but don’t want the heaviness of a lined or thicker version, try a vest style top, instead of the top style vest.

Coming in a #8  is a fabric and that’s cotton poplin. 

If you’ve got your listening ears turned on, you’ll notice I mentioned it a few times already in this episode, and that’s because poplin is the fabric of summer 2025.

Are linen and gauze going anywhere? Absolutely not. Is poplin a few fabric? Absolutely not, it’s around every spring and summer in womens clothing, as well as all year round in shirting fabrics, but this summer, it’s just having a moment.

If you’re not sure exactly what poplin is, think of men’s dress shirts, or lightweight woven pajamas. That’s poplin, and it’s everywhere this season.

What’s so great about poplin is that it’s more breathable and less prone to wrinkling than other types of cotton. And that solves a couple of summer’s challenges, allowing you to feel cool while still looking put together. 

This season you’re going to see poplin skirts, dresses, tops, shorts…you name it. The only piece I think is a little tricky is poplin pants. I can’t get it out of my head that they look like pajama pants. Especially the striped versions–the solid versions are a little better. So for those of you who tell me every year I cant wear linen, it wrinkles too much, try poplin.

Trend #9 is one of those, you have to wear it, so why not wear an updated version trends, and that’s funky sunglasses. Girl, I know you love your oversized tortioseshell or black frames and your classic aviators, me too. Mee too. But that’s not what’s trending this season. 

What’s trending this season is smaller, narrower frames, like ovals, narrow rectangles, and smaller cat eyes–or funky bold, geometric shapes, and colorful clear frames.

If you love your aviators, you can keep your aviators, but this season, switch your classic metal version for acetate frames in a little more exaggerated silhouette. Personally, I love the idea of acetate aviators, because I love the shape, but they always get caught in my hair when I put them on my head. Maybe you can relate.

Another big trend is colorful, and less tinted lenses than we’re used to. I did a little research, and by that I mean I googled, and less tinted lenses don’t mean less protection than their darker counterparts. You just need to make sure they’re marked UV400 or labeled as blocking 100% of uv rays. 

Remember, sunglasses aren’t just a great way to look instantly polished, and make it easier to see in the bright sun, they’re the SPF for your eyes, so don’t skip them.

If you’re a prescription glasses wearing girlie, you don’t have to be left out either. I’m obsessed with Zenni optical, because of the price point, I’m not stuck with one pair of glasses I have to wear every single day, and one pair of sunglasses I have to keep for years. Instead i can treat the glasses I wear everyday like an accessory, and switch them out to suit my outfit–or try a trendier pair of sunglasses. This is a good example of finding a way around your limitations to participate in style. I hear so many, I want to dress better, but… and that’s usually where it stops. I’d like to have cute shoes, but I have issues with my feet. I’d like to update my accessories, but I wear prescription glasses, I’d like to have better style, but I don’t go anywhere. Just a few examples. The thing is, there’s always a solution. You just have to want to find it. Anyway, I’ll link the sunglasses I ordered, hopefully you’ll be inspired to add a fun pair of sunnies to your collection as well. 

Alright, last trend o’ the summer! #10 is beaded accessories. This one I talked about last summer, but it picked up steam this year. Headbands, handbags, bag charms, earrings, shoes…if it’s a summer accessory, we’re throwing beads on it!

This is a good one to do a two-fer trend–because so many of the bead motifs are fish and foods. I was at target the other day and saw one coin purse with a tomato on it, and another one with a lobster. 

But not everything is coming up tomatoes–there are also understated, neutral versions with pearls, too, so no matter what your personal style is, you can find pieces that match your aesthetic. 

This trend is another way to punch up the things you’re already wearing to keep your summer style from falling flat without a lot of effort, and that’s what summer is supposed to be all about. 



There you have it–10 wearable trends for summer 2025. I hope this episode inspires you not to take a 3 month break from style, and instead find ways to create effortless outfits that look like a million bucks. As always, take what works for you, and leave the rest. The most important thing is that you have fun with style  and feel great in whatever you wear.  

If you REALLY want to make summer style easy and fun, join the Style Circle and get the brand new summer capsule wardrobe guide. Not only do we show you how to create a mix and match summer wardrobe, show you all the pieces you’ll need, and give you a database of shopping links for anything you don’t already have, we also give you outfit calendars so you don’t even have to think about what to wear. It’s available now. 

Style Circle members, head over to the Extra Credit podcast, where I’m talking 10 shoe trends for Summer 2025. 

Don’t forget to head to the shownotes on our website for links to everything we talked about today.

Thanks for listening. I’ll see you next time–and until then, remember, your everyday matters, so get dressed for it!

Jennifer Mackey-Mary [outro]: And that's a wrap. Thank you for listening today. If you're loving the Everyday Style School podcast, I'd like to invite you to become a member of the Style Circle. It's our monthly all-access membership that gives you everything we create to make style easy, so you can save time and money, have easier mornings, and more confidence all day long. You get our seasonal capsule wardrobe guides, all of the masterclasses we offer, and our exclusive members-only podcast, The Everyday Style School Extra Credit. Plus, you're invited to the Facebook community, where you can get even more style support and inspiration. I would love to get to know you and support your style journey. It's just $19 a month, less than the cost of a clearance shirt you're never gonna wear. Come join me and make your everyday style easier.