Summer is finally here, and while I love filling up my online cart with summery crochet, retro floral swimsuits, and breezy warm-weather dresses, before hit the buy button, I’m always curious to see which pieces will actually serve me for another season ahead—i.e., fall!
Since we editors analyze the biggest trends as soon as they come off the runway, I already have a good sense of which items I can buy right now that will still be trending next season. Now there’s some savvy shopping.
Below, I’m sharing the pieces worth adding to your cart this summer that you can still wear (and are trending) this fall—perhaps with a few additional layers and a change of shoes. From simple little black dresses to halter necks and cool cutouts, keep scrolling to inform your summer buys and stay ahead of the fashion curve.
Minis
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This spring and summer, we’ve seen the rise of high hemlines with miniskirts and minidresses eclipsing other styles. Luckily, the trend is sticking around for fall. We spotted chic minis all over the runways with an emphasis on fun, flashy styles perfect for a night out.
Halter Necks
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We’ve loved the reemergence of halter-neck silhouettes this summer—seen on practically every cool girl on Instagram. The F/W 21 presentations prove they have sticking power into the new season in a variety of fabrics and widths, with delicate halter strings, in particular, reigning supreme.
Cutouts
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Cutouts are here to stay for fall and winter. Whether it’s keyhole sizes or larger statement cutouts along the sides or middle of dresses, designers from Jonathan Simkhai to A.L.C. have created plenty of iterations to continue their momentum into autumn.
Saturated Shades
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There’s no better time to show off those vibrant saturated colors than in summer, and there are plenty of options to take on the trend this season. While we may think of darker, richer shades for fall, there were a ton of bold and bright hues on the runways—from vivid blue at Prada to striking magenta at Versace and bright yellow at Proenza Schouler—continuing this renewed sense of optimism we’re feeling right now as things slowly start to get back to normal.
Padded Sandals
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You’ll be happy to hear that cushy and comfy padded sandals (which are having a major moment right now) will take us straight into fall in style. Everything from cloud-like soft flat slides to cushy thong kitten heels made an appearance on the F/W 21 runways.
Y2K
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If you haven’t noticed, there’s currently a Y2K fashion revival going on—thanks in part to the Gen Z crowd on TikTok putting everything including shiny fabrics, baby tees, low-rise silhouettes, butterfly hair clips, and baguette bags back on the fashion map. We saw hints of the theme continuing on the F/W 21 runways, proving that the early aughts are here to stay for 2021.
Low-Rise Jeans
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Love them or hate them, low-rise jeans are trending right now, and their popularity is set to continue into fall with a number of designers making the case for a more casual, more laid-back, and looser-fitting silhouette.
Vests
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Vests worn as tops are adding a touch of polish to our wardrobes this summer. With more of a focus on casual suiting this fall compared to seasons past, the chic vest will continue to be a mainstay in our wardrobes—with plenty more layering situations over dresses and shirts as the temps start to cool.
LBDs
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There was no lack of little black dresses in the S/S and F/W 21 presentations, which confirms the versatile frock will serve you year-round. For fall especially, we’re seeing more ’60s mod silhouettes with mini hemlines.
Textured Bags
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From woven hobo bags to braided purses, many of the textured bags we’re seeing all over our favorite retailers right now will remain a hugely popular choice for fall, too.
Up next, seven photogenic summer outfits I can’t wait to try.