Spring/Summer 2022 Fashion Essentials

by Lauren Rosker

It’s officially March! This means my personal favorite time of year is coming, in terms of lifestyle but also fashion. I love the color palette of these warmer months and I personally think the outfits are cuter (although of course we still love the layering moments of the fall and winter time). Since trends come and go faster than ever before, we thought to put together a list of our fashion trend predictions and essentials for the spring and summer time. Whether or not these become the bigger trends of this season, they can still be cute timeless pieces to keep around for every spring and summer to come!

 

Pastel Yellow Color

Image source: Pinterest

Last year the trending color we saw was the matcha green color, which actually trended for a long time. I think this year the “it” color will be a pastel yellow color for several reasons: it looks classy and elegant, it makes you look tanner, and it makes you look clean. There is a current trend with “looking clean” that people are buying into with simple jewelry, matching sets, simple makeup, slicked back hair, etc. and this color can definitely play into that trend. This simple color can also be worn year after year and is not like a print that can go out of style. I have already added a few pieces with this color to my wardrobe for summer and I can’t wait to wear them!

 

Minimalistic Jewelry

Image source: Pinterest

Again contributing to the “looking clean” trend, minimalistic jewelry will definitely be a must for this spring and summer. In the last two years we saw very chunky jewelry trending, like those big colorful resin rings, many layered necklaces, the La Manso rings, etc. I think now people are going for a more clean and elegant look because it contrasts to the old trends that people now find tacky. Looking expensive has always been something that many people have wanted to achieve. Wearing simple jewelry is now viewed as elegant and expensive, which is why I think more and more people will be switching over to these looks. Don’t get me wrong, I still love a statement, chunky, colorful ring and will definitely still wear mine! I just think what will specifically be trending in the upcoming seasons will be more minimalistic jewelry.

 

Linen

Image source: Pinterest

Linen has always been a summer staple because of its breathable fabric and its durability, not to mention how stylish it looks. The great thing about this staple is that is can be found everywhere, since most stores sell linen items. Warmer towns also usually have stores in the spring/summer that only sell linen items, and in many styles. Although this fabric has always been a staple, I think it will become even more popular this season and will be more commonly talked about as a must-have. It looks great on all skin tones, the fabric is very comfortable, prices of linen are affordable, white colors in general are very easy to style, and again… it gives the “clean” look! Linen items are definitely worth investing in as they will never go out of style and last forever.

 

Crochet Items

Image source: @coco_floflo on Instagram

Crochet items are great for warmer seasons as they are breathable, comfortable, and SO cute. Buying crochet items is also a great way to support small businesses as a lot of people make very creative pieces and sell them on websites like Etsy and Depop. You can also pick up the hobby of crocheting and make your own pieces! Crocheted items were popular last summer but they were more-so items with different prints that have gone out of style by now. I think this year crocheted matching sets will trend and probably items with less “out there” designs. Crocheted cover ups specifically are perfect for beach days in the summer because the knit can be looser, therefore much more breathable. Definitely look into crocheted tops, pants, matching sets, hats, and coverups for the upcoming seasons!

 

Open Back Pieces

Image source: @goldennahome on Instagram

What I’ve personally been loving are tops and dresses with an open back. I think it looks so beautiful and elegant and they’re perfect to wear in the summer since it’s hot outside. You can find backless tops and dresses in almost every store, if not in person then definitely online. The backless style is a great, simple way to elevate your look!

 

Colorful Statement Bags

Image source: @discodaydream on Instagram

Last but not least, I think colorful statement bags are going to be really big this spring/summer. We can already see stores filling with bright colors but I personally think that people are going to get over the bright colored clothes quite quickly because they are less of staples and people can get sick of them easier. On the other hand, colorful bags add that same cool pop of color while not being over the top which is why I think they will trend for longer this season. You can find many colorful bags from high end stores like Balenciaga (as seen in the picture) to thrift stores, therefore everyone can participate in this style!

 

That completes the list for our spring and summer 2022 essentials and trend predictions. We hope that you have been able to get some inspiration for what to get for the upcoming seasons! Let us know in the comments what your personal trend predictions and essentials are and if you have decided to invest in any of the trends mentioned in this article!

The Power of Indie Brands

By Kathleen Sharp

What makes a brand relevant? Thanks to the power of globalization and online shopping’s replacement of brick & mortar stores, the barriers to enter the marketplace are lower than ever. Of course, this means the competition between brands is tight. When faced with hundreds of brands all trying to sell similar products, how can consumers differentiate?

In a flooded marketplace, consumers crave authenticity. They want brands whose stories they can identify with, whose values they align with theirs. As a culture, we’re waking up to the effects of mass-consumption and consumerism. Younger generations are living through the environmental toll of the unbridled capitalism practiced by the generations before them. And we’re also understanding the psychological impacts of consumption for consumption’s sake. Owning stuff no longer equals being rich. Now we’re beginning to realize that the ways we choose to engage with the world are what make us happy—not the coveted executive title or fancy shoes. Millennials in particular have decided that experiences outvalue random possessions, opting to save up for their dream adventure vacation rather than their dream car. Heightened competition and shifting patterns in consumption leave entrepreneurs and marketers wondering, So… how do we sell stuff?

Here is where authenticity fits into the picture. Millennials seem to gravitate towards products made by companies like Glossier and ColourPop, or independent clothing sellers like local consignment shops and sellers on sites like Depop, ThredUp, or Etsy.

Consumers want messages that they can get behind. If they champion environmentalism, they’ll wear ethically-sourced materials or purchase vintage clothes from secondhand shops. They like when makeup brands like Glossier show their makeup on models with a wide range of genders, skintones, and ages. Consumers expect to see a representation of their values, and indie brands have the perfect infrastructure to meet those expectations. Without the corporate red tape and hierarchy, indie brand creators have the freedom to position their brands in ways which represent their genuine interests and address their societal concerns.

Informed shoppers recognize that buying independent brands and stores goes against the grain of a society that promotes consumerism and materialism. Consumerism and mass consumption in the long run wreak havoc on the environment, contribute to hunger, abusive labor conditions and other social problems.

Image Credit: Olivia Rose the Label

Image Credit: Olivia Rose the Label

Some brands That get it right:

Olivia Rose the Label is an independent clothing brand based in Edinburgh, UK. Designer Olivia Rose Havelock creates all pieces by hand so as to avoid wasted materials and resources. With each piece tailored and detailed for individuals, the Havelock can create pieces for women of all shapes and sizes. The brand’s woman-led, waste-minimal values make it all the more valuable to conscious consumers.

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Boyish Jeans is a sustainable women’s denim brand based in California, founded by Jordan Nodarse. The brand’s mission is to minimize the environmental impact of fashion. Boyish denim is made with sustainable, recycled, cruelty-free fabrics in ethical factories. The brand uses less harsh chemical dyes than used to make typical jeans, and they proudly advertise that their jeans use only one third of the 1,800 gallons of water it takes to produce one standard pair of jeans. The company also recycles their water to minimize water pollution.

Image Credit: MaisonCléo

Image Credit: MaisonCléo

Founded by Marie Dewet with her mother Cléo, MaisonCléo is a French company whose Instagram bio sums up one of their key ideologies: #FFF or #FuckFastFashion. MaisonCléo’s feminine, puffy-sleeved designs shot to popularity when celebrities Leandra Medine Cohen and Emily Ratajkowski wore and tagged their designs in 2017. The brand’s family values and environmentally-conscious quantities and fabric sourcing are a prime example of how indie brands with a vision and strong principles can succeed.

The competition in today’s marketplace is tight, but as these three small-but-successful brands show, there’s definitely room for brands whose values and social causes resonate with increasingly savvy and discerning shoppers.

Six Female-Owned Brands to Watch in 2020

It’s 2020, and now more than ever, consumers are increasingly looking for brands with vision and purpose. For a lot of women, this means purchasing not just what fits their budget or taste but products that align with their values. More than ever it’s important support woman-led brands. Look no further than this compilation of six brands that’ll let you put your money where your mouth is and vote with your dollar.

Hortense Pantsuit

the aesthetiC collection

Co-founded by Ani Margarian and Sabrina Salhi, the Aesthetic Collection describes itself as a brand made by and for women. The brand champions confident, inspiring women. It has an array of unique items from jewellery to lace tops to summer bikinis, all of which you could imagine a Parisian woman wearing while vacationing in the south of France. The company ships internationally (using sustainable packaging!) so you can own pieces that give you the chic-but-never-trying-too-hard French girl style wherever you are.

Instagram: @the.aesthetic.collection

La Petite Chineuse 1.JPG

La Petite Chineuse

La Petite Chineuse is a French brand started by friends Hannah Stioui and Laura Ferranti. The shop sells soft, feminine vintage clothing, so you can feel good about your environmental impact knowing you’re reusing classic pieces. Is there any other phrase that makes you sound like a fashion-forward, eco-conscious consumer than, “Oh this? It’s vintage!”

Originally the brand only operated on social media, selling directly from Instagram, but has recently added an online shop. It still boasts 39.5k followers, proving that women crave one-of-a-kind, vintage pieces.

Instagram: @petitechineuse

Rouje- Jeanne Damas

ROUJE

Founded by French model-actress-author turned designer Jeanne Damas, Rouje is a brand both flirty and elegant, coy and classic. The shop offers a range of clothing, jewellery and even its own beauty line. The Rouje palettes double as lipstick and blush for a natural-looking flush. Their lookbooks and Instagram are sure to have you fantasizing about a summer getaway to the French countryside.

Instagram: @rouje

Musier

Known for its timeless wardrobe essentials, Musier Paris has a large following on Instagram with almost 160k followers, in part due to its popular content featuring influencers and bloggers, all of whom referred to as “muses.” From the southwest of France, founder Anne-Laure Mais created Musier Paris in 2018 with the idea of making smaller quantities of high quality pieces to reduce needless consumerism.

Musier partners with local weavers and manufacturers, viewing local suppliers as a way to minimize the brand’s carbon footprint.

Instagram: @musierparis

Djerf Avenue

Matilda Djerf created her brand Djerf Avenue in 2019, and much like the other brands on this list, she emphasizes the importance of ethics and sustainability in fashion. Production for Djerf Avenue is based in Portugal because Djerf wanted to ensure products be made fairly and that employees be fairly compensated. The brand does not mass produce and packaging is made of 100% recycled material.

Djerf Avenue makes blazers, tanks, and other basics in classy, neutral colors.

Instagram: @djerfavenue

Attire The Studio

Attire the Studio’s founding principles of transparency and sustainability have guided the brand since its creation by German lifestyle blogger Xenia Adonts.

Adonts created Attire collection in response to what she saw as a lack of empathy for workers in fashion production lines and a lack of respect for the earth. Attire’s packaging is plastic-free and all its fabrics are 100% natural and biodegradable.

Check out its silk blouses, classic coats, and cable-knit sweaters here.

Instagram: @attire

All images courtesy of respective brands.