Color is the New Black
Ditch that little black crop-top, Y2K fashion is back and better
by TAYLOR CHAIKEN ★ JULY 4, 2021
Summer is finally here, and summer fashion is back and more prevalent than ever. Being out of the dark and depressing Q has brought out color like never before. We’re seeing so many different outfits and makeup looks that really bring us back in time. Bright hues, chunky textures and psychedelic prints are all the rage right now, and reflect a simpler time when Britney and Paris reigned supreme: the early 2000’s. These looks can be seen not only on influencers like Danielle Bernstein or Hannah Bucknam, but on everyday girls staying on budget at Zara and Princess Polly. This summer has brought out the nostalgic beads, pearls, and butterfly clips, colored eyeliner we never thought we’d see again. Color is back and here to stay, and here are some of our must-have trends for this summer.
Pearls, beads, and chains
Who would've thought we would ever break out our bead boxes from summer camp again? Believe it or not, pearls, beads, and chains are the biggest trend of the summer, and they can be used to spice up any outfit. These beads are typically worn as colorful chokers but are also seen on the new uprising trend: phone chains. The best thing about bead accessories is that you can buy them or make them on your own (and they turn out pretty well--trust me, this is coming from the girl who has never beaded anything in her life).
Don't know where to start? Here’s some fitspo: a simple white tee, a pair of Levi Bermuda jean shorts, and a beaded choker. They really bring the most simplistic outfits together to make them so much more fun.
Nail art
Nail art is the easiest way to accessorize this summer. Acrylics, almond nail shape, and radiant polish colors are IN for the summer. Get rid of your basic light pink polish and ask your nail tech for french tips, water marble or even ombre to switch things up. I recommend following @showyournaillady, @boycott_boringnails, or @nailartbysig on Instagram, or looking on Pinterest (we don’t care if you think it’s cheugy, okay?!) and TikTok for more inspo. Nail art is the best way to express yourself and get a million compliments.
Chunky sandals
Love it or hate it, chunky sandals are huge right now in the fashion world. They can be worn best with a silk maxi skirt, white mom jeans, or your favorite pastel dress. To be honest, this trend totally reminds me of the Fila chunky sneaker phase in 2019 where they were hot for a minute, and shamed upon the next. I remember boys literally making fun of girls who wore these. Not that their opinions matter anyway...but I digress. We all deserve a much needed break from the suede espadrilles, Tory Burch Miller’s, and the Gucci slide, or better yet…the overdone Birkenstock. It’s time for something fresh, fun and fabulous, and the chunky sandal fulfils this purpose. There’s SO much variation, but my personal favorite is the pastel Gucci rubber slide sandal which I’m sure you’ve seen all over TikTok and Instagram. Although the price may be enough to scare anyone away, there are decently affordable dupes of this shoe from Steve Madden, Jeffery Campbell, and Shein. Going back to the nostalgia piece, this shoe combines the y2k time period with your Malibu Barbie doll’s shoe into one amazing, durable pair of sandals. What more could anyone ask for?
Colorful makeup
Along with the nail art craze, fun and colorful makeup looks can be seen on Emma Chamberlain and Charlotte Bickey. Colored eyeliner, bold blush, and vibrant eyeshadow and mascara is EVERYWHERE all of the sudden. The best part about this is that colored makeup can add a huge statement to the boldest of outfits. It can really make you stand out at any bar, music festival, or any other place you might find yourself this summer dressing up for. Not to mention, it is so much fun to experiment and play around with your makeup. Colorful makeup would truly not be nearly as popular without the influence from TikTok, who has really made this trend so widespread.
Psychedelic prints
After all...who really wants to wear a little black crop top anyway? Prints are hot right now and so worth the investment. We are seeing a ton of clashing colors, pastel sorbet, and neon. For prints, you can find anything checkerboard, floral and zebra all over the Zara website. In my opinion, the best way to start incorporating these prints into your wardrobe is to start off with swim wear!! What’s not to love about a patchwork bikini? Printed swimsuits are so fun, affordable, and are guaranteed to stay on trend for a while.
This summer's patterns, designs, and textures are quite literally dreamy. Between the cool accessories, vibrant makeup, and scales like no other, these trends really encourage us to jump outside our comfort zones and enter the *world of color.* Y2k fashion is not going away anytime soon so, I encourage anyone reading to have fun with these looks and try something new. You never know what a pop of color might lead to.