Step Into Summer with These Fashion Trends

According to the Department of Commerce, consumer spending saw a disappointingly modest increase in the month of May after no increase in April. The lack of consumer confidence is just another hint at a sluggish economic recovery, sources say.

With summer officially in full swing, clothing retailers are scrambling to provide fashion products that will appeal to consumers in order to drum up sales as the temperature rises. According to sources such as ABC News, modest products like white shirts, wide pants and simple footwear are being stocked on store shelves across the nation.

Katia Zingarevich photo via Flickr

The Classic White Shirt

The fashion industry is trending toward the basics this summer. Of course, this is a very comfortable choice for summer. It is a cool choice, but you don’t have to sacrifice looking good to pull this look off. Designer brands are filling store racks with cotton white shirts that are a far cry from the classic button down. Instead, you will find sleeveless, white shirts designed with an a-symmetrical cut, no collars and funky hems. Senior Editor at InStyle magazine,Dana Avidan-Cohn, suggests layering the shirt or even choosing a longer shirt, adding a belt and wearing it as a short dress.

Wide-Legged Cropped Pants

Another trend that is making waves this summer is wide-legged cropped pants. Many women don’t like cropped pants because they feel their legs are too short. Some of the better-selling styles are cut as wide as culottes, and they are typically paired with a chunky shoe and shirt that hits at or slightly below the natural waist.

Shoes for Summer

As previously mentioned, understated sandals are popular this beach season, and sales of products such as the perennial favorite Birkenstocks have seen an increase. There are a number of competitors in the sandals market poised to compete for sales with the long-standing German brand. Most of the sandals seen on store shelves will be a throwback to the classic Birkenstock style with a double strap. Black or white are the trendiest colors, but almost any will do when focused on matching your clothing. Consumers will find these shoes to push the strappy sandals of last summer to the side and complete a look of comfort that many will be sporting.

Jewelry for Summer – Stackable Rings

Finally, shoppers cannot consider an outfit to be complete without some simple stack-able rings. The theme for this year’s summer season is comfort, and comfort often means casual. Consumers are on the hunt for rings and other accessories that stand out from the rest, causing retailers to think outside of the box when it comes to store offerings. Manufacturers are also searching for different styles to meet a more wide-spread market.

From chunky sandals to classic white shirts, this summer has a definite throwback theme that hasn’t been seen in a couple of years. As the weather heats up, so too will the competition to drive customers into the stores and sales on the ledger books.

Guest Author: Lolita Di