As many of my fellow East Coasters know, there’s really nothing better than summer in NYC. I used to spend the summer months here interning as a college student, and now that I’m a newly minted New Yorker, I’m gearing up for a season spent picnicking in Central Park, going to outdoor happy hours, hanging on my friends’ rooftops, and so much more. I can already feel the excitement bubbling as more people start to shed their layers and look forward to the city’s July 1 reopening date, so with a semi-normal summer on the horizon, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how I want to dress.
Reemergence fashion, revenge dressing, or whatever you want to call it, I’m definitely feeling the urge to break out of my plain basics and hop into plenty of bright colors, skin-baring items, and fun-loving accessories. I want my wardrobe to mirror my joyous mood, and to achieve that, I’ve been eyeing a number of cheap and trendy fashion finds that are nothing if not fun. From bucket hats to retro sunglasses, peruse the below lineup of the affordable and NYC-ready summer shopping picks I’m snagging.
I’m getting Hailey Bieber vibes—anyone else?
Let’s be real. I want this whole outfit. Shop the matching Mini Tube Top ($29).
It’s about to be the summer of the shimmery bikini, and I want in.
Truly a work of art.
A little bit of ’90s action.
Resort shirts are some of my key summer basics because they’re just so easy to wear.
If you’re not wearing colorful rings, what are you even doing?
Retro but not too retro.
I swoon over anything in this color.
Confession: I already own these, and they’re a nice addition to simpler outfits.
Summer camp vibes all around.
Calling it now: Boxer shorts are the new lounge shorts.
My friends who have this dress rave about how it’s the best summer outfit, and well, I’m officially influenced.
This had me at hello.
The right amount of relaxed.
New summer season, new bucket hat. I don’t make the rules.
Transparent shades are taking over my Instagram feed right now.
How chic would this be as a swimsuit cover-up?
For lounging or lunging, I’m into the sporty vibe these have.
The resin-ring train is here, and this is your low-cost ticket on board.
Okay, this actually looks much more expensive than it is.
Love me a matching set. Shop the matching Knitted Sleeveless Top ($59).
I plan to style this underneath a big blazer for casual coffee dates.
