Never underestimate the power of the humble T-shirt. Beloved by celebrities, stylists, and fashion lovers alike, the affordable and universally flattering T-shirt might be fashion’s great equalizer.
But of course, T-shirts are subject to the whims of the fashion elite just like any other article of clothing. From fabric and finishing to silhouette and cut, T-shirt trends change with every passing season.
As for summer 2021, we did some investigating to determine the tees that will continue to dominate the year ahead and consequently, which trends we’re noticing on the decline. From baby tees to ribbing, shop the five summer T-shirt trends that will reign supreme in 2021, according to our favorite fashion insiders.
I know some of you will come for me for saying this and maybe it is too soon to outright say they’re “done” but I’m personally feeling fatigued by padded shoulder tees. Instead, I’m really gravitating towards boxy and oversized T-shirts that you can throw on with bike shorts or tuck into something high-waisted for a relaxed vibe.
The Y2K era may be all the rage right now, but the baby tees of the ’90s are definitely having a moment, too. They tend to come in and out of style but right now it’s all about shrunken tees with cutesy graphics. And based on my most recent closet purge, tie-dye T-shirts are on their way out (at least as far as my own closet if concerned).
There will always be a spot for more interesting T-shirts and right now those are plissé and box-pleat tops. The texture never wrinkles, looks so expensive, and in my opinion, is timeless. Invest now and wear forever.
Now let’s talk graphic tees. They will hardly ever go “out” but I’ve noticed how the type of graphics do tend to change from time to time. These days, I’m noticing a lot of quirky and kitschy graphics like Ganni’s dolphin graphic pictured above and H&M’s My Little Pony tee below. If you’re wearing one of these, you’re definitely a fun person.
Little details sometimes have the biggest impact. Case in point: ribbing. We love the texture on loungewear and knits and more than ever, on T-shirts. They’re easy but add a little something elevated to your outfit and as seen here, are French girl-approved. If you’re looking to nail that je ne sais quoi vibe, these are how to do it.
