Welcome to our World’s Best Shoppersseries, a monthly feature in which we tap the shopping leaders of the fashion world—the best fashion directors, buyers, and stylists—for sartorial insight on what to buy each season.
Summer is just a month away, and I’m already dreaming up all the cool, of-the-moment pieces I want to style together this warm-weather season. I find that summer is the perfect time to have fun with trends, and luckily there are plenty of chic styles that will add a fresh and fashion-forward touch to your ensembles. To get sartorially inspired (and excited for summer!), I tapped some of the most fashion-savvy women at our favorite retailers to share the noteworthy trends they believe are worth investing in this season. Keep scrolling to take a peek at what’s currently on the shopping lists of some of the world’s best shoppers, from timeless yet trend-forward staples like raffia bags to joyful pops of color.
“In our opinion, the most important trend-driven purchases are ones that have longevity in a wardrobe, and perhaps we switch up the way we style them. This Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Raffia Tote Bag perfectly captures the basket-bag trend that will take us through the summer months no matter the locale and will, no doubt, live in our vacation wardrobes for years to come.”
“There is an overarching sense of optimism in fashion right now that allows us to embrace color and print in a way we haven’t done in quite some time. That can be a little intimidating at times—particularly if you consider yourself to be more of a minimalist. The easy way in is by way of a pair of color-pop heels. We love this incredible shade of orange at Bottega Veneta with the Stretch Sandals, which will look just as good with head-to-toe neutrals as it will juxtaposed with something completely unexpected. We styled it with this purple slip dress from Loulou Studio for a presentation earlier this month and loved the contrast.”
“Anything crochet is a great purchase heading into summer, and we are particularly excited about this lime-green Ronny Kobo Toput Crochet-Knit Cutout Halter Dress, which is an incredible shade for a vacation or warm summer nights in the city. A lot of the crochet styles around are very open, so it can be challenging to style, but this one reveals just enough.”
“The number one trend I return to every summer is long, breezy dresses, something that can be worn everywhere, from the beach to a romantic date night. I’m particularly obsessed with this iteration from Odile Jacobs. The bold print and color scream summer! Easily top this chic look off with flat platforms, simple gold hoops, and your favorite clutch.”
“I’m always on the go—whether it’s heading across town, running errands, or hitting the beach. A trending item that I absolutely need is a chic tote that doesn’t compromise on space or style. This Among Equals tote is my favorite everyday bag for the season. It fits both my kids’ and my things perfectly.”
“Obviously, I’ve been loving extra-dark shades to shield the rays away! The more tinted the frame, the better. You’ll catch me with this pair on all summer long.”
“We are loving colorful, bright dresses for summer. This beautiful Johanna Ortiz halter-neck wrap dress features asymmetric draping and a mini length that lends to an easy yet elegant cocktail look.”
“Raffia is always a summer staple, and Loewe does it best with its annual Paula’s Ibiza capsule collection. This bucket bag, in particular, has both ruffles and raffia—the perfect way to sum up summer in one bag.”
“It’s all about the party shoes this season, and these Mach & Mach sandals are sure to impress at any summer event.”
“I love the bold, bright stripes in this versatile tank dress. It can be dressed down with subtle slides or dressed up with sexy strappy heels.”
“I’m loving suiting for the summer. Neutrals and muted colors in a variety of silhouettes, including cropped lengths, are great paired back to flowy trousers or over a sexy tank dress.”
“Crisp shirting continues its dominance this summer with so many iterations. We took the classic shirt to the next level with a longer dress length and a bold hue. I love thebright pop paired with light-wash denim and sexy heels.”
“I love this Baes dress from Beaufille. It’s the perfect little summer dress that can be dressed up or worn casually with sandals. It has an A-line shape that offers fluidity and ease to a cutout silhouette.”
“This Apointetc raffia bag has a great green color that still works as a neutral.”
“Mara Hoffman is always a favorite for summer dresses. This dress is great for any summer occasion, and the embroidered details make it that much more special.”
“Farm Rio is a favorite of mine—just looking at its vibrant printed dresses puts a smile on my face. Its new shoe collection embodies all the same joyousness and will absolutely be my go-to vacation sandals. Definitely a reason to get a pedicure ASAP!”
“I love the contrast of the organic nature of these freshwater pearls against the bold gold oversize, brassy drop. I could easily wear them with jeans and a T-shirt or dressed up for one of the many weddings I have to go to this summer.”
“I am so excited to get dressed up again this summer, and I am going all out. This top by Black-owned brand Kimberly Goldson checks all the boxes for my summer wardrobe needs—bold color, statement ruffles, and shiny finish.”
