Trend Report: Summer 2021

In the past few weeks Newport has come alive like never before! The seasonal crowds are arriving in full swing, flooding our streets and shops with childlike joy that only the start of summer can bring. This is a magical time in Newport every year but after the past 15 months we have had, a sun-kissed afternoon with friends by the Atlantic has never felt so precious. Last year taught us so much, but a takeaway that I'll never forget is that truly the greatest luxury is being able to gather amongst friends and family. 

We have loved hearing shopper's excitement to be able to dress up again and hit the town. With Memorial Weekend just right around the corner, it has been so much fun to play in our little shop and style people for their reentry into life! This summer's fashion trends are starting to clearly emerge and we have loved seeing them unfold in real-time just as our lives begin turning this corner. 

While we love innovation in fashion, we are fully aware that popular styles and/or "trends" can sometimes be indulged without longevity in mind. Fun, playful trendy pieces open up the opportunity for creativity and for people to play in fashion, but we are also advocates of conscious shopping. As I highlight my favorite style stories that are happening in the shop, I'll discuss what makes this color, style, or piece unique to this moment but also show you ways to style so these pieces for years to come! 

Every once in a while, a color story unfolds on our racks and it becomes the very clear color of the season. Pre-pandemic, Dakota and I would do most of our buying in-person at showrooms, so we would be able to review collections from our brands side by side and pinpoint which color will be the standout in months to come. By doing all of our buying virtually and placing orders at different times, we now wait to see everything come together in the shop and put all of the pieces together into singular story. While I cannot wait for future days buying in-person, the level of creativity when writing the color story at the shop is unparalleled and so incredibly fun. 

This leads me to the dominant color that each one of our brands has produced with their own style and design: SAGE. Fortunately for me, this green hue has always been one of my favorites. There is a uniqueness and sophistication to this color. For so many, green may be your favorite color in the rainbow but it may not always appear in your closet. It is as though by immersing ourselves in it outside in nature, we forget to seek out and add this favorite to our wardrobe. It does not have the same vibrance as a royal blue or sunny yellow that makes for a traditional summer bright, but its subtlety and ultra-flattering tones make it a knockout.

What I love about this shade is that it is truly seasonless. I love that it's adorning our racks as we embark on a summer for the ages, but come fall, it will seamlessly incorporate back into your cool-weather wardrobe. Some hues really only pop for half-the-year, so I love that this shade is both incredibly versatile while still being the standout for this summer. Pair it with white this season and black or a cocoa next. 

BEACH TO BRUNCH

Whether you're on the coast or plan to be lakeside all summer long, you want to be able to easily stroll up to your favorite restaurant without anyone knowing that your breezy outfit was just rolled up in your beach bag. At the shop we are seeing more "throw-and-go" styles that can travel and pack seamlessly. These are completely versatile pieces perfect for dressing up in a tight pinch or just something effortless and airy for balmy days. We always lean into these type of designs but, as the world put travel plans on hold this past year, we are seeing the ease and versatility of resort wear really make a comeback this season. 

Designs from Show Me Your Mumu are my favorite for this type of piece. They have continued to produce silhouettes that are universally flattering and epitomize the dress up/dress down look. My particular favorite is the Caroline Mini Dress, which we currently have at the shop in three different color-ways and patterns. The adjustable straps allow you to play with the length and fit of the dress and, due to its breezy fit, you could always shorten the straps to treat this piece as a tunic with a pair of white jeans or denim shorts.

To me, the Mustard (ON SALE) is the most versatile as it's not only a solid, but also that particular shade will transition into fall nicely with an oversized jean jacket and booties. The Lemonade Cheetah and the Green Majestic Palm are idyllic for summer and vacation and a little more playful for wearing out. One way to look at standout prints like these is to think of them for different occasions and what event niche they might fulfill in your closet. For instance, if you have a tropical vacation coming up and just want something to make you feel a little outside of yourself, going with a fun print can be an easy way for you to do so. And then once you find a print that you love, you can treat that article like a special piece to wear over and over for future getaways. 

If you're a little hesitant about incorporating all of those colors into your wardrobe, then just know our shop continues to be filled with neutral alternatives for this summer staple. Similar to the silhouettes from Show Me Your Mumu, Stillwater's  most recent arrivals have been designed with versatility in mind. 

The Paige Mini and Maxi dresses are not only timeless and versatile in their silhouettes and details, but you can easily throw this piece over a swimsuit in the morning and attend Memorial backyard BBQ at night! The square neckline is flattering on all shapes and sizes and strikes the balance of both being modest for a family event, while still showing enough for a night out with your besties! Featuring a rayon and linen blend, these dresses will pack easily while still maintaining the light and airy fabrication and sophistication of a traditional linen piece. A summer LBD/LWD will take you places and with the breezy fit and fun tie details, you'll never tire wearing any of these beauties. 

SETS

I am loving all of the different sets our brands have created for this season. Whether you're matching beautiful florals for a breezy, boho ensemble or pairing together a chic, form fitting ivory outfit for seaside cocktails, we have a little bit of everything in the shop! We are seeing so many brands lean into these matching sets as they give the illusion of something a little more elevated and put-together, but pairing them is just as easy as throwing on a dress. 

I love how so many of these sets are designed in color-ways that would beautifully pair with a neutral so it's as though you're getting three outfits in one! These prints and pieces would look ideal with basics already in your closet: your go-to white denim or white tee will tone down prints into a casual cool look, or you can even tie up your favorite white button down with a flowy skirt to edge up a boho piece. Going along with the theme of versatility, choosing a set over a singular look really opens up the possibilities in your wardrobe. I love it too because I feel as though each piece (when not worn together) has a second life and purpose elsewhere. 

Below are some of my favorite sets that we currently have at the shop, shop our entire set collection at our shop, featuring a medley of looks from all of our brands! 

Words cannot express how excited we are for this upcoming weekend and for the kickoff to summer! We have loved seeing familiar and new faces in the shop, and look forward to a bright summer in this little community that we love so much. We will be open all this weekend (including Memorial Day!) from 10-6pm so stop on by and say "hi" and let us know what summer trends you're the most excited about. Keep an eye on your inbox - we have so many new goodies (including new brands) arriving in the next couple of weeks! 

Happy Memorial Day!