The summer 2024 trends offer a life lesson and one in fashion—why not make the ordinary more extraordinary? In the Pre-Fall 2024 collections, designers meet people where they are with staple summer fashion pieces that offer suggestions to spice up everyday personal style.
You can still slip into your favorite jean shorts and well-worn tees when running errands on the weekend, but add some statement summer accessory trends, like '80s-era button earrings or a sexy pair of slingbacks, to polish off the pairing. Your best linen blazer works just fine, but one with cheeky cutouts slicing down the lapel will add a special touch to your summer work outfit rotation. These thoughtful additions and style swaps will add magic moments to your warm-weather wardrobe.
Familiar favorites like Breton striped shirts clock in for duty, and essentials like denim maxi skirts also make their usual appearance; the other summer 2024 trends, like Bermuda shorts and elevated athleisurewear, won't feel too far outside your comfort zone, either. Perhaps the boldest argument designers present is to opt for wider-legged, longline pants that pool at the ankle. You won't need hemming services from June to August, so give your tailor the season off.
Ahead, Marie Claire outlines the season's break-away trends and offers suggestions on integrating them into your upcoming cute summer outfits. Keep scrolling to discover and shop what the season has in store.
Top to Toe Denim
The best way to style a pair of jeans this summer is to commit completely—a full-on denim-on-denim outfit. Dior and Ulla Johnson relied on the fool-proof co-ord effect by teaming denim trousers with jackets in matching washes. Jack Miner of Interior even veered from color convention to present the 'New Yorker' tuxedo: A distressed, baby blue jean jacket styled with straight-leg jeans in bright white.
One Way Ticket to Bermuda
Longline styles are now in the spotlight after seasons of micro-shorts (or, for the style risk-seekers, no bottoms at all). Givenchy gave the Bermuda silhouette a casual weekend makeover by styling gray-wash denim shorts with a polo-collared pullover. If that feels a little too informal, try teaming a front-pleated cotton twill style with a flashy, party-ready top, as seen at Valentino.
What Office Dress Code?
This season, designers are making the case for showing skin—how far you'll take it is up to you. When the mood strikes, go without a button-down under your blazer (or try a bandeau instead, as seen at Versace) and swap a pair of trousers for tailored shorts. The sentiment behind this summer's peek-a-boo suiting applies to going-out outfits, too.
Vent It Out
The many cutout designs of Pre-Fall 2024 are a strategic fashion choice that also works as built-in ventilation. At Helmut Lang, T-shirts were intentionally designed to be slashed along the elbows, while Victoria Beckham offered a series of maxi dresses with asymmetrical teardrops cut out along the clavicle. Elsewhere, slits at the hip, front-and-center keyholes, and open backs keep pieces cool (literally and figuratively).
An Athluxe Attitude
The Pre-Fall 2024 collections beg to differ with anyone who says a sweat set or leggings aren't fashion. Dior and Valentino paired sleek hoodies with shorts (Pierpaolo Piccioli opted for Bermudas, which aligns with the above trend), whereas Undercover suggested a head-to-toe sweat set. The luxurious approach to sporty separates continued at Versace and The Row, where windbreakers were styled with matching nylon bottoms meant for wear beyond the track.
Sailing into Summer
From seafaring cardigans and sailor collars to oceanic blues and gold naval buttons, nautical fashion is one of the most prominent takeaways of the summer 2024 trends. Adeam and Nili Lotan chose classic Breton stripes in navy, while Max Mara put the print in bright buoy red. Style your stripes with a piece of fine jewelry designed in rope or shell motifs for a dressed-up touch.
Coffee on Your Clothes
Brown in all its tonal variations—burnt umber, mahogany, cappuccino, and more—is the foremost color of Pre-Fall 2024's palette. Surprisingly, some designers chose the dark shade over fashion's favorite black. Brands including Brandon Maxwell, Stella McCartney, Versace, Chanel, and Khaite peppered the hue into their collections in dreamy day dresses, skirt suits, and open-back mules.
Mind the Puddle (Pants)
Take a literal approach to lengthening your legs and opt for hemlines that sweep the floor—better known as puddle pants. Khaite perfectly pooled its trousers to gather around the ankle, while Valentino's cerulean pants doubled their boldness with their extra-long length. Don't worry about your choice of shoes—at Stella McCartney, hemlines hide them all together.
