How To Create A Summer Street Look
The summer months are full of vibrancy, personality, and color—and they represent a fantastic opportunity to embrace the changing seasons and bring the sunny vibes, in full force! When it comes to deciding how to create a summer street look, there is no shortage of opportunity—from brightly colored fabrics and festive prints to summery accessories and styles, you are truly only limited by your imagination and your willingness to try new things. In this guide, we will cover some of the most trendy summer street looks you can try out as well as tips for completing your wardrobe!
Try A New Summer Style
Carefully selecting your clothes allows you to play in so many ways—from feeling chic and beautiful to mirroring the outside world, projecting your inner self, or cosplay, styling your wardrobe allows you a wonderful avenue for self-expression. That said, nobody likes to feel like they're stuck in a creative rut!
This summer, we're all about a few trendy summer street looks that have caught our eye—namely Gothic style, Punk style, Kawaii style, and Lolita style! Let's briefly assess what sets these distinct styling perspectives apart.
● Goth Aesthetic: This dark and often morbid fashion look is typically characterized by black clothing and dyed hair, dramatic makeup, and a variety of clothing elements ranging from fishnet stockings and bondage gear to corsets.
● Punk Aesthetic: Over the years, Punk is an aesthetic that has grown to incorporate many different elements—though it is perhaps most known for appearing as studded leather, plaid, ripped clothing, and military boots or Doc Martens.
● Kawaii Aesthetic: Characterized by its signature childlike innocence, Kawaii style aims to capture simplicity, charm, and all things "cute" in its aesthetic. It often incorporates rounded shapes, bright colors, anthropomorphic animals, or pastel colors, and often highlights large eyes and a small mouth.
● Lolita Aesthetic: This popular look originated in 1970s Japan as a celebration of femininity and modesty. This aesthetic often draws from Western culture—whether that's history, fairy tales, or children's stories.
As you can see, there's no "wrong" way to design your summer street look—and there truly are a world of stylistic options to consider. Whether you lean into the creepiness of Goth or the sweetness of Kawaii, these fashion trends have something to offer everyone!
Create Your Personal Wardrobe
When it comes to creating your own wardrobe, it can sometimes feel overwhelming in terms of where to start. However, you can greatly narrow down this process and add ease to your journey by selecting the aesthetic that resonates most with your desired summer vibe! Here are some of our top picks for summer:
Goth Style
If you're looking for something dark and dramatic that still offers you plenty of opportunity to stay cool in the summer heat, you will want to check out this elegant cross strap Gothic dress. With a stunning neckline and a flowy, ruffled skirt, this dress will have you feeling tapped into your darker side while allowing you to remain cool. However, if an all-black aesthetic isn't your thing (particularly for the summer months), there's no rules against adding a pop of color here and there. That's why we've chosen this lacy and ruffled dress to the mix with a rose-pink heart on the chest. Even in your "heart of darkness" era, you can still bring a little softness and femininity!
Punk Style
Many people associate tie-dye fabric with summertime and sunshine—but have you ever envisioned it paired with punk elements? Behold, our red and black tie-dyed suspender dress, complete with studded accents! If that's not dramatic enough for you, you'll want to check out this edgy, ruffled dress complete with a fishnet top. The best part of both of these looks is that they easily transition from walking down the street on a sunny day to hitting the town in the summer evening.
Kawaii Style
While both Goth and Punk aesthetics are stunning in their own regard, it might not be palatable to you to don black clothes in the dead of summer—after all, black absorbs more light (and therefore heat)! Keep cool in this darling, strawberry-inspired ensemble in the Kawaii style, complete with a ruffled, checkered top with a large bow on the chest. Equally sweet (and cool) is this ruched, blue and orange bowknot camisole and light wash denim shorts. You will be ready for any adventure in each of these adorable outfits!
Lolita Style
If you're looking to bring an element of elegance to your summertime proceedings, you can't overlook the Lolita style. Flushed in lace, ruffles, a corseted top, and a gorgeous pastel hue, you will be sure to turn heads in this dreamy "classic Lolita" dress. Or, channel your inner ballerina with this oil painting-inspired, sleeveless tulle dress to luxuriate in the experience of embodying your femininity.
Add Accessories To Enhance The Overall Look
While the base of your look is important (i.e. what shorts, tops, or dresses to wear), what really brings your outfit together is the accessories. Here are three of our top picks!
Head and Hair Accessories: If you're looking for something sweet and feminine that will also shield your eyes and face from the scorching sun, consider this timeless pastoral style straw hat with ruffles! If you're not looking for total head coverage, however, this ruffled headband with an exaggerated bow may be more your speed. Whatever you choose, don't forget to plan your hair styling accordingly!
Jewelry: Adding earrings to your look is a simple way to not only add depth and detail to your aesthetic but also to frame your face and draw the eye of the beholder to your most attractive features. These sweet heart-shaped earrings with pearls have a classic vibe that could easily be paired with many of the summer styles we've listed above. If you're looking for something a little more dramatic, check out this deep red, beaded lace necklace, perfect for your next Gothic outfit!
Socks and Garters/Leg Rings: Especially if you opt for a shorter skirt in the warmer months, this can become an excellent opportunity to add layers and dimension to your outfit through elements like our stark, punk-inspired leg ring or these romantic and dramatic 3D bloody rose socks!
Whichever aesthetic you choose to wear this summer, remember that clothing yourself should always be a source of joy—and to have fun with your outfit planning! Whether you're hoping to step outside your comfort zone with a new style or are simply hoping to feel more "yourself," Goth, Punk, Kawaii, and Lolita styles have a lot to offer. Best of all, they not only look good, but these outfits will help you beat the summer heat as well!