This summer is shaking out to be one laden with heat, FIFA, and a momentous All-American anniversary. As America celebrates her two hundred and fiftieth birthday, here are some of the trends women are wearing this summer, from sea to shining sea. 

Board Shorts

In tune with the resurgence of the bermuda short and capri pant is the seemingly enthusiastic reception of the board short. In particular, y2k mens board shorts seem to be the most recent summer trend, encapsulating the overarching, vintage surfer vibe of California and other coastal states. Knee length, colorful, and often preloved, these shorts are reminiscent of films like Blue Crush (2022) and Soul Surfer (2011), two films that established the relaxed, sporty, beachside style for both men and women.

Brands like Rusty, Quiksilver, and Oakley are known for these oversized, baggy styles and dominated the industry in the early 2000s, making their appearance in the resurgence of this trend unsurprising. Often paired with a string biking bottom, these shorts are perfect for bridging the gap between beach wear and functionality for those that feel forced to constantly choose between the two. 

Sporty Sunglasses

In line with the early 2000s, sporty, beachy look of men’s board shorts is the accessorization of any casual outfit with sporty sunglasses. Think of the ones your grandpa has tucked into the collar of his t-shirt or clipped to the visor of his car. The plastic, rectangular frames, the tinted, colored lenses, yeah those ones. I like to think of them as Crocs but for your face. The frames engulf lenses that are often polarized, tinting the lens a bluish or orange-ish hue. The popularity of these glasses coincides with the men’s board short revival, completing the y2k, sporty beachwear look that so many American girls are showing off this summer. 

Teeny Tiny Tops

Either a spaghetti strap, form fitting tank top, a cut and cropped tshirt, or, most authentically, a simple triangle bikini top, tiny tops pair well with an array of pants, skirts, and shorts for the summer months. Mostly, these tops are form fitting, not necessarily cropped, but importantly, work well with the trending low rise, baggy bottoms. To complete the sporty, beachwear style created thus far, a triangle bikini top works perfectly with the bermuda cut of mens board shorts, or really any low rise, bottom, from cargo capri to asymmetrical maxi skirt. 

The Bixie

Not a clothing trend, but still equally as influential and prevalent, is the bixie cut. A cross between a bob and a pixie, the bixie channels a 60s and 70s shag-esque hairstyle. The back of the cut is longer, falling to the nape of the neck, while the front frames the face, emulating the iconic shag of later decades. It’s a chic, effortless style that requires minimal maintenance and alleviates the hair drama that comes with summer humidity and sweat. Paired with the recurring sporty summer style, it feels like a perfect fit to the look us American girls seem to be curating.

Pre-Loved Clothing

It’s clear that an athletic style is prevailing this summer, yet another common thread connecting these summer trends is the focus on vintage, y2k pieces. Pre-loved pieces, from vintage surf shorts to used sunny’s, are the avenue to achieving the most authentic sporty beach look. Online marketplace’s, like Depop and Poshmark, are excellent resources that can be used to search for these niche, specific trends. Try typing surf name brands into search bars and see the options that await, typically for a fraction of the price of new items with the same vintage revived style. 

This summer seems to be defined by athletic, boyish items and a look that appears ready for the beach above all else. It’s clear that a larger movement is pushing towards vintage, y2k clothing items to create the coastal, lived in appearance of a surfer bum turned fashion forward thinker. And American girls, as they so often do, are pioneering the look. 

What do you think of these current summer fashion trends? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!