Summer has finally arrived, and now that we’ve been able to regain some semblance of a social life after lockdown and social distancing measures were eased, it’s the perfect time to overhaul your wardrobe with all of the latest luxury trends. From summer soirees to outdoor events, normality is on its way back in – which means it’s time to fix up, look sharp, and get ahead of the style game while there’s still time.
Here at LLM, we’ve been keeping our eye on all of the latest summer trends to be seen in, with the first hint of what they would be unfolding during last year’s international and hotly-anticipated fashion weeks. Unsurprisingly, some typically avante-garde looks and colours were unveiled – because would it even be Fashion Week if they weren’t?
While many of them might at first appear simply unwearable for your everyday sartorial male, the key to working them into your wardrobe is to think about how you can take elements from one or two of them, and incorporate them into a versatile day to day look – rather than taking each individual trend too literally.
Take, for example, this season’s neon trend – which is likely a step too far for most. But you don’t need to go head to toe in lime green to carry it off; instead, pair a simple t-shirt with some designer men’s Diesel jeans for a simple, more minimalistic look, or opt for an entirely monochrome outfit and finish with a pair of designer neon kicks.
Not convinced? The good news is that there are plenty of easier ways to inject some new season trends into your wardrobe. Here, we take a look at some of the most wearable, high-end luxury trends of the season, and the staple pieces that will see you right through until autumn.
The new utility look
There are certain trends that we never quite see the back of, with new twists and takes emerging every couple of years that succeed in thrusting them firmly back into the spotlight. Last year, the safari jacket was the only wardrobe staple to be seen in, but this year, the utility trend has been given a thoroughly modern makeover with a functional twist. At Gucci and Zegna, we saw canvas and leather-cut field jackets taking centre stage on the catwalks, with Dior going on to steal the show with a typically extravagant crocodile variation on the trend.
At Balmain, the safari style was still going strong – but the stand-out pieces were seen over at Dolce & Gabbana, where nautical accents added an extra flourish.
The bomber jacket
The mercury might be rising for the summer months, but a stylish and versatile jacket will always have a place in our wardrobes whilst here in the UK, and with travel options remaining limited for 2021, it looks like many of us will be staying put.
So, what kind of jacket can you rely on to see you through every eventuality, come rain or shine? Look no further than the classic bomber. At the spring/summer 2021 shows, we saw multiple twists on the aviator variety – from 1970s-style nylon cropped bombers at Gucci, to high-shine flight jackets over at Philipp Plein.
But all eyes were on Prada’s cropped, minimalistic offerings for the season ahead, and with Hermes presenting a similar take, it seems that this is set to be the style of the season.
The Bermuda short
Summer is officially shorts season, and this year, it’s all about the classic Bermuda. While at both Zegna and Casablanca, we saw tailored styles strutting the catwalk in pastel shades of pink, green and lilac, Dolce & Gabbana went for a bolder look with stand-out patterns. For summer 2021, it seems the key to carrying off your Bermudas is to make them the focal point of your look. Team with a simple linen shirt and leather sandals for a relaxed and off-duty daytime look, or swap your footwear for brogues to take you into the evening.
The final word
After a year of being told to stay at home, it’s time we got back to having fun with fashion – and summer 2021 is the time to do it. From tailored pastels to sharp cuts, there’s a lot to love about the new season style, and with any luck, we’ll have plenty of opportunities over the coming months to try the latest trends on for size.
