Spring summer 2021 fashion trends are officially on our radar with the temperature rising and the days becoming progressively longer (thanks, daylight savings!). Plus, with the roadmap out of lockdown well underway, we're casting our attention to what we're going to wear for all the social events now going in the diary. And, lemme tell you, the 2021 fashion trends will definitely renew your excitement for getting dressed each morn.
After a year of changing from pyjamas into loungewear and then back into pjs every day, we are SO ready to look ahead and see what the warmer months have in store for us in the style department.
We've scoured the runways of Paris, London, Milan and New York to bring you a cheat sheet for this season's biggest spring/summer trends - because anyone who's seen The Devil Wears Prada knows that certain 'looks' start out at designer shows before working their way down to the high street within a matter of months. And that, my friends, is where we wanna snap them up before they sell out.
From the colours and fabrics you'll want in your wardrobe to the cool details you'll start seeing everywhere, here are the nine main fashion trends for 2021:
- Crop tops
- Puffy sleeves
- Cut-outs
- Sheer
- Glitter
- Wrap-around straps
- Pastel
- Wide-leg trousers
- Netting
1. Crop tops
Jacquemus
Chanel
Hermes
Versace
Alberta Ferreti
Isabel Marant
Dior
Louis Vuitton
Nothing screams 'summer' quite like crop tops - the top du jour for spring/summer 2021. Layer a bandeau style under a blazer jacket (Hermès) for a warm-weather take on tailoring, or try a printed bralette style (Alberta Ferreti, Jacquemus, Versace, Dior), which will look right at home when trips to the seaside resume. Alternatively, embrace all things 'extra' with statement puffy sleeves and embellishment (Isabel Marant, Versace) for evening cocktail vibes. The thing we love most about crop tops is that there are loaaaads of different ways you can wear them, enabling you to put your own spin on the trend.
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2. Puffy sleeves
Jacquemus
Isabel Marant
Gabriela Hearst
Isabel Marant
Alberta Ferreti
Gabriela Hearst
Isabel Marant
Alberta Ferreti
Voluminous sleeves are back for another season and, to be honest, we couldn't be happier about the larger-than-life detail sticking around for a bit longer. Wear with statement trousers (Isabel Marant, Alberta Ferreti) for a fun 'day to night' look, or with short shorts and sexy split skirts (Jacquemus, Alberta Ferreti) for sun-worshipping park hangs. And the puffy sleeve midi dress ain't going anywhere, folks, with soft white cotton or silky leather options offering a fresh spin on the laid-back look (Gabriela Hearst, Isabel Marant). Whichever way you wear them, the motto for this season is 'the bigger your sleeves, the better'.
Shop the trend:
Forever New Curve Puff sleeve square neck midaxi dress with bow back in soft mint
3. Cut outs
Versace
Acne
Isabel Marant
Fendi
BOSS
Kenzo
Gabriela Hearst
Kenzo
We can already envisage the funky tan lines that are going to come out of this season thanks to the emergence of quirky cut-outs. Give your sundresses a little edginess with a flash of skin around the waist (Fendi, Gabriela Hearst, Acne, Isabel Marant, BOSS) or an unexpected detail at the hips or thighs (Versace, Kenzo). Celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Emily Ratajkowski are already onboard the sexy trend, so whaddaya waiting for?
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4. Sheer
Fendi
Alberta Ferreti
Fendi
Dior
Kenzo
Balmain
Fendi
Balmain
The sheer trend isn't everyone's cup of tea, but this season brings with it a range of cool new ways to embrace the trend if you've been waiting for the right one to tempt you. Layer semi-sheer maxi dresses over your bikini for beach-inspired '70s chic (Alberta Ferreti, Dior), or wear as an additional layer over your mini dresses (Balmain, Fendi). Option C? Shrug a blazer over the top of a sheer slip (Fendi) or rock it in skirt form and team with an opaque top (Kenzo, Balmain) - whatever floats your boat, folks.
Lizzo is just one of the A-listers adding the sheer top to their spring/summer wardrobe, and our Contributing Curve Editor's rounded up a slew of chic outfit ideas for how to wear the mesh top trend.
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5. Glitter
Paco Rabanne
Louis Vuitton
Isabel Marant
Balmain
For those craving a little *sparkle* in their wardrobes, you'll be glad to know that SS21 is all about embracing glittery goodness. Just ask Ariana Grande or Kourtney Kardashian, who have already put their own spin on the party staple. Think metallic silver dressed featuring cut-out details around the stomach (Paco Rabanne, Balmain), statement jumpsuits (Isabel Marant) and twinkly trouser suits (Louis Vuitton).
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6. Wrap-around straps
Acne
Jacquemus
Acne
Jacquemus
Swimwear-worthy straps, wrapped around the waist, add a little holiday touch to your long sleeve tops. Just ask Kim Kardashian, who's already repping the trend in a major way. Or Jennifer Lopez, who's been embraced criss-cross straps for YEARS. Team with silky midi skirts (Acne, Jacquemus) or loose trousers (Acne) and finish with a pair of open-toe sandals for an instant 'pass the Aperol' mood.
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7. Pastel
Isabel Marant
BOSS
Fendi
Alberta Ferreti
When shopping for new season buys, designers are looking to ice cream shops for inspo. Soft sorbet hues bring a little sweetness to everything from billowing maxi dresses (Alberta Ferreti, Fendi) to dungarees (Isabel Marant) and even trouser suits (BOSS). This trend's already made it onto the red carpet, with the likes of Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan wearing a pastel yellow Molly Goddard number at the 2021 Golden Globes and The Crown's Vanessa Kirby rocking baby pink at this year's Oscars.
Shop the trend:
Asos Curve Textured ruffle swing mini sundress with tie straps in khaki
GANNI Ruffled smocked checked organic cotton-blend seersucker midi dress
8. Wide-leg trousers
Louis Vuitton
Sportmax
Chanel
Kenzo
High-waisted '80s-style office trousers, wide-leg jeans, cropped culottes and utilitarian cargo pants are all back this season. Team with a bralette or lace-inspired top (Chanel, Kenzo) for a more feminine finish, or layer on the tomboy chic with slouchy matching jackets (Sportmax) and retro slogan sweatshirts (Louis Vuitton). Looking for how to style it for a more formal occasion? Look no further than Kate Middleton's own take on the wide-leg trouser trend here.
Shop the trend:
Yours Clothing Black Super Wide Leg Jersey Palazzo Trousers
9. Netting
Acne
Hermes
Dior
Acne
Fishnet-inspired materials are actually surprisingly chic and offer a slightly different take on the sheer trend. Throw an open-knit midi dress or skirt (Acne, Dior) over your swimsuit for a vintage off-duty feel. Alternatively, if you're after a more boujee look, try layering your wider style mesh over a LBD (Hermès).
Shop the trend:
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Natasha Harding is the former Fashion Editor (Digital & Print) at Cosmopolitan & Women's Health UK. Working in fashion journalism for just under ten years, she’s covered over 30 international fashion weeks, hundreds of red carpets and religiously scours the runway every season to create the brand’s bi-annual trend report. Joining Cosmopolitan back in Australia, Natasha moved to London a few years ago and is now the resident expert for celebrity style and industry news, fashion features and e-commerce. Follow Natasha on Instagram
