With soaring temperatures pushing the mercury higher across the continent, Euronews Culture takes a look at some of the top trends for the most exciting – and hottest – fashion season of the year. Sartorial choices are hard enough at the best of times, but add in extremely hot weather and the choices of clothes for keeping cool and comfortable suddenly become very slim. After a relatively chilly start to the season, the warm, intense embrace of the heat is finally upon us – and, naturally, the clothes.
While some trends are permanent fixtures in every fashionista’s wardrobe for the warm months, each year brings something slightly different. Here’s what the trendiest people will be wearing as the mercury continues to rise – and the looks for you to take inspiration from…or not.
One of the fashion events of the year – and certainly one that brings out the loud and the glamorous – is the Cannes Film Festival. On the red carpet, one trend was particularly noticeable. We’re used, by now, to sheer fabrics making their mark, but this season, white is the color of choice. Izabel Goulart, Ella Hunt, and Elle Fanning all chose the look at Cannes – and all managed to give the angelic colour a seductive twist. Try it yourself – even if you don’t have any red carpet events in your diary – at the beach or for a dinner in the stifling heat of your Euro summer. Perhaps, though, it’s best avoided for a wedding!
Florals for summer are absolutely nothing new. Every year, designers parade flower-adorned pieces down their runways, influencing the high street in turn. This year’s floral delight, though, is roses. Designers from Richard Quinn and Alexander McQueen to Balmain and Givenchy covered their garments with roses, conjuring up a high summer feel. Simone Rocha, known for making clothing ever more romantic, went so far as to incorporate real roses within many of her designs. That is perhaps a little far for your average fashion fan, but, in order to look totally current, why not choose a rose-themed dress for a picnic, al fresco lunch – or for any summery activity?
This trend has been a long time coming, but it’s here with full force this summer. Short shorts have long been worn by the likes of Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber, often teamed with an oversized blazer to add a little modesty. On the catwalks of the likes of Gucci, Prada, and Alexander McQueen, the blazer was shrugged off, leaving legs fully on display. If you’re not keen on having all your limbs on show, you could do worse than to opt for an oversized linen shirt on top and leg-lengthening tan sandals. When you’ve dipped a toe in – or when the weather simply gets too hot – why not wear micro shorts to the beach as a bikini cover up? They’re not much larger than the average swimsuit, but will add a little fashion forward touch to your coastal look. For the evening, take inspiration from the McQueen runway and pair your tiny shorts with thigh high boots to feel a little less exposed at dinner.
There’s no doubt that 2024 is a summer of sport. From the seminal, tennis-themed instant cinema classic to the Euros to Wimbledon and the Olympics, there is simply no escape from all things sporty. Top designers likely had it on their minds too as athletic looks are everywhere – and everything – this season. Long gone are the days of reserving sports shorts, polo shirts, and trainers for pitches and courts – just look at the catwalks of Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, and JW Anderson for a start. There’s something for everyone with this trend. Corporate girls are wearing sambas with smart trousers on a daily basis, and we challenge you to find someone who doesn’t enjoy slinging a track jacket around their shoulders on a slightly chilly evening. While sporty looks are perhaps a hangover from lockdown days of going nowhere, it’s absolutely possible to achieve chic athleisure balance with this trend. Working from home? Try some cropped leggings with an oversized zip-up top a la Gucci for comfort while still looking the part.
Think of metallic outfits and you’ll might likely think of Christmas or, at least, party season. This summer, though, you can repurpose your snazzy gold and silver outfits as they’re here as one of the top colour trends of the season. A staple on the Chloé and Ralph Lauren runways, the obvious choice for wearing metallics in hot weather is as evening wear. While it will absolutely look stunning at an al fresco dinner party and make you stand out from the whites and brights of a traditional summer wardrobe, it’s worth giving this trend a try in daylight hours too. Take inspiration from the likes of Rabanne and Miu Miu’s runway offerings and play down the jazzy pieces with laidback accessories and lowkey layering for a perfect daytime look.
