The Biggest Summer Trend Is Looking a Little Messy

But the problem is that clothing now doesn’t have the same nonchalance or silliness, because the world we’re living in doesn’t allow for it. Designers know this, which is why they aren’t pulling inspiration from that time. What they are channeling instead is that feeling of carefree messiness, which is why the styling of late has been so … wonky.

Prada Spring/Summer 2023

At Miu Miu, pearls were worn incorrectly, half hanging out of button-up shirt collars. At Prada, everything was intentionally wrinkled. At 16Arlington, sweaters were held up by a shoulder bag held tightly to the chest, exposing the sheer dresses underneath as if by accident. At Ermanno Scervino, models wore see-through white dresses with glittering panties shining underneath, bra straps proudly exposed. Coach models clutched large bags adorned with a bevy of New York City tchotchkes and mugs. The Row’s most recent look book featured models in haphazard layers, like they’d gotten dressed in a rush. At Ottolinger, they wore sweaters ripped apart to expose another shirt worn underneath, spare fabric dangling as they walked.

Ermanno Scervino Spring/Summer 2024

Ottolinger Spring/Summer 2024

What they’re responding to is the desire not to look like 2006, but to feel like it. Like for a brief moment, you won’t feel the need to steam your top or change out of something that has a snag or try to conceal your bra straps. Like you’re just alive and living life without the fear of being perceived from multiple angles at all times. Like life isn’t all that complicated.

16Arlington Spring/Summer 2024

Coach Fall/Winter 2024

As someone who loves to get dressed but also enjoys a bit of chaos in what I choose to wear, I’ve been obsessed with watching this phenomenon. It’s exciting to see signs of life on the runway, as designers embrace details and styling choices that could easily be perceived as mistakes. I like them giving us permission to look like we’re living our lives, while also creating this imaginary alternate universe where maybe life is a bit easier.

The Row Spring/Summer 2024

Originally, my plan for this essay was to style myself in these ways. I wanted to wear little swim shorts sticking out of my skirt like a Miu Miu girl, or throw on a wrinkled dress and tell everyone Mrs. Prada made do it. I wanted to visible bra straps perched proudly on my shoulders. I wanted to grab a sweater with a broken zipper out of my to-be-tailored bags and try to see what I could style it with. But I couldn’t. I just ended up looking like I was trying really hard to be carefree and a little messy, instead of actually embodying that essence. I looked like I was trying too hard.

A couple of days after giving up on this exercise, I wore one of my favorite outfit combinations: slightly preppy top, Chopova Lowena skirt, Margiela heels. It’s my go-to when I want to look good and feel confident. It felt like a return to form. About three hours into wearing this look, I ordered an espresso tonic, and when I put the straw through the lid, the beverage splashed all over my white polo, leaving two large puddle-shaped stains, distributed in such a way it was impossible to conceal them. And my mood was ruined.

My favorite Chopova Lowena skirt, worn with a pair of Margiela heels and a stained Calvin Klein top

Walking back to the office, I thought about the dinner I had to go to with no time to change after work, and the ways I could maybe fashion the top into a crop to hide one of the stains. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a girl trying to sneakily take a photo of me and immediately felt a sense of embarrassment. I guess it really does look that bad, I thought. Then she came running up to tap me on the shoulder. “I love your skirt—where is it from?”

I told her, but not before profusely apologizing for my coffee-stained appearance. She shrugged. “I honestly didn’t even notice,” she said. “It works!”

And just like that, I felt a decade younger, leaning into the chaos of life without thinking about it too much. I went back to my desk and took a selfie, barely 30 minutes after lamenting that I wouldn’t be able to document my outfit. A handful of friends complimented the look, suggesting only I could pull off coffee stains, and I told them actually, everyone can. There’s beauty in just letting the mess happen. It kind of just styles itself.

Tara Gonzalez is the Senior Fashion Editor at Harper’s Bazaar. Previously, she was the style writer at InStyle, founding commerce editor at Glamour, and fashion editor at Coveteur.