Month: June 2019

ICYMI, sneaker trends have been coming in fast and furious as of late, from chunky-soled “dad” shoes to throwback styles. But there’s one iconic sneaker style in particular that’s proven to be a mainstay among the fashion crowd: Vans. I say iconic because the sneakers emerged in Southern California in 1966 and were quickly adopted by Venice Beach’s skateboarding scene thanks to their flat, sticky soles (ideal shoes for skating!). I’m a big fan of these sneakers: I own a pair of low-tops and high-tops I wear at least once a week, so naturally I’m always on the hunt for brand-new ways to style them. Ahead, see how to wear Vans in fresh new ways for 2018, and then shop the chicest styles.

This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated. Next, see the new summer It dress Emily Ratajkowski found to wear with sneakers.

From the swim trends celebs are endorsing to how to pull off a thong swimsuit in real life, we’ve done our fair share of kick-starting your swimsuit shopping this season. Last year, I snagged this $16 bikini from Amazon, so I thought I’d check in on my favorite unexpected swimwear source. Turns out there are a ton of stylish and crazy-affordable options on Amazon this year. Since the site stocks an outrageous amount of options, the key is to hop around from the recommended brands and similar styles to find the good stuff. I found 19 colorful bikinis that all ring in under $20.

Whether you’re looking for a cute new bikini or a simple silhouette you can wear on your next vacation, give the below options from Amazon a scroll. We promise your credit card won’t be disappointed. Plus, most styles resemble some of the biggest trends in swimwear right now.

We’re not totally on-board with all the big trends that crop up on runways and fashion influencers’ Instagram accounts, but this summer, we are living for the whimsical puffy sleeves, strappy sandals, tie-dye, and beaded jewelry we’re seeing. That said, we have noticed that while the American fashion girls we follow online for inspiration seem to be fully embracing all sorts of trends this summer—from chic and elegant to vibrant and whacky—the French women we scroll past are leaving out a few specific ones.

According to the patterns we’ve noticed in American vs. French style for summer 2019, here are seven major style and beauty trends French women are leaving out of their wardrobes this year—and seven they’re wearing instead. 

French girls prefer to remain inconspicuous, and the whole “Look at me, I’m a tourist!” hat trend is so… not that.

You’d be much more likely to see a relaxed vacation hat in a natural straw style on the beachside streets of Nice.

Americans have such nostalgia for this ’60s revival trend, but to French women, it’s just loud—and too DIYish.

If we’re talking summer prints, tiny florals are all over French influencers’ Instagrams. Not groundbreaking, of course, but undeniably pretty.

Summer 2019 is all about color in multiple iterations, and rainbow beaded jewelry is one of them. But again, it’s not understated or chic, which is what French women are all about.

Simple, classic gold jewelry is more the French girl vibe. The most daring French girls are getting this summer is layering their necklaces. Rainbow is fully off the table.

The resurgence of this sporty ’90s trend just doesn’t resonate with French culture. 

But an elegant pair of cat-eye shades will always have a place in the French-girl arsenal.

Objectively, these are adorable—but they’re almost too adorable for a French woman. 

Naturally textured straw and woven bags are also on-trend for summer, and we’re seeing much more of these on our favorite French girls’ Instagrams.

Americans also have nostalgia for Tevas and other “dad” kicks, but you won’t catch a French girl strolling through the flower market in sporty or crunchy summer camp–esque sandals. 

On the other end of the sandal spectrum, lace-up sandals and espadrilles are also making a comeback—and French fashion girls are embracing it. 

Neon oranges, pinks, and greens are the trend that just won’t quit. But by and large, French girls, whose wardrobes are dominated by neutrals, aren’t into it. 

That said, it’s not as if color has no place in French women’s summer 2019 wardrobe. It’s simply happening in slightly more muted brights, like canary yellow, moss green, and violet purple. 

In terms of beauty trends, Beyoncé’s makeup artist told us earlier this week that baby pink lips (as well as corals and sheer peaches) are happening this summer. But French girls really don’t tend to mix up their lip colors and definitely not for cool-toned pastel pink.

Red lipstick rules everything in the French beauty wardrobe. It’s red lipstick by Chanel (or Armani) or bust!

Stacking multiple whimsical hair clips and barrettes is a huge trend we’re seeing this summer, and I personally love it. But French women don’t like to look as if they’ve tried too hard on their hair.

So no hair clips it is! Just effortless texture, maybe a little sea salt spray, and some fringe, and you’re good to go.

Next up: French women over 50 swear by these products for perfect skin.

Espadrilles are arguably the most popular shoes of the summer, but did you know that they were created over 90 years ago in Spain by a brand called Castañer? The shoes are now worn by plenty of celebrities, such as Alexa Chung, Meghan Markle, and Kate Middleton, and they’re always high on the vacation packing lists of many fashion editors. I can personally attest to that.

Much like some other iconic wardrobe staples today (the trench coat, the bomber jacket, and the Breton top), this footwear item was originally worn by the military, particularly during the Spanish Civil War. This all changed in the ’60s when Nordic countries began to wear the sandals as a fashion item thanks to Lorenzo Castañer and his wife Isabel taking over the family company and adding colors to the shoes.

Then in the ’70s, while at a trade fair, the duo met Yves Saint Laurent, who commissioned Castañer to create him a pair of wedge espadrilles. Ever since then, the brand has been making these shoes for fashion houses, including the likes of Christian Dior, Armani, Louis Vuitton, Lanvin, Hermès, and Christian Louboutin. The flat version is still one of the brand’s more popular styles to date (by 2010, it had sold over eight million pairs), but the wedge styles have proved very popular, with various celebrities and influencers regularly spotted wearing them. Keep scrolling to see the varied styles of espadrilles, how to style them, and then shop them. Trust us—you’ll never throw them out of your wardrobe.

This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK.