Bye, Sardine-Core. Crustacean Summer, Here We Come

Just in time for lobster night

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crustacean summer
Larroudé/Dillard's/Anthropologie/J.Crew/Paula Boudes/PureWow

You could say that it was an act of prescience when couture house Schiaparelli debuted a sculptural, $14,000 white lobster skirt in 2023. Two years later, we’re in a lobster frenzy (cleverly called “crustacean summer”), coasting on the broader trends of the fisherman aesthetic and sardine-core.

As PureWow Fashion Editor Abby Hepworth originally reported, the fisherman aesthetic first cropped up on Pinterest’s predictions for 2025’s biggest trends—and it’s safe to say the photo-focused search giant was right…hook, line and sinker.

“This past summer there was a charmingly bizarre influx of sardine-themed clothing and accessories, perhaps inspired by the rise of Fishwife, the cult-favorite tinned fish company,” she writes. “Staud’s “Staudine” Tommy bag  and Bottega Veneta’s sardine-handled woven-leather bags both caused a frenzy, selling out multiple times. I stumbled upon sardine-shaped chocolates at multiple NYC shops, got served countless ads for the Menstruation Crustacean on Instagram and continued to spot net totes everywhere I went, long after I thought they reached their peak in 2019.”

So, when T.J. Maxx’s $35 beaded lobster bag took over everyone’s For You Page in the spring, you could say we should have all seen it coming. Now, Google Trends reports that everything lobster has taken over the search engine, just in time for summer, when our brains are fanaticizing about dreamy, nautical afternoons wiled away on Cape Cod. Below, I’ve rounded up some of the top trends, but believe me when I say you’ll want to scoop these, fast. Some lobster pieces were so pervasively sold out, they were impossible to find. (Including that viral bag, which is now being resold for $100 a pop on Ebay.)

The top searched item pertaining to crustacean summer is a lobster sweater. J.Crew Factory’s rendition has a 4.9-star average, featuring a cutie lobster sporting his own striped Breton shirt. It’s 100 percent cotton and machine washable, perfect for a languid summer evening when the temps start to dip, tucked into a pair of crisp linen shorts. Oh, and it’s under $60.

2. Lobster Tote

Vera Bradley

Sadly, that viral T.J. Maxx gem is no more…unless you’re willing to fork over major money on a resale site. Not to fear—lobster totes are also in vogue, and Vera Bradley’s large beach bag fits the bill for everything from pool outings to beach days. There’s an easy access front zip pocket, plus a drawstring closure to keep your sunscreen and beach read easily at hand.

Admittedly, when I saw “lobster sandals” on Google Trends’ list, I sighed and thought, Great. We’re going to be wearing sandals literally shaped by lobsters, à la the Shrek shoe I saw going around a few years ago. But I was pleased when I stumbled across celeb-loved shoe brand Larroudé, who’s made a dainty, wearable and demure version of the lobster sandals. This strappy number is available as a 2.6-inch stiletto or (blessedly) flat shoe, with tiny lobster charms dangling from the strings. Subtle—and I’m a fan.

I had another moment of panic with this one, and did indeed find a literal lobster hat akin to something you’d wear at Royal Ascot. Luckily, these adorable baseball caps are much more versatile, and will fit right in with this New England aesthetic. The hats come in four different colors with a built-in soft cotton sweatband.

I love a good pajama set and kate spade new york’s is no exception. These knit pink pajamas feature dancing crustaceans, plus a breast pocket, notched lapels and contrasting piping for sleepwear that's fun, comfortable and elevated.

Mignonne Gavigan is best known for its intricately beaded jewelry—and these lobster drop earrings are a stunning example. The jewelry features 14k gold-plated brass, a leather backing and seed and cut bugle beads embroidered onto cotton thread.


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Editor, SEO and Audience Development

  • Writes across all verticals, including beauty, fashion, wellness, travel and entertainment, with a focus on SEO and evergreen content
  • Has previously worked at Popular Photography and Southern Living, with words in Martha Stewart and Forbes Vetted
  • Has a B.S. in journalism from Boston University