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8 Trends That Will Dominate Summer 2023

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It may be too soon to declare the song of summer, or the top blockbuster movie (though we have our money on Barbie), but as Memorial Day approaches, a few surefire trends are emerging. From fashion to beauty to travel, here’s what should be on your radar, according to editors, TikTok super-scrollers and our collective search history (thanks, Google).

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HBO Max

1. Quiet Luxury, Poolside Edition

Searches for “quiet luxury” are up 614 percent year over year, according to Google. The term’s skyrocketed in popularity. Maybe it’s a backlash to all the maximalism of the past few years; maybe it’s due to people’s collective obsession with Gwyneth Paltrow’s trial style (who knew that’d be a thing?) or Succession. Probably all three. Either way, the look is as it suggests: modest, well-tailored clothing in sumptuous fabrics—picture silk, wool and linen—and neutral tones, with nary a designer logo in sight. And this summer, we expect to see it take the form of wide-leg linen pants, sleek neutral one-piece swimsuits and plenty of Kendall Roy-inspired square sunglasses.

Shop the Trend

Banana Republic Minna Wide-Leg Linen Pant

Roka Hunter 2.0 Sunglasses

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165
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Summersalt The Ruched Backflip

Smaranda Angelica/500px/Getty Images

2. Trips to Mykonos—and Kentucky

Airbnb anticipates having more than 300 million stays booked on its platform this year, citing “sun, sights and hikes” as three major draws for summer travelers in particular. So, where are people headed? Internationally, the most-searched city was Mykonos in Greece, known for its whitewashed houses with blue accents, sparkling waters and massive summer dance clubs. Domestically, people are looking a little more inland, with Louisville, KY, earning the most-searched spot. It’s less Lindsay Lohan beach party, more bourbon tastings and horse racing.

Plan Your Trip

Louisville: 3-Bedroom Liberty Belle Home

Mykonos: Onyx Studio

Mykonos: 1-Bedroom Home

Backdrop

3. Barbie Collabs

Last summer, Barbiecore took over the world. This year, the doll—both plastic and the Margot Robbie version—will be everywhere you look ahead of Greta Gerwig’s movie (out July 21, BTW). If quiet luxury feels boring to you, keep an eye out for the Barbie x Gap collection, which drops May 23, with clothes for the whole family, so you can live out your Barbara Millicent Roberts fantasies while forcing your spouse to play Ken. The dream! And as if that weren’t enough, you can now paint your home to match Barb’s Dreamhouse, courtesy of its Backdrop Paint collab, while sipping Barbie-branded pink lemonade.

Shop the Trend

Backdrop Paint: Barbie Dreamhouse Pink

Swoon Barbie Pink Lemonade

30
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Gap x Barbie Sweatshirt

36
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Anthropologie

4. Mini Wedding Dresses

Forget ballooning ballgowns—after Sofia Richie debuted a fitted white Chanel minidress at her wedding after-party, searches for “mini bridal dress” shot through the roof—up 423 percent, according to fashion brand Karen Millen. Reception outfit changes are nothing new, but this take is a specific, summery look: sleek lines, minimal lace or ornamentation and short hemlines to show off your legs. (Psst: The look above is from Anthropologie, in case you're curious.)

Shop the Trend

Lulus Shine for Us Jacquard Mini Dress

Banana Republic Anisa Cut-Out Mini Dress

Karen Millen Feather & Ponte Off-The-Shoulder Mini Dress

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142
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istetiana/getty images

5. Upside-Down Puff Pastries

Sweet or savory, this creative twist on puff pastry snacks is taking over TikTok. Essentially, you put your toppings on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover each with a square of puff pastry dough, brush with egg wash and bake until golden. Even if you don’t make ‘em—and let’s be honest: How often do you make the recipes you double-tap in your feed?—the vids are oddly satisfying to watch, and we’re betting the confections will start turning up in bakeries nationwide, come June.

Try the Trend

Casaware Ceramic Cookie Pan Set

Kitchen Mama Silicone Pastry Brushes

Reynolds Kitchens Pre-Cut Cookie Baking Sheets

Jet-Puffed

6. Color-Changing…Everything

From L.O.L. Surprise OMG Sunshine Makeover Dolls to Jet-Puffed Marshmallows to Beyoncé’s prismatic Renaissance tour dress, color-change reveals are the latest surprise-and-delight showstopper to pop up this summer. While you may not be able to copy Bey’s look per se, brands are coming out with color-changing dresses—and like the L.O.L. Dolls, they transform when they hit the sunlight, making them the hit of any cookout or pool party.

Just imagine the looks on kids’ faces when you bust out those pink-to-orange and blue-to-green marshmallows while roasting s’mores.

Shop the Trend

L.O.L. Surprise OMG Sunshine Makeover Dolls

Jet-Puffed Color-Changing Marshmallows

Sponde UV Reactive Reversible Maxi Dress

Article

7. Outdoor Bean Bag Chairs

When cookbook author, actress and influencer Tabitha Brown was designing her outdoor collection for Target (which launched this May), she took inspiration from everywhere—and soon noticed people taking a more casual approach to their cookouts this year. Indeed, she noted that floor pillows and outdoor bean bag chairs with weatherproof fabrics were starting to replace Adirondacks and folding chairs, and we’re betting that, this summer, this trend isn’t just for furniture designers. After all, it sure sounds a lot comfier.

Shop the Trend

All Modern Gemma Arlo Bean Bag Sun Lounger

Tabitha Brown for Target Outdoor Bean Bag Chair

Article Galpin Whisper Gray Lounger

699
649
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Vacation Inc.

8. Sunscreen Oils

Tanning oils were a must-have for years for the way they made your skin glisten in the sun (and helped enhance your tan). The threat of skin cancer, however, wasn’t so appealing. The latest sunscreens have an oil base, giving you that same dewiness—and sparing you that white residue of traditional lotions—while coating you in SPF 30. (Vacation’s new launch, in fact, cheekily nods to our baby oil-slathering years, from its bubbly bottle shape to its powdery scent.)

Shop the Trend

Supergoop Mini Glow Oil Sunscreen

Vacation SPF 30 Baby Oil

Sun Bum Sunscreen Oil


Candace Davison

VP of editorial, recipe developer, kitsch-lover

Candace Davison oversees PureWow's food and home content, as well as its franchises, like the PureWow100 review series and the Happy Kid Awards. She’s covered all things lifestyle...
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