Summer may be coming to an official end, but that doesn’t mean we have to stop dressing like it. There’s a singular sort of aesthetic that goes hand-in-hand with summer fashion. Think: pretty maxi dresses, bright colors that pop under the sun, and beautiful boho-inspired tops. The kind of effortless styles that look good on everyone and bring a sense of wonder and fun to our wardrobes.
For some fashion designers, these styles make a welcome appearance each year when temperatures start to soar. Yet, there’s another group of designers who seem to focus on the summer lifestyle aesthetic all year – as well as plenty of women who follow these brands and actually make summer-y pieces work in their wardrobes, well into the colder months.
Take, for example, Johanna Ortiz. Each season, the Colombian designer rolls out elegant tiered skirts and dresses, ruffled crepe gowns and statement tops in bright, sunny colors. Ortiz’s pieces look as if they could be worn beachside and on the city sidewalks. “Living in the tropics, summer is a constant state of mind for me… it’s the hot, golden touch of the sun, the dancing palms, the color palette of pink sunsets that inspire me,” Ortiz tells Departures of her constant stream of warm-weather inspiration. “Summer has those festive, carefree feels that I adore.”
Though Ortiz releases collections four times a year, she never strays from her tropical style. Another source of inspiration for her spirited, summer-y pieces is her constant dedication to traveling. “I’m a gypsy at heart, always on the road, discovering the new,” she says. “It’s not only about traveling. It’s about nurturing the curiosity of discovering new worlds, new perspectives and cultures.”
Loveshackfancy is another fashion label that has nailed the summer aesthetic even when it’s freezing outside. Rebecca Hessel Cohen, a former editor at Cosmopolitan magazine, founded the line seven years ago and has since created an entire universe (childrenswear, tabletop linens and bridal, launching soon) full of pretty floral dresses, crochet cardigans, and lace tops in soft colors. Many of her prints and trims are unique in that they’re hand painted or sourced antique – as Cohen takes a lot of inspiration from the Victorian era. The Castella dress, for example, has intricate handmade lace and puffed sleeves.
Cohen herself can often be seen wearing her flower-y designs head-to-toe. “It’s all about layering to me and I am always wearing cotton dresses with chunky knits, socks, tights and jackets,” she says of her brand’s signature aesthetic. “I’m surrounded by our collections every single day, and am constantly playing around with our happy prints and fabrics to see what I am inspired by.”
For other labels like Vita Kin or Ulla Johnson, the secret to clothing that feels intrinsically summer-like is in the silhouettes. Both brands focus on silhouettes that are more bohemian — such as puffed sleeves, ruffled skirts and maxi-lengths. It all ends up feeling exactly like the kind of thing you’d want to throw on for a warm day, while still wanting to look fashionable but not wanting to have to think about your outfit too much. Details like batik prints and hand-cut embroidery make these brands stand out even more as champions of summer style.
Likewise, there’s a group of niche designers paving the way for summer-year-round fashion through accessories. Take Rebecca de Ravenel. The designer’s classic, color silk-like corded Les Bonbons earrings have come to signify the ease of summer style with a long and breezy dress (another one of her hallmarks) and pulled back hair.
Growing up in the Bahamas, it’s no wonder Rebecca de Ravenel’s clothing feels so perfect for a hot summer day. “I find the one constant that always inspires me is being at home in the Bahamas,” she explains. “I think it’s the light, space and bright colors. I find cities to be stifling, but big open spaces full of natural light seem to get me feeling inspired.” Her earrings, as well as her lightweight off-the-shoulder dresses and easy puff sleeve tops, are the kind of pieces that easily feel at home on a sandy beach.
Similarly, Jasmin Larian launched the brand Cult Gaia in 2012 with a focus on lightweight bamboo bags, such as the classic Gaia Ark, that felt intrinsically summer-y. Since then, she has gone on to create dresses, bikinis, tops and shoes all perfectly primed for hot temperatures. “I’ve built our world around our Gaia Ark bag and feel like it can be worn with everything we make now and before. It’s so timeless and is our nucleus,” she explains of the brand’s aesthetic.
The fact that Larian and the brand are based out of L.A. may also have a lot to do with Culta Gaia’s signature summer look. Halter-style dresses in watercolor washes of soft blue and fun feathered-embellished slip dresses in bright coral make a regular appearance in Cult Gaia’s collections. “Nostalgia and nature are huge inspirations for me and as they’re super emotional, which is how I want people to feel when they buy, wear or see our pieces,” she says. “Being in nature especially – architecture and artists are really inspiring to me. It’s the nuance that gets me. I try to sketch and work with my team to bring ideas to life.”
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