From the Archives: 5 Classic Summer Looks That Feel Just as Relevant in 2024

A few years ago, the world was completely devoid of the term “fashion aesthetic.” Of course, style sub-cultures have always existed, with certain types of dressers subscribing to different looks, but we never actually had a phrase that encompassed the idea. Then TikTok took over, and in the years that have followed, it feels as if there’s a new “aesthetic” vying for our attention and disposable incomes every other day. That’s why we, Who What Wear UK’s editors, collectively approach trending fashion aesthetics with trepidation. We can’t in good conscience advise you to worship at the altar of “Mob Wife” one week then expect you to pivot to “Tomato Girl” the next.

These new looks are flaring up before the last even has time to take hold, let alone burn out, and trying to keep up with them isn’t anything we’d encourage. What we’d rather do with our time and energy is spotlight the ways of dressing we think have the most longevity and worth, ensuring that if you do decide to invest in or style yourself in line with them, you can do so in a way that’s only going to enhance your wardrobe, not confuse it. And just one of the ways that we do this is by looking to the past.

It’s true what they say: What goes around tends to come back around eventually. Since we know that fashion is cyclical, it should come as no surprise when we see trends resurrect themselves from the past. You need only look at some of the latest designer collections and the growing penchant for all things deemed “classic” to know that archival fashion is integral to how we get dressed today. But what does this mean for summer 2024 specifically?

To find out, I began analysing the biggest summer fashion trends to see which make a return each year, and as you might have predicted, the most prominent can all be traced back to various points over the last century (and, in some instances, even beyond that). From the costumes worn by the likes of Brigitte Bardot in romantic French films to the standout pieces showcased on-stage by once-in-a-generation talents such as Billie Holiday, I wanted to get to the beating heart of summertime nostalgia and unearth some of the looks and trends that help capture this mood.

Just as prevalent now as they ever were, below, I’ve chronicled five enduring, iconic and classic summer aesthetics that will make everything else on your For You page feel irrelevant.

5 ICONIC SUMMER FASHION AESTHETICS THAT STAND THE TEST OF TIME

When you think of ’90s fashion trends, cargo trousers, platform-sole shoes and kitsch accessories may come to mind, but that’s just one side of the decade’s style legacy. The other is rooted in minimalism, with simple silhouettes, mix-and-match separates and a palette consisting exclusively of black and white being its strongest markers. We saw this in Julia Roberts’ makeover in the 1990 film Pretty Woman. One thing that wasn’t a big mistake was that cream skirt suit and black hat ensemble.

Fast forward to 1998 and The Parent Trap’s incredibly chic villain Meredith Blake (played by Elaine Hendrix) became a style icon in her own right thanks to her pristine outfits that were tinged with the same glamour as Roberts’ Vivian. This look, however, goes back further than the 1990s—just look at Brigitte Bardot’s 1950s full-skirted dress, its black and white stripes giving it an air of French Riviera fabulousness. Billie Holiday’s monochrome bow set upon broderie strikes the same high-glamour pitch, especially with the addition of sparkling jewels.

Today, this aesthetic continues with bold stripes on dresses with volume and shape, contrast edging on simple tops and swimming costumes, suiting that’s smart yet easy to wear and pieces in fluid cuts and soft fabrications. Pretty accessories and refined footwear further drive forward this look, with a focus on pearls, shells and diamonds giving that high-end Riviera flourish.