Image via Complex Original
Summer is great, but it can also be a pain in the ass—especially when it's messing with your style. Jeans, hats, and even T-Shirts are often the last things you want to think about. Instead, you're more concerned about how you're going to survive the heat wave. Will the office AC finally work? Will these sweat stains come out? It's a tough life, indeed.
Still, there's something about a new season and transitioning between collections that inspires and excites people. So, rather than sulking and walking around shirtless (though some certainly do), people work around the weather and breed new trends. Which is exactly what happened from June on.
It's always bittersweet when the last week of August rolls around, but here's a look back at the 10 Trends That Took Off This Summer.
Fall layering: We're coming for you.
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Rap T-Shirts
This one's a fairly late addition, having only really popped off in the last few weeks. Admittedly, rap tees have been around for years, but we've noticed that they're on the brink of what could be a resurgence. Celebrities like Drake and Big Sean have been all over this trend whether the shirts are new or vintage. Drake wore a Wu-Tang Clan T-Shirt, as well as a few of For All To Envy's designs, just as his compadre Big Sean has. It'll be interesting to see if this look carries on into the fall.
Washed Denim
There was some discussion about dad jeans making a comeback, but, if you ask us, light wash jeans really stole the moment this summer. Even brands that have long produced the best raw denim dropped their own versions of the lighter, washed bottoms. Supreme, Levi's Vintage Clothing, and Baldwin all got in on the look. Let's not forget, Kanye West had his disciples lining up and waiting by the computer when he released his A.P.C. joints.
Summertime Leather
It sounds crazy, but leather was definitely a staple for a lot of guys this summer, even knowing that the luxury fabric and heat don't mix. Some wore leather pants, others just shirts, while a few hopped on the leather short trend. Hot97's Summer Jam alone was as much about the leather overload as it was about the performances.
Long Tees
First: There's a difference between the tall tees we saw in the early 2000s and the long tees we saw this summer. The latter is is more about playing with proportions and less about baggy clothes. Avant garde designers like Rick Owens and Ann Demeulemeester, and even brands like Kokon to Zai and Fear of God LA certainly adopted the look. Celebrities like A$AP Rocky and, on occasion, Big Sean led the resurgence of the trend.
Looser Pants
Raw denim, what? The fit of jeans really changed this summer. In addition to opting for lighter washed denim, guys started wearing looser jeans. Granted that not all gave it a shot, the hobo silhouette was really big with a few fashion dudes.
Mandals
For whatever reason, sandals, or mandals, just won't go away. Teva-like strapped footwear showed up at runway shows during Milan, London, and Paris Fashion Week, and was even all over the streets. Guys just don't learn.
Tie Dye
Tie dye was huge this summer, especially amongst your favorite streetwear brands. HUF, Stussy, and The Hundreds all released their own versions of the trippy print. It was definitely hard not to click on that purchase button—even if you despise hippies. Besides, if you're going to wear tie dye, what better time to do it than in the summer?
Colorblocked Everything
Colorblocking was one of the best trends all year. Naturally, the two-tone look carried on into the summer—it's a great way to add color to your outfit. And it wasn't very hard to find ones to fit your taste, be it from J. Crew, Asos, or a pricier Marc by Marc Jacobs.
Sublimated Nike Elite Socks
Cam'ron broke the Interwebs when a photo of these Nike Elite socks with an image of him in his famous pink chinchilla outfit was released. That led to massive lineups at RIF Los Angeles, where said socks were being sold. So, in short: Thank Killa Cam for partly starting this trend.
Since the pink Cam socks, there have been a few others released, including ones with the Dipset eagle, Larry Bird, and even Trinidad James. Now, guys everywhere are trying to step up their sock game.
Athletic-Inspired Gear
There was no bigger trend this summer than athletic gear, or "sportswear." And we're not just talking actual soccer jerseys. There were reinterpreted baseball, basketball, and hockey jerseys from brands like Alexander Wang, ClothSurgeon, Sir New York, and LPD New York. Drake, A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar, and even J. Cole were big fans of the look. And even regular guys who may have no interest in sports wore all sorts of jerseys casually. Interestingly enough, though, this fad is still pretty prominent in a few Fall/Winter 2013 collections, so it looks like it'll be here to stay.
