Summer is upon us, and with it the promise of tank tops, shorts, and sandals. Oh, and linen—so much linen. “Linen, for spring? Groundbreaking,” you may be saying to yourself. Which…fair! Don’t you fret, here at Vogue, we have many more ideas about what, exactly, we may be seeing this season. Be it on the streets, in cafes, at backyard barbecues, and all your other summertime occasions. Unexpected fringe? Why, yes. Blazing blasts of day-glo? Count on it. Perhaps a soccer jersey or two? Check. A sky-high heels renaissance? Why not?

Not to brag, but with as much time as we spend scrolling Runway and poking around the annals of the Internet, we think we have a few solid hunches on what the season may have in store, sartorially speaking. Summer trends, after all, have been something of a talking point around the office as winter’s chill has finally mellowed into something much, much lovelier.

And so, we surveyed the office to give our biggest, boldest, and most off-kilter predictions for the months ahead. Here, without further ado, is our list of the unexpected summer trends we think you’ll be seeing a lot more of, starting right around now through Labor Day.

Freaky Flip-Flops

I think that we will continue to see plenty of flip-flops this year, piggybacking on last year’s sandalmania. But while last year’s were sleek, slim, elegant, and demure, I think we will see designers leaning into more statement-making iterations. Weird, even, perhaps a touch freaky. We already brought you the Isabel Marant x Havaianas collab, which featured thick, cabochon-infested thongs, while Alaïa made pointy-toed footbeds with pillowy, plush silk-blend straps. Louboutin has spikes, and Balenciaga has versions featuring the hardware from their popular Cagole bag.

Daring dressers will no doubt want to figure out how to add more personality to this streamlined footwear style. Expect to see lots of weird things going on below-the-ankle.—Max Berlinger, senior fashion news editor

Heels Heights Will Rise Again

I just got back from Australian Fashion Week, and while I was there, members of the Australian press kept asking me what I thought the main differences were between New York and Sydney style. I told them I was shocked to see so many guests in attendance in full platform heels. (Think: the bright satin pumps from Versace’s fall 2021 runway). Now, that can definitely be attributed to a difference in the number of steps New Yorkers are walking on a daily basis, but I can’t remember the last time I saw a heel above an inch, especially in downtown Manhattan. A good old-fashioned stiletto revival is long overdue.—Alexandra Hildreth, fashion news writer

Fringe 2.0

Yes, to predict fringe for summer is a bit ‘florals for spring-y,’ but I’m seeing it expressed in different, more playful, and subversive iterations. Fringe skirts over pants, fringe-bottomed pants, fringe flaying from every hem. Fringe earrings! Conner Ives reigns supreme all year round. And summer drops for the downtown cool girls at Dôen to Lake Como-summering Taller Marmo ladies mean there’s a way into the trend, whatever your aesthetic. The Aussie brands really have it down, though: Sir’s moody Marcelline dress, St. Agni’s tasseled peplum, Posse’s fun and flippy two-piece. For vintage, I am so inspired by La Soffitta di Lulù, based in Lecce, Italy, and her curation. For totally-out-of-my-budget, these show pony-esque pants from Phoebe Philo. No frou-frou here.—Anna Cafolla, news editor

Jersey Girls

With the World Cup upon us—and here at home—I imagine that everyone’s summer style will be sprinkled with a little more sporty spice than usual. Lean in hard and pair your favorite team’s kit with some slim sneakerinas, or take a cue from Pierpaolo Piccioli’s prefall 2026 Balenciaga x NBA collaboration and pair a jersey with some femme fatale heels. Whether or not you’re rooting for any particular team, there’s always room to cheer on funky jersey styling.—Hannah Jackson, fashion writer

Full Cerce

Will Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey influence summer fashion? I predict an influx of breezy, asymmetrical cotton dresses along the lines of this go-to style from Matteau.—Nicole Phelps, Vogue Runway & Vogue Business

Bags Will Be Supersized

The fashion world has been buzzing nonstop about Matthieu Blazy’s new slouchy flap bags for Chanel, and I’ve already begun seeing those extra-big styles being toted around New York. Judging by other It bags of the moment—the hefty Chloé Paddington, The Row’s Marlo bag—there is something chic about schlepping again. And if you think about it, an XXL bag makes total sense for summer: There are a lot of essentials to carry around, like a hat, sunscreen, water, sunglasses, a book for the beach. Try fitting all that in a mini bag.—Christian Allaire, style writer

Sheer Genius

This is shaping up to be the Summer of sheer dressing. A standout trend across the spring summer 2026 runways, as seen at Prada, Dries Van Noten, and Colleen Allen, to name a few, continues to make its way into fall 2026 collections, with Khaite, The Row, and Valentino taking their uber-refined takes. The ’90s favorite returns with a more elevated sensibility. From diaphanous blouses and sheer skirts to see-through balloon trousers and mesh shoes, it's projected to be everywhere this summer.—Andrea Zendejas, market editor, Vogue Shopping

A Preppy Summer Is On Deck

So get your Docksiders ready! (Or your frat boy flip flops.) After seeing so many European brands embrace American sportswear over the past couple of seasons, this summer feels like the moment when this aesthetic will shine. I’m hoping to see the look subverted in and around the city—with the accessories piled on, à la Celine’s resort 2026 collection. It’s New York, not Nantucket, after all.—Madeleine Schulz, US editor, Vogue Business

Boots Will Be Walking

I’ve never really understood the summer boot trend. (Doesn’t it make you super hot?) But on my way to work, I saw a woman wearing the proportions of cut-off denim shorts (not too short) to cowboy boots to perfection—it changed my mind.—Laird Borrelli-Persson, senior archive editor

The Wedge Returns

As someone who grew up in the ’90’s, the words wedge sandal used to make me shudder. I imagined a caged, raffia style with towering heels, paired with tight denim or a shorter-than-short skirt. I can’t say it was something I invested in. Fast forward to 2026, and I now own not one, but two pairs of wedge sandals. Both black and thonged, one micro-heel in eel leather from Le Monde Beryl, the other slightly higher and in soft foam from Ancient Greek Sandals. They feel modern, they’re comfortable, and ’90’s, but in a minimalist Rachel Green from Friends kinda way. I’m certain they’re set to be the shoe of the summer.—Libby Page, executive shopping director

No Sleeves, Please

Call it the Versace effect. I think the lingering reverberations from Dario’s one-and-only show for the Italian brand will be felt in a myriad of ways; for guys, I think we’re going to see a lot of sleeveless muscle tanks out there. They’re sexy, they’re a bit trashy, they’re unexpected, they’re good for ventilation—what’s not to like?—Max Berlinger, senior fashion news editor

Dreaming in Day-Glo

Never did I think I’d be returning to the color palettes of my happy hardcore days, but here we are. Rather than full raver mode, neon has made a return as quite a cool and determined little accent: this acerbic yellow? A queasy red? An in-your-face orange? It just works, especially in the sun. Peachy Den, Gimaguas, Fruity Booty, and Paloma Wool are on the case with neon ballet flats, sheer leggings, lingerie, and criss-cross backed tops, fusing the lightness of a summer wardrobe with not just a pop of color, but a splash. And I predict we’ll see a litany of LA Apparel jelly shoes in every dayglo shade stomping around Dimes Square soon.—Anna Cafolla, news editor

A Scarf Girl Summer

I can’t stop shopping for colorful silk scarves, and I just returned from Paros with a new blue-and-pink addition to my collection. They offer the perfect pop of flair when tied around the waist or your shoulders, and I think this summer we’ll see more layered over denim shorts, miniskirts, and simple white tank tops. My latest hunt is for an oversized version that grazes the knee when tied around the waist and can double as a sarong on the beach.—Hilary Milnes, executive editor, Vogue Business