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- Business Insider asked stylists and designers which summer looks are no longer trending.
- The ultra-skinny pant trend is being replaced by looser and relaxed fits.
- The pros also said chunky sneakers and cutoff shorts are both falling out of favor this summer.
Seasons change, and so do trends.
As you head into summer, you may not want to bring all of last year’s wardrobe with you.
Before figuring out which pieces still deserve a spot in your outfit rotation, it’s time to sort through a few that could be giving you a dated look.
To find out what’s best left in the back of the closet, Business Insider asked fashion designers and stylists which summer trends are out this year.
Cutoff shorts are being replaced by ones with clean lines.
Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images
Frayed, shredded hems are starting to feel more “music-festival time capsule” than everyday modern, Natalie Tincher, principal stylist and founder of BU Style, said.
Plus, they aren’t suitable for a variety of settings. Instead, Tincher recommends picking up clean-cut denim shorts with a relaxed fit.
“Styles with a trouser waistband, longer inseam, or raw-but-neat hems feel elevated, current, and versatile,” the stylist told BI.
Put your tiny sunglasses in the back of the closet for now.
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
The barely-there frames that dominated recent years aren’t offering the stylistic impact or the UV protection most people want this summer, Tincher said.
Instead, she suggests picking oversized frames, geometric lenses, chunky tortoiseshell rims, or sporty wraparounds. The bolder, the better.
The logo-mania ship has sailed.
Christian Vierig/Getty Images
The days of flaunting flashy designer logos are behind us, Tracy Vontélle Green, designer and cofounder of Vontélle eyewear, told BI.
She said loud branding can turn you into a walking ad and make mixing labels tricky. The solution? Quiet luxury, where quality can still be seen and felt without being spotlighted with logos.
Green suggested building outfits using designer pieces where the brand name is only on the inside tag. After all, she said, “Quality is shown by how you put it all together.”
Slim-soled sneakers are replacing chunky athletic shoes.
Mauricio Santana/Getty Images
“Dad shoes” need to step aside — and trainers or low-profile sneakers will take their place, David Zyla, stylist and author of “Color Your Style,” told BI.
“Following the sneaker-ballerina hybrid from brands such as Louis Vuitton and Miu Miu, oversized soles and bulkier shapes have been replaced with more minimal silhouettes in a rainbow of colors,” he said.
Fitted denim jackets are starting to feel dull.
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Even classics need a break. Fitted denim jackets may be timeless, but according to Dina Cerchione, TV & men’s personal brand stylist, they feel boring in today’s landscape.
Instead, relaxed and slightly oversized styles are taking over.
“Like the oversized blazers we see, the oversized denim jacket brings an effortless off-duty model aesthetic — and the relaxed vibe is great for layering and creative styling,” she told BI.
Swap neon colors for a more neutral and earthy color palette.
Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images
Neon colors are loud, often hard to pull off, and not in sync with today’s muted-yet-elevated color palettes, according to Cerchione.
The stylist recommends working earthy pastels and neutrals into your summer wardrobe instead.
“Think: butter yellow, muted sage, and soft clay for a more effortless, chic, and updated look,” she told BI.
Many of us have moved on from cold-shoulder tops.
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
This shoulder-baring silhouette had its moment, but it no longer feels fresh, flattering, or sexy, according to several of our stylists.
If you want to try this trend, opt for modern alternatives like simple off-the-shoulder or one-shoulder tops, Cerchione said.
“With 2025 summer silhouettes getting simpler and less complicated, a cleaner off-the-shoulder line connects with this trend,” Zyla told BI.
Those kinds of tops are easy to dress up or down with a flowing skirt or trouser short, Zyla added.
High-maintenance fabrics are losing steam.
AS photo family/Shutterstock
Wrinkle-prone pieces feel less practical for real life, especially in the summer heat, Tincher told BI. No one wants to wrestle with a steamer just to leave the house and have their garment re-wrinkle outdoors.
So, current trends favor intentionally crinkled textures, gauzy cottons, seersucker, and tech fabrics that look great rumpled.
“The vibe is ease over effort, and the trend is meeting us where we are,” she said.
Basic ballet flats have been overdone.
Andriana Syvanych/Shutterstock
According to Cerchione, round-toe ballet flats are due for a break from the spotlight.
For an updated replacement, the stylist suggests Mary Jane flats.
“Whether you like square toe or pointy toe, the Mary Jane is the flat all the ‘it’ girls are wearing with their denim, skirts, and dresses,” she told BI.
The ultra-tight look has lost its grip.
Sabelnikova Olga/Shutterstock
Skinny pants officially feel dated — and they aren’t doing most body types any favors anyway, according to Green and Cerchione.
This summer, people are gravitating toward styles with more room to move and more ways to be worn.
Consider a relaxed tailored trouser with a bit of give in the thigh and a clean ankle break, Cerchione said.
For denim, Green suggests wide-leg or barrel jeans, as they’re both comfortable and stylish. Plus, either goes great with cowboy boots (especially if you’re headed to a Beyoncé concert).