Gen Z Says is a bimonthly column chronicling the latest trends in the fashion-and-beauty space through the lens of Who What Wear’s own Gen Z editors. Expect a download on the upcoming class of tastemakers, emerging designers, and shopping and style choices straight from the generation setting the trends.
This summer, fashion feels a little less concerned with perfection and, thankfully, it’s a lot more because of it. The coolest fashion people I know aren’t dressing around curated TikTok aesthetics anymore and instead leaning into personal style. One day, they’re wearing vintage board shorts with a sculptural watch and jelly sandals while the next day, they’re pulling on a pocketed carpenter belt styled with a tiny lace tank and studded capri pants. From the LES to Silver Lake, personal style is back in full force, and the vibe is playful, chaotic, hyper-individual, and deeply Gen Z coded.
What’s emerging this season isn’t one singular trend but a wave of micro-trends that feel simultaneously nostalgic and entirely new. There’s still an appreciation for polished, luxe pieces—think micro watches and artful timepieces from brands like Movado or runway-inspired shield sunglasses as seen on the likes of Bella Hadid—but they’re being styled in intentionally unexpected ways.
This season, the cool Gen Z style set is clearly dressing for themselves, for their friends, and, of course, for the photo dump. Whether it’s tomato-red swim shorts, sheer T-shirts layered under tanks, or workwear-inspired accessories, these are the seven micro-trends defining what Gen Z cool looks like this summer.
Shop the Best Gen Z Summer Micro-Trends
Carpenter Work Belts
After my colleague (and fellow Gen Zer), assistant shopping editor Josephine Hadjiloucas, called out this accessories trend a few weeks ago, she and I have spotted the pocketed work belt trend on every single cool girl.
Zara
100% Leather Waist Belt With Pockets
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