Since moving out of London, I’ve become entirely dependent on Instagram to see what women in the world’s coolest fashion capital are wearing right now. I didn’t realise quite how important my organic street style–spotting opportunities were when our work lives were normal and I was spending a great portion of my week trekking around town for meetings, events and press appointments. Just by some sort of magical, natural osmosis, I was absorbing the style beat of the city and intuitively gaining insight into what women were wearing in real time. It has always fed into my editorial work, and since moving it has made it infinitely harder to be truly in touch with genuine trends rather than social media–led frenzies.
Fortunately for me, the medium of IG and London-based women who document the outfits they actually step out of the house in are filling the large void—that and the fact that we’ve already set our social media editor out on the hunt for street style looks IRL around some of East London’s hippest postcodes. So what’s proving to be popular for summer 2022? A finely tuned mix of classics and pieces made for peacocking—a standard London ratio of laid-back and loud, then. Keep scrolling to see the trends you can buy on a lean budget that have a big seal of approval from the London set.
Lisa’s Valentino shirt is über-luxe, we know, but there are bright shirts proliferating the high street right now.
Georgie, the founder of rental fashion business Rotaro, taps into the vibrant colour combination with hired pieces—a more affordable and environmentally sound method.
We can always rely on Fisayo to bring us a bold look. Try pairing pink shoes with a green dress and wait for the compliments to roll in.
Florals are great and are still a top choice, but we’ve noticed a sharp rise in gingham dresses. Cat’s, like many others in this trend group, is from a new slow-fashion brand called Molby, which makes them to order.
Both Cat (above) and Alice and Hannah from Belle & Bunty have chosen to go for the gingham dress + sneakers combination. That casual-to-cute formula just works.
You can also ground these sweet frocks via chunky sandals, like Nicole here.
Dream sleeves.
Just add trainers.
Picnic-ready.
It’s made from organic cotton.
Ask any British girl right now what her most relied-upon item is and, aside from comfy shoes, we reckon it’d be a vest. They. Are. Everywhere.
Lizzy’s cream-and-white minimalist look of a vest and loose-fitting trousers is one we’ve seen repeated the world over, and it suits so many people.
Danielle knows it: Ribbed jerseys are the best choice, every time.
A classic fit.
You’ve most likely already seen this on Instagram.
Also comes in four other colours.
An inclusive style in sizes XXS-XXL.
Okay, Bianca, we are not worthy! This Sleeper set was rented from By Rotation and is worth every penny, clearly.
Retro prints and co-ords go together like strawberries and cream. London girls are keen on this Love set from House of Sunny.
Iman’s floral shirt and trousers from Zara have inspired us all to be a bit more out there this season.
The cutest crop.
You can also wear these with a white tee.
Add a blazer over the top.
The coolest.
Yes, Joanne’s Breton is a more expensive option from La Ligne, but trust me when I say the trend has totally filtered onto the high street and into vintage stores.
Although the sportier half-zip sweaters have given new life to the staple piece, a neat Breton tee will never do you wrong.
Francesca managed to nab the Arket one of dreams before it sold out.
