Junior Pasha Selig poses for a photo of her outfit. She is wearing a butter yellow button down, silk scarf belt, and jeans. Perfect for summer, this look consists of bright colors and the scarf as a fun touch. (Photo credit: Pasha Selig)

Now that Starbucks has re-launched pumpkin spice, it’s safe to say that fall is upon us. Sadly, the blissful homework-free season is over, but that just means it’s time to unpack this summer’s fashion trends. 

This first trend may be sitting in the back of your closet right now. Many people fashioned silk scarves into belts, which was a look that I was absolutely here for. A scarf-belt is a fantastic way to dress up an otherwise drab outfit. A colorful scarf creates contrast with more muted jeans or pants, giving any look a unique and more vibrant spin. I would pair a scarf with blue jeans and a solid color tee. 

To avoid falling victim to overconsumption, wearing a scarf as a belt can also be a great way to upcycle your clothes. A scarf you might not wear anymore could still have a place in your wardrobe.

Continuing with accessories, I saw bikini charms left and right at the beach. A bikini charm is exactly what it sounds like — a little charm, typically gold, that you can clip onto the string of your bikini. They can add a fun touch to your swimsuit, with each little clip revealing parts of your personality. 

Unfortunately, as cute as these bikini charms may be, there are some issues with wearing them realistically. As someone who loves to go swimming in the ocean, I’m worried the charms could get tarnished or fall off in the water if there’s a strong current. While they may not be perfect for surfing, bikini charms can make a great accessory for tanning by a pool. 

Butter yellow might be the color of the year — I’ve seen it everywhere. The light, warm color was in stores everywhere from Reformation to H&M. From Timothee Chalamet at the 2025 Oscars to Kylie and Kendall Jenner at Coachella, all the celebrities have been styling this shade. Although I thought it was a fun and refreshing color, I was also cautious that once summer ended, butter yellow would go “out of style.”

However, despite my skepticism, I couldn’t resist. In August, I purchased the shade in a long sleeve shirt from Brandy Melville. It’s not typically a good idea to buy long sleeves when it’s 90 degrees out, but, lucky for me, it seems butter yellow is still as popular as ever come fall. 

Even though I wear a polo every school day as part of my uniform, I noticed polo shirts have emerged as a trend. Personally, I love them. I still think they’re fun to wear on the weekends. It can be easy to pair them with jeans when going for a more casual look. Or for a dressier look, I’d wear a polo shirt with a simple skirt and a pair of flats.

Long skirts, a trend that always seems to be in style, were everywhere this summer. With their longevity in fashion, I know that maxi skirts may not qualify as a trend, but I saw a significant increase in how often they were worn. Day and night, I saw people opt for a long skirt instead of shorts in the hot summer weather.

This was great for me since I love a good skirt moment. It can dress up an outfit and make it more unique. There are so many different styles, fabrics, colors and prints when it comes to long skirts, which makes them a very versatile piece. What I saw most this summer were white cotton maxi skirts that work as a good neutral to contrast a fun top.

This summer’s fashion trends were fun favorites of mine. But now, the leaves are changing colors, butter yellow becomes burgundy, polos become oversized sweaters and bikini charms are put away until spring break. This summer’s trends were great, but I can’t wait to see what’s in store for autumn.