I Tried the Free Summer Styling Trick Everyone Is Wearing, and *Wow* I Felt Chic
I can't say with certainty when exactly this trend started, but I can tell you that it landed on my radar about a month ago, and I've been tracking it ever since. From spotting it on my TikTok FYP and Instagram feed to seeing it on my very own stylish co-workers, there's something about the all-white look paired with black accessories that has taken the fashion set by storm. It truly is the perfect virtually free styling trick for summer. I say free because the chances you have a white top and bottom (or dress), black shoes, and a black bag—bonus points for a belt—are very high, meaning you technically don't have to buy anything to test it out.
Speaking of testing it out, I did just that prior to writing this story. I opted for my usual combination of jeans and a tee but this time in white. Finishing with a black shoulder bag, suede belt, and ballet flats, I hit the town doing my best to stay clean with two kids in tow. As the headline so plainly put it, I really did feel chic and like I was making the most of my favorite wardrobe basics. To see and shop my look plus eight others that will have you convinced, just keep scrolling.
There I am! For a day with my kids, I went the casual route, but I already see this styling trick becoming my go-to for everything, including dressier events, this season.
Next time I opt for this look, I'm definitely adding a white button-down as an additional layer.
Once I get my hands on a silky white maxi dress, it's over.
You bet a sweater around the waist (or shoulders) counts as an accessory.
This look is simple, but the quality of her basics makes it a standout moment.
Proof that this styling technique works for the evening too.
It's the skinny belt for me.
This could be a white pajama set, and it would still look elevated thanks to the black bag and flats.
I'll be re-creating this exact outfit when I go to Italy next month.
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Since starting as a fashion intern in 2013, Nicole Akhtarzad Eshaghpour has held several roles at Who What Wear. She is currently editor at large, and in her present work for the site, she focuses on a mélange of shopping content, including her new-arrivals and Trust Me—Buy This columns as well as her weekly Trust Me—Buy This newsletter. Her interest in shopping spans everything from decoding the best luxury investments to discovering on-the-rise brands to trend forecasting, affordable fashion, and more. She holds a business administration degree from USC's Marshall School of Business and has been based in New York since 2017, when she moved from her hometown of Beverly Hills.