First, there was Hot Girl Summer, a term coined by rapper Megan Thee Stallion in 2019 that encourages women to feel confident about flaunting their bodies and summer outfits. Now, the TikTok community has given a refreshing twist to the self-affirmation movement with Coconut Girl Summer.
“Is that the name of a new boozy bake recipe that’s set to rival
2020’s Dalgona Coffee?” you might ask. Though that might just be as intriguing a trend,
Coconut Girl Summer is all about rocking nostalgia-inducing, serotonin-boosting pieces that make you appear as if you’re ready to sip on Mai Tais all day under the golden sun. No actual beach vacay? No problem. Read on and take notes!
Consider
Coconut Girl Summer as the much more colourful and tropical-loving cousin of the original phenomenon. To be exact, the
Coconut Girl embraces Hawaiian-inspired motifs with open arms and has a soft spot for
eye-catching crochet bikinis too. Of course, cooling off with a coconut sherbet on one hand while snapping photos with a disposable camera on the other is very much a part of her “aesthetic” as well.
Curious to know which celebs are amongst the earliest adopters of this look? Simply refer to Emily Ratajkowsi’s bright
Versace Spring 2021 ensemble above, which we reckon would be a go-to outfit for modern-day mermaids.
Another celebrity that comes to mind whenever we think of
Coconut Girl Summer is singer
Lorde, who made a long-awaited musical comeback with her single
Solar Power. The song’s cover art and music video heavily feature the New Zealand-born artist in a bright yellow two-piece satin number from
New York brand Collina Strada and it wasn’t long before it became a major fashion hit.
In fact, global fashion search platform
Lyst reported a 41% week-on-week increase in searches for the brand’s yellow pieces. At the same time, it also noticed an increase in searches for tops and shirts that included terms such as “hibiscus”, “seashell” and “starfish.” Are you now convinced that coco’s the way to go? If so, here are a few trendy, affordable pieces to get you started.
Most of us would’ve winced at the sight of middle-aged men (AKA our dads and uncles) in touristy Hawaiian shirts. However, these cheesy, “dated” prints are back on trend from the look of things. In fact, UK-based content creator @chlodavie’s eye-catching, tropical midi skirt is proof that you should never say never when experimenting with fashion trends — present and past.
(Left) h:ours Rios wrap halter top, ~USD135.92 (Photo from: revolve.com) (Right) SEAFOLLY New Wave pareo sarong, ~USD45.55 (Photo from: seafolly.com)
Style it: Stay cool as temperatures rise in the pink halter top from Los Angeles-based brand
h:ours, which features a playful halterneck and cut-out design. For your skirt, try this
sarong from
SEAFOLLY, which serves as a convenient, colourful cover-up after you’re done dipping your toes in glistening waters.
US-based content creator Natalia Spotts, who goes by
@pierogiprincess_ on Instagram, epitomises
Coconut Girl Summer in her multi-coloured crochet hat, layered costume jewellery and floral bikini top. May we also mention how laid-back she looks in those 00s-style sunnies too?
(Left) COLLUSION tie-dye satin headscarf, ~USD6.61 (Photo from: asos.com) (Right) Reformation Aventura linen top, ~USD139.59 (Photo from: thereformation.com)
Style it: So your hair’s not humid-proof, but thankfully, you can always reach for a joyful hair accessory to keep those precious tresses under wraps. Hop on to the tie-dye train while you’re at it with the
COLLUSION satin headscarf and frame your face with kitschy accessories. For a more “borrowed from the boys” look, simply throw on the printed linen top from
Reformation over your swimsuit.
Knits in this heat? Yes, it’s possible. Above, fashion content creator
@angelynn_ng sports a striped, knit co-ord that she styled with fashionable white accessories. Her
baguette-style bag and thong-heeled sandals are a nod to the nostalgia fashion trend, while her oversized white button-down shirt serves as a casual-cool cover-up.
(Left) Bershka crochet top and shorts set, ~USD49.18(Photo from: bershka.com) (Right) Neous Florae leather sandals, USD222.76 (Photo from: Net-A-Porter.com)
Style it: Stock up on your greens with this striped crochet top and shorts set from
Bershka, which are perfect for lounging by the pool or at home. For your footwear, go with low-heeled thong sandals that you can strut around in, such as the ones above from minimalist footwear and accessories brand
Neous.
Who’s ready for their
Coconut Girl Summer transformation? We know we are!
