Spring cleaning may get all the credit but there’s nothing like a summer wardrobe refresh. Sahra Brandt, the Oakland-based personal stylist behind Shop the City, recently dropped her summer trend report, making it the perfect time to let a little sunshine into a cold closet.
Topping the list this year of summer trends: barrel pants, vests, jorts, striped button-ups and western wear. On the accessories front, this season calls for scarves and beaded necklaces. And in any form, the color powder blue is taking over—not a bad compliment to “peach fuzz,” Pantone’s 2024 color of the year.
Of all these trends, Brandt has one definitive favorite for herself and clients alike.
“I cannot stop wearing the beachy button ups,” she said in a phone call after one of her styling sessions. “They’re just the perfect easy layer in the Bay Area.”
Any trend can be for anyone, however, and Brandt centers her seasonal reports around accessibility. “I like to be a stylist for everyday people and people who are kind of intimidated by fashion,” she said. If someone is nervous about trying something new, she recommends renting pieces through Nuuly or Rent the Runway first.
For anyone ready to shop right now, Brandt offers several of her favorite East Bay shops to pick up a new piece—or several.
Primm Boutique
This women-owned and -operated boutique is heavy on summer trends from head to toe. A recent Instagram story nailed the perfect summer look: a breezy, country-ready mini dress by Audriella paired with tan cowboy boots by Agency.
Primm Boutique, open Mon–Fri 11am–6pm, Sat 10am–6pm, Sun noon–5pm; 520 Main St., Pleasanton. 925-699-3461. iloveprimm.com.
McMullen
Recently named in Vogue as one of the world’s most innovative retailers, Sherri McMullen’s boutique is Brandt’s stop “for super bougie, trend-forward pieces” in Oakland’s Uptown. Start small, with a rainbow of beaded necklace options, like this stunning number from fine jeweler Harwell Godfrey. For Western wear that’s total luxury, the Zoena Leather Fringe Jacket from Malene Birger is Beyonce-worthy. For a more casual look, check out barrel-leg denim from Rachel Comey and Tibi.
McMullen, open Tue–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun noon–5pm; 2257 Broadway, Oakland. 510.508.0773. shopmcmullen.com.
Alyce on Grand
The Black and women-owned neighborhood staple focuses on stocking independent female designers and proudly does not focus on trends. Nevertheless, we spied a few powder blue pieces that will stand the test of time. And the boutique is almost sold out of an extra-breezy set from By Together that features both a button-up shirt and matching shorts in beachy, brown and white stripes.
Alyce on Grand, open Mon noon-6pm, Wed-Fri noon–6pm, Sat–Sun 11am–6pm; 3231 Grand Ave., Oakland. 510.839.0457. alyceongrand.com.
Jinny
This appointment-only boutique promises “niche designer” clothing from a worldwide source of emerging brands. Go here for beachy button-ups from New York-brand Grammar, cowboy boots from Marco Delli and scarf-like ensembles from La Prestic Ouiston.
Jinny, open Tue–Fri 11am–5pm, Sat 1–4pm; 1575 Botelho Dr., Walnut Creek. 925.476.5857. shopjinny.com.
Amour Vert Berkeley
The earth-friendly brand offers a sustainable way to take home something just for the season. For jorts, try their AGOLDE selects. Other denim includes wide-leg options by Citizens of Humanity. Their beachy button-up comes in the form of the Bixby Seersucker Blouse, a cool, crinkle-cut option.
Amour Vert, open Mon–Sat 10am–7pm, Sun 11am–6pm; 1844 Fourth St, Berkeley. 510.898.1870. amourvert.com.
Anthropologie
If there’s one place to shop every trend, it’s Anthropologie, “an absolute fave one stop shop” for Brandt. Your vest options here range from suited to knitted to oversized. Their large selection of shirts and dresses include plenty of Western-inspired fabrics and fits. And if you’re looking for a quick trendy fix, shop high or low with scarves from Marimekko, Chan Luu or their in-house designs.
Anthropologie, open Mon–Wed 10am–6pm, Thur 10am–5pm, Fri–Sun 10am–6pm; 750 Hearst Ave., Berkeley. 510.486.0705. anthropologie.com.
ReLove
While shopping vintage might seem antithetical to trend-spotting, Brandt says trends don’t need to be for a singular season. ReLove’s vintage, designer, and independent picks stand the test of time. Try this community-oriented shop for scarves, a perfect way to dip into trends with vintage roots. This is also a great shop for denim in every flavor, especially oversized fits. Also spotted: some powder-blue linen fits. What goes around comes around.
ReLove, open Tue–Sun 11am–7pm; 3258 Grand Ave., Oakland. 510.350.8160. shoprelove.com.
Crossroads Trading
Not all Crossroads are created equal, notes Brandt, and the one in Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood is the one with the most to offer. While it’s likely that any of today’s trends might make an appearance in the quick-turn world of fashion, this secondhand shop could be a place to dig into the deep tracks of Brandt’s trend reports. She reports she’s still loving cargo details from past seasons.
Crossroads Trading, open Mon-Sat, 11am–8pm, Sun 11am–7pm; 5901 College Ave., Oakland. 510.420.1952. crossroadstrading.com.
