Y2K, Fashion, SummerGolden hour cocktails, sun-drenched yacht glam and parties on the Aegean Sea — for Weinberg freshman Cisco Hernandez, these aren’t just a vacation dream. They’re part of his summer 2025 fashion inspiration board.
As Northwestern students begin to pack their bags for the end of the school year, they’re looking at what clothes to bring, throw away or even add to their wardrobe.
Hernandez said when choosing how to dress for this summer, he’s channeling a vibe that is “Dolce Vita escapades-only.”
“The Dolce Vita lifestyle is a jet setting off to Mykonos with Celine sunglasses,” he said. “Not so many layers, just collar shirts, shorts and sandals.”
When shopping for summer, Hernandez said he looks for established brands that emphasize quality and comfort as well as breathability and aesthetics. He said he recommends brands such as Brunello Cucinelli, Loro Piana and Zimmermann to channel this year’s “summer vibe.”
Above all, however, Hernandez said he is a year-round Ralph Lauren-fanatic. He takes inspiration from the brand because it’s “versatile,” and he enjoys the seasonal offers.
In terms of accessorizing, Hernandez said “less is more,” but said bandanas are definitely making a comeback this year.
“You can wear them in so many different ways, as a hat, as a scarf, as a belt, and they’re very chic,” he said.
Yet not every student shops from commercial brands. Weinberg freshman Megan Freemon said she loves thrifting both back home in Tennessee and in Evanston.
A frequent shopper at Crossroads Trading, a resale fashion store on Sherman Avenue, Freemon said she likes to thrift as much as possible, especially for cute tops.
“I really love button up shirts. I feel like they’re really nice and airy,” Freemon said. “Sometimes I just get sick of tank tops and short sleeve shirts.”
The thrift craze reflects a sense of nostalgia, Freemon said, especially for late ’90s and Y2K fashion.
Characters from late ’90s and early 2000s shows she loves, such as “Gossip Girl” and “Charmed,” are what inspire her fashion, Freemon said.
“Things are just more complicated now than they were when we were younger,” she said. “I feel like for a lot of people, that kind of era represents a simpler time.”
Freemon said she has noticed stripes and colorful patterns like gingham have become more popular lately.
For Communication freshman Patricia Liu, who hails from California, shorts are a summer fashion staple. She said jorts — knee-long shorts made of denim — are also a returning trend.
Though Evanston temperatures have not been as high as back home, Liu said she’s noticed several people on campus wearing jorts — and they’re growing on her.
“A lot of people just thought they were ugly, but now I’m like, ‘Wow, they’re kind of cute,’” Liu said.
Bienen freshman Elizabeth Palumbo said she prefers flowy clothes and skirts, but also animal prints, influenced by her Italian heritage and New Jersey upbringing.
Palumbo said she plans to incorporate a blue, yellow and white color palette into her wardrobe. She also anticipates wearing fun jewelry and the late-trending flower claw clips, she said.
But trends will not determine all of Palumbo’s style this summer.
“As a kid, I was always kind of stuck in what everyone was doing,” she said. “Now that I’m an adult, I realize you only live once. So just explore what you love.”
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