You’ve packed away your winter clothes and brought out your summer wardrobe—but what do guys think of your favorite 2013 trends? We surveyed a sample of college guys to find out which of your summer styles will make him hot and bothered, and which looks you should put the freeze on. Here are eight sizzling summer trends and what guys have to say about them.
Short Shorts or High-Waisted Shorts
When it comes to short shorts, all of our guys approved of this timeless trend, but with a few guidelines. Most of the guys agreed that if you are going to go short, the shorts should flatter your figure. They also recommended that the shorts be short enough to flaunt what you got, but not so short that they reveal everything. “Look good, but keep it classy,” says Zach Fischer, a sophomore at Point Park University.
The same goes for high-waisted shorts, too. Eighty percent of the guys surveyed thought this trend was stylish, especially on girls with long, lean, and toned legs. “They are attractive on girls that have nice legs but they don’t have the same effect on girls who aren’t in the best shape,” says Nik Zaphiris, a sophomore at Purdue University.
On the other hand, there were some objections to this fad. Nick Colao, a junior at Gannon University, doesn’t like that this trend is making a comeback. “High-waisted? Is this the 90s?” he says.
Crop Tops
What’s a pair of high-waisted shorts without a nice crop top to go with it? Crop tops are the perfect way to show a little skin without revealing your entire torso. All of the guys we surveyed approved of this trend, but they were picky about what exactly is the appropriate occasion to don these shortened shirts.
“They’re very summery. I picture them at an outdoor barbecue or a picnic or something like that,” says Charlie Lambert, a sophomore at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “In my opinion, if you are indoors, your stomach should be covered, like in class or at a bar or restaurant.”
Zach likes crop tops because they maintain a good balance between classy and racy. “It’s an attractive look. It shows some skin, but not in a sl*tty way,” he says.
Ryan McGlynn, a sophomore at Syracuse University, agrees that crop tops can be fun and flirty without being too seductive. “They seem chill and comfortable rather than some tight, constricting shirt,” says Ryan.
The boys did set some boundaries on this look, however. “Some girls can pull them off, but then again, some can’t,” says Nick. “If you are tan and have a nice, thin torso, the crop tops can look really good.”
Big Sunglasses
Oversized sunglasses have been trendy ever since Paris Hilton began sporting them a few years ago, and it doesn’t look like they’ll be going anywhere anytime soon. Sixty percent of our guys gave oversized sunglasses their stamp of approval. All of those who disapproved said that the large lenses made it seem like the girls had something to hide on their faces, or that they lacked confidence.
“I think huge sunglasses are pretty obnoxious. They were a fad in the past but now they just look stupid,” says Ben Uhing, a sophomore at Syracuse University. “A nice pair of Ray-Ban aviators looks a lot better than sunglasses that cover three-quarters of your face.”
Zach agrees. “Most of the time they look pretty stupid because they hide most of the face… and do you really need sunglasses that big?” he says.
If you decide to downsize, however, don’t go too far—guys don’t seem to like that, either. “If you buy them too small, you’ll look like an idiot,” Nick says. So, collegiettes, the lesson here is that you can’t please everybody, so go with what looks best on your face.
Gladiator Sandals
These strappy shoes that channel ancient Roman warriors have become popular over the last few years because of their summery feel. The guys we surveyed were split 50/50 on whether they thought this trend was flirty or costumey. But this bold statement piece can sometimes be overwhelming if worn with the wrong outfit, and our guys have noticed.
“They are a very complicated piece, so sometimes they can over-complicate the outfit,” says Nick.
Charlie agrees: “I like some of the sandals with the straps, but gladiator ones are too much for me. Plus, I always think of Persian women in them.”
However, Ryan McGlynn, a sophomore at Syracuse University, thinks otherwise. “These are the first things I think of when I think of girls’ style,” he says. “I’ve always liked them; I just think they are cool compared to flip-flops.”
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Maxi Dresses
Eighty-three percent of the guys preferred short dresses to maxi dresses for the summertime. Few had a problem with how maxi dresses looked, but they didn’t see them being practical in the summer heat. “In the summer, I’m sure girls are not trying to wear full-length dresses,” says Chris. “It’s way too hot for that.”
Nick also says that he thinks girls should dress for the weather. “I prefer girls in shorter dresses, but they can be tighter or looser based on the summer heat,” he says.
Chris wasn’t a fan of how maxi dresses look. “The floor length dresses look like something a nun would wear to mass,” he says.
Ben thought that this style wasn’t very age-appropriate. “I prefer short dresses,” he says. “A maxi dress is fine if you’re 40 and taking your kids to soccer practice, but if you’re trying to impress a guy, a shorter dress is the way to do it.”
Zach felt that maxi dresses were a little over the top, but Nick and Charlie agreed that they worked for informal, laid back events. “I love them,” says Charlie. “I think they’re fancy but not too fancy, and appropriate for a lot of occasions. They’re also very flattering; they’re like the summer version of yoga pants.”
Neon Clothing
All the guys we surveyed say that neon clothing is acceptable, just as long as it’s not overdone. “Wearing neon colors can go two ways. You have to be careful not to overdo it. It’s okay for certain parties, like an ‘80s themed party, but don’t wear it too much all of the time,” says Nick. “Making it a regular thing is weird. One neon item is good, especially when you wear it with simple clothes.”
Charlie also thinks that neon apparel is only appropriate in certain situations. “A girl in neon at an outdoor party or concert is okay. I feel like girls’ neon [clothing] is [the] equivalent of a lax pinnie,” he says. “I don’t think its something [to wear] on a day-to-day basis.”
Mismatched Prints
Mixing different prints in a single outfit is definitely an art that takes some practice, but many collegiettes have been experimenting with this trend with great fashion success. This style provoked some interesting reactions from our guys. All of them were a little taken aback by this foreign concept, and didn’t understand why anyone would think to put those combinations together.
“It reminds me of what a five year old would wear the first time they got to pick their own clothes,” says Zach. “It’s just too much going on there.”
Nick agreed that mixing prints has the potential to cause quite the visual commotion. “That would be ugly; there’s way too much going on,” he says. “It’s a distraction, and I don’t know what to look at.”
Ryan says that this trend confused him. “Personally, I like things to match, and they are purposely putting together things that don’t go well together and clash, so the look just doesn’t flow,” he says.
Patriotic Apparel
The American flag has been sneaking into the fashion world for the past year now, appearing on everything from sweaters to hats to shoes to shorts. Whether or not it’s a holiday like the Fourth of July or Memorial Day, you can find collegiettes representing their country any day of the week through their fashion choices. All of the guys we surveyed gave this trend their stamp of approval, but they agreed that it can only be worn under certain circumstances.
“It’s only good for day parties, like at a frat. But not to the bars; that’s a little weird,” says Nick. “It’s especially good for holidays that are associated with America in the summer, like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day.”
Ryan also liked this trend, but agreed that it was only for certain occasions. “It’s just like the neon—I think it’s pretty random if it’s not an American-themed event or a country concert, but it works well in the summer,” says Ryan.
Charlie says he loves the American flag trend at outdoor events. “I think it’s different and summery and happy, and a little patriotism is good every now and then,” he says.
Chris was especially enthusiastic about this trend. “I love a girl who is patriotic. Good, old-fashioned American girls is what we need in a world full of hipsters and leggings,” he says. “American flag jean shorts, swimsuits, and tank tops are my personal favorites.”
While college guys aren’t always style-savvy, they do take notice of what you wear in the summer. However, our survey proved that guys have varied opinions about our favorite trends, and you can’t please all of them—so wear what you love!