by: Rachel D’Alessandro and Jon Miller, Photos: Leigh Trainor; Buffalo Exchange Boston (Somerville)

In Somerville, the many universities nearby have impacted the style and selection at both of our locations. Here at MA1, we’ve noticed that diversity manifesting itself into 3 distinct styles: Heavy Metal Summer, Bright Bold Patterns, and Retro Tea Party.

The Heavy Metal  summer girls are rocking lots of flowy black skirts and dresses, stripes  and crop tops, all topped off with statement jewelry (especially crosses and rosaries). Don’t Forget about the chunky boots to pull the whole look together!

The girls attending the Retro Tea Party are loving our vintage selection. They are on the hunt for delicate ladylike details such as subtle polka dots, pastel stripes and tiny florals. These soft colors and flowy fabrics look just as at home the closet of a Hamptons socialite lady-who-lunches  as they do in her teenage daughter’s.  Much like there heavy metal counter parts, the crop top is also a popular trend, but the difference in color palette will keep these ladies out of each other’s closets!

And last but not least, the bright bold pattern gang is in full effect this summer! The color palette is a lot more open with pastels as well as deep and bright saturated colors represented. Expect mixing and blocking of patterns such as artistic florals, tropical/Hawaiian patterns ,  Moroccan, and African prints. These patterns play surprisingly well together and often coexist on one garment. The more eye catching the better!

Lesson learned this year? MIX IT UP! Try a little of each of these trends this season and you’ll be a fashion superstar!