I Design Resortwear for a Living—These Are the Trends That Will Dominate This Summer

Every year, I patiently wait for summer to arrive to start dressing for what is, in my opinion, the best season to dress for. Bold colors, skin-showing silhouettes, sandals, raffia accessories… What's not to love about dressing for the hot weather? There are certain brands we associate with the warmer months, and for me, that brand is Cult Gaia.

Whenever I have a vacation to a warm-weather destination or a summer event on my calendar, my first instinct is to run to the brand's site to look for something fabulous to wear. (I always find something.) Recently, I was on a trip to Miami and had the pleasure of walking through Cult Gaia's recent retail location in the Design District. I was blown away by the beautiful architecture and interior design of the store, which totally captured the essence of the brand. As I looked through racks of beautifully designed dresses, skirts, tops, and accessories, I knew I had to tap the brand's founder and designer, Jasmin Larian Hekmat. After all, who better to ask for resortwear trend recommendations, the It colors for summer, and her current favorite Cult Gaia pieces than Hekmat herself?

Keep scrolling to read our conversation and shop the resortwear trends Hekmat is loving for summer 2024 as well as some of her current favorite Cult Gaia picks.

What colors should we lean into when shopping for our summer wardrobes?

Red, powder blue, butter yellow—leaning into color neutrals with some boosts of color.

Cult Gaia is known for having stellar accessories, especially for vacations and the warmer months. Which accessories from the latest collection are your absolute favorites?

We have a special collaboration coming out before summer, which I am really excited about. Some other accessories I am loving at the moment that will be great for summer are the Erin Earrings, Gwyneth Top-Handle Bag, Sirena Clutch, and Soriah Sandal.

Shop Hekmat's current favorite Cult Gaia accessories:

What do you take into consideration when making pieces with destination dressing in mind?

We don't really design for a specific destination. It just so happens that's how customers gravitate toward the brand, which we love. True to the Cult Gaia heritage, we are forever inspired by the beauty from some of our favorite destinations, such as St. Barths, Miami, Mykonos, Saint-Tropez, etc. Always under the sun.

What inspired the Cult Gaia spring/summer collection?

For the Cult Gaia spring collection, we were inspired by aerial views of flower fields and salt evaporation ponds, a patchwork of warm tones reflecting our connection to nature and one another. We wanted this collection to evoke a sense of wonder and connection.

What pieces are you planning on shopping for your upcoming summer 2024 travels?

There are so many gorgeous pieces to choose from, but the below are what I have my eye on currently.

Shop Hekmat's summer 2024 travel picks:

What resortwear trends will dominate this summer?

I'm predicting malachite accessories, abstract patterns and details, silk dresses, and lots of beautiful details.

Shop the trends:

Malachite Accessories

Abstract Patterns

Silk Dresses

Beautiful Details