Is there any feeling worse than scanning your closet, only to conclude you might as well own a bunch of invisible emperor’s clothes because NOTHING is hitting? As an elder millennial who has lived through many questionable fashion eras (I lowkey regret nothing about wearing business casual to the clerb, but that’s neither here nor there), the pieces that I’ve cherished keeping over the years are the Carrie Bradshaw-coded stunners that border on “too much.” Enter: summer’s latest, lunchiest trend — food-focused fashion.

If you’ve been seeing tin fish sweaters, citrusy sundresses, produce-printed pieces taking over your feed, you’re not alone, and to be honest, you’ve wanted to try it, haven’t you? Pulling off a culinary-inspired statement piece might seem like a tall order. But with a few styling tips, I promise you can cook up the best foodie fashion fantasy look to bring to the table!

Why is food trending in fashion?

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Nostalgic prints and kitchsy aesthetics have been skyrocketing in and out of style each season thanks to the speed of social media (and TikTok specifically). Remember how red nails, blush blindness, and gingham were the hyperfixation of the moment during tomato girl summer? Coastal grandma gave way to mob wife core, and mob wife core scooted over for the fisherman aesthetic, and now it’s time to give a farm-fresh wardrobe a go.

But the best part of all of these quirky movements is that if you carefully shop for pieces that evoke the aesthetic without looking like a costume, they’ll remain a major slay in any season.

Foodie Fashion Trend Picks: How To Style Trend Statement Pieces

High-low Styling

One key to making a sardine girl summer vibe look chic vs. silly is playing down the camp with more traditional styling elsewhere, AKA a classic combination of high and low. If your top is a glittery little gag, pairing it with structured trousers and an oversized blazer moves you from the trendy lane to runway-ready. Similarly, mixing a bright, breezy print with bold, chunky jewelry can balance out your ensemble.

Match Your Outfit To The Occasion

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There’s an outfit for every occasion and an occasion for every outfit, so if you’re playing with a whimsical print, you might feel less skittish about it if you’re not, IDK, wearing an embroidered lemon ever each boob when you’re asking the bank for a loan. Matching your look to the theme or location of the outing or trip on the docket is my favorite way to nail a head-turning fit (again, I have more than a little Carrie in me). I know, I know, nobody wants to be too on the nose, but sorry, you can’t tell me it’s not cute to wear a pasta-red dress to date night in Italy, or a handstitched martini top to girls’ HH in a cocktail bar. Even a subtle throughline from your clothes to your surroundings will subconsciously make strangers snap their necks, trust.

Rent Before You Buy

Throwing down big bucks on really loud items you already know won’t come with the most efficient cost per wear, admittedly, isn’t always the best budgeting choice. Nostalgia prints and patterns come across best in thoughtfully designed garments, with intricate beading or delicate knits over fast fashion. More often than not, despite my wallet’s protests, this comes with a heftier pricetag.

If you want to dabble in sophisticated foodie fun without shelling out funds upfront, try renting items first with a service like Nuuly before officially investing. Conveniently enough, Nuuly has a Farmstand Graphics edit (I am currently trying and failing to come up with reasons to buy this Nuuly Says Gah cherry set and Carolina K picnic dress at a discount when my cycle is up).Shopping a pre-sorted edit from a styling service also helps with weeding out the more questionable, costumey styles if you’re worried about overdoing it.