It’s the summer of 2025 and this genetically predisposed city kid is once again roaming Manhattan’s upper west side, walking Sam the dog, and gawking.  Make no mistake, I still hate summer, as described in a sweaty essay I wrote last July.  But Sam needs his walks, and I get to observe what’s hot, besides the weather, when it comes to the latest fashion trends.  If I can’t be cool in one sense, I can still be cool (as in “fire” or “drip”) in another.   I mean, if you know you know, right?

A few summers ago, it was all about the navel.  A proliferation of belly buttons roamed the streets of the city.  Crop tops and hip rider pants and skirts were the uniform of the season.  Exposed midriffs were all the rage.

This was followed by the summer of the boobs.  High-waisted pants made a comeback, and navel-gazing was replaced by a higher calling.  Bras, bikini tops, unbuttoned suit jackets that revealed lacy lingerie, anything that highlighted the melons.

And during the summer of 2024, the trend was workout wear.  Twenty-somethings roamed the streets looking like they just stepped out of a Lulu Lemon dressing room.  At least they removed the price tags.  Spandex in all forms was the prevailing fabric of the day.  Bottoms could be long or short, as long as they were clingy.

All of which leads us to today.  Belly buttons and boobs still visible.  Workout wear as street attire is less so.   But you can imagine my surprise as I followed young women on the sidewalks of New York, that the latest fashion trend this year was not apparel, but  Starbucks!

The outfit is optional.  As long as it’s accompanied by a cold drink held in the left hand.  I’m sure which hand holds the drink is also optional, but since 90% of the population is right-handed, I assume that the dominant hand needs to be free to manage the cell phone.

Of course, it’s not always Starbucks.  It could be any smoothie store or juice bar that concocts a colorful beverage over ice in a clear plastic cup with lid and straw.

I am struck by the array of hues.  Depending on the ingredients, these fashion-forward drinks come in a variety of colors.  I personally have observed orange, yellow, red, green, blue, pink, even tan.

With so many color choices, I can’t help but wonder if the young woman entering  Starbucks or the smoothie store stops to consider what she is wearing on that particular day.  Will a green beverage compliment her outfit? Or would pink better offset her tank top? Does she consider her complexion, and\or the colors of the tattoo on her left shoulder?  Does she ask the barista for advice? Or is the strawberry acai she just ordered simply a refreshing drink?

The idea of color-coordinated drinks need not be limited to day wear.  Consider the evening and the fashion allure of the colorful cocktail.  The deep red of a Negroni or the tropical blue of a lagoon cocktail, to name but two.  Choose your outfit to match your desired drink, or the drink to match your outfit.  Either way, you are fire!  After all, when you know, you know!

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