-New Urban Style File- Dreams of Sand and Sea: The Hottest Color for Your Next Vacation? Chic & Cool "Summertime Blue"

It's mid-July and the European high season for summer holidays is gearing up into overdrive. Fashion trends forecasted some time ago that dreams of sunny getaways might be just what the doctor ordered to give us feelings of reprieve in gloomy political times such as these-  and they've followed suit by creating summer clothing where the cool, calming hues of sand and sea are among the last of the hottest colors in the stores, evoking feelings of idyllic relaxation - as we take in these last extraordinary mid-summer days at our favorite waterside haunts &  on vacation shores.  

Picture it: baby blue skies,  tropical flora & fauna, rippling sea waters, majestic blue mountains, palm trees, ocean breezes, and nautical stripes...all imagery that heavily inspired one of the strongest color trends of the summer, perfect for the high season of holiday traveling for Europeans- or sunny days by your local waterside: the color blue emerges as the last color trend standing for summer 2018, and is perfect for your next great escape, whether it's to meet your friends for cocktails on the river, or you're enjoying a vacation island retreat. 

The blue color palette trending for the season is expansive enough to include something for practically everyone: from the lightest of pastels to rich, deep, jewel and midnight tones- and we can see them in traditional summer seersucker, batiks, tie-dyes,  graphic florals, bold stripes and 70s style tunics & dresses with Central/South American and Mediterranean  embroidery accents. 

Check out our edit of some of 2018's summer collections' most memorable runway moments featuring sea & sand blue (and white) for your mid-summer wardrobe inspiration. Take the trend and make it your own with our featured separates from some of our favorite online retailers below. As always, you can click directly on the clothing title to shop.

A look back at the fashion previews from the SS 2018 runways featuring blue hues (from left-right):

(TOP ROW) Funky batik in a jumpsuit from WARM; summer strapless elegance in Jamaican inspired print from RALPH LAUREN; a fresh take on pastel blue summer striping from EUDON CHOI; jewel-toned blueprint in a caftan & maxi from LEONARD PARIS;  floral print chic in separates from OSCAR DE LA RENTA.  

(BOTTOM ROW) Flirty, carefree style from RALPH LAUREN; Sweeping statements in a richly printed floral from RALPH LAUREN; Hippy chick, ethno-inspiration in the ATHENA shift dress from WARM;  ALEXIS MABELLE shows summer blue candy stripes in the season's most sophisticated combo of  silk-cotton shirt& track pants; rich jewel toned floral print by way of MICHAEL KORS.

Let the sun warm your shoulder in a coastal print halter silhouette: (LEFT) Luxury SPLURGE:  RALPH LAUREN SS/ 2018 Maxi Halter Gown #6, (price on request from Ralph Lauren, tel-# 1-212-434-8000); (RIGHT)  Fashion STEAL: Jumpsuit m. Näckenträger von Glamourous (€52), from TOPSHOP 

Birds of paradise echoing great escapes to warm tropical locales: Glockiger RockWeiß/Blau gemustert (€40), from H&M

1.  Nautical stripes, revamped: Gestreife Kimono Jacke (€19,99) and Gestreife Palazzohose (€9,99),  PULL & BEAR

2.  sheego Casual Sommerkleid mit Batikdruck (€50), from SHEEGO

3.  An American summer staple in classic preppy style: 7/8 Seersucker Hose (€55, also in plus sizes), from LAND'S END

4. Chiffon Beach Printed Kimono (€16), from newchic.com

5. BPC SELECTION Gemusterter Badeanzug in royalblau (€32,99), from BONPRIX 

6.   HEINE Jerseyklied m. Mustermix by B.P. BEST CONNECTIONS (€50), from OTTO

7.   PAMPELONE Off-Shoulder-Strandkleid m. Stickereien (€50)  from BREUNINGER

8.   BoHo Me MaxiKleid m. Batikmuster (€45) from Forever 21

9.   Jumpsuit m. Streifen (€42) from Forever 21

10. Plus-size Joe Browns Kleid mit floralem Alloverdruck (€70) from SHEEGO

11. Kimono mit Paisleymuster (€15) from SHEIN

Baby blue striping in an updated version of the classic button-down shirt as a dress:
The luxury version on the LEFT; Polo Ralph Lauren Striped Cotton Shirtdress in Chopin Blue &White  (€99,50) from ralphlauren.de ; (RIGHT), the competitively priced Blusenkleid aus Kreppstoff ( sale €12,99),  from H&M