Summer is upon us and that means new trends and styles to help you beat the heat and stay fashion forward. Since I wear a uniform to school during the year, the summer is the only time for me to express myself and have fun with clothing. And trust me, I take full advantage! Whether you’re at the beach or just hanging out with friends, make sure to follow these five trends and keep styling on this summer.

A major plus for summer is that it is the ideal time to show off your tan skin and summer body that you have been working on for months. A perfect way to do that is through swimwear. Not just any swimwear, but by sporting a halter swimsuit! When I tell you that halter swimwear is all the rage this summer, that is probably and understatement. Not only is it so on trend, but it’s also a super flattering cut for basically any body type, accentuating your beautiful face more than anything else. Throw it under a sleek and simple cover-up and let the halter peak out the top for the perfect beach look!

Crochet is another major summer trend this year. While crochet usually gets more associated with festival wear, it is the perfect, lightweight material to sport this summer. Whether it is in the form of a bathing suit (may I say that by wearing a halter, crochet bathing suite would categorize you as a fashion queen) or in the form of a dress, this style is the perfect way to keep cool and fashion forward this summer. My favorite way to sport the trend is a crochet top, with a pair of ripped jeans shorts and some sandals for a perfect yet summery look.

Another major trend for this summer is off the shoulder. I would have to say that this is probably the most prominent and noticeable trend of summer 2016. This, just like the halter bathing suit, gives you the chance to show off your summer tan through the bare shoulders look. Sport it in the form of a crop top or flowy dress (my personal favorite way to wear the trend) and you cannot go wrong!

Calling all shoe lovers, we have a new summer shoe trend over here- lace up sandals! While the lace up trend itself was a major staple of the winter and spring months, summertime is the perfect time to add this trend to your feet with lace up sandals. While a more muted color like black or tan is a great staple, they can also be a great may to add a pop of color to your outfit by purchasing them in a more bright and vibrant color.

Last but certainly not least, the major jewelry trend of the summer would have to be chokers. Although the choker trend has been on the rise for around the past year, it has reached a major peak this summer. Since summer embodies a more casual look, a choker is the perfect accessory to add to your outfit and spice up your look, no mater the material or length. Recently, I have become a major fan of this trend after being a bit opposed to it in the beginning (it reminded me too much of my hideous middle school fashion days), but now I can officially say that I am a dedicated member on the choker train.

Summer is the perfect time to try new things, so make sure to add these perfect trends to your summer 2016 bucket list!