The Hamptons Edit: Where Everyone Turns to for Style Inspiration

The Fashion Stock Market here, your one and only source into the hottest style trends and fashion events. It is with a heavy heart that I deliver the following announcement (grab your tissues and pour yourself a drink): summer is coming to an end. Yes, it’s sad but true, with Labor Day Weekend behind us, the transition from those hot summer nights to crisp fall mornings is upon us. Before we get carried away with buying new fuzzy socks and planning our 3-4 Halloween costumes, though, I thought it best we reflect on a summer well spent. We sunbathed, we traveled, and we looked good doing it. And you know who did all three? According to social media and countless online articles, the people you find in the Hamptons summered like no others. They have impeccable style, not to mention a seemingly endless flow of cash and free time. The whole world watched as celebrities and influencers posted glimpses into the fabulous lives lived in the exclusive beach towns that make up the Hamptons, myself included. But really, what’s with the obsession? And why is “Hamptons fashion” suddenly being pushed onto algorithms, inspiring people from all over the country to change their summer wardrobes to fit the beachy, luxe aesthetic?

Photo: flickr

If you think I’m exaggerating about the public’s infatuation with the Hamptons fashion, I present a few headlines of articles made this summer:

“What to Wear in the Hamptons This Summer”

“8 Things Everyone in the Hamptons is Wearing This Summer”

“Hamptons Style Outfit Formulas to Try This Summer”

“Tired of the Hamptons? Fashion Isn’t”

And so on. Don’t even get me started on TikTok series that begin with some iteration of, “What the girls are wearing in the Hamptons this week,” or, “What I wore in the Hamptons last weekend.” The amount of videos are seemingly endless. 

Photo: thesurflodge

Now, to understand the internet’s fixation with this luxurious vacation spot, let’s talk about the Hamptons. I had the pleasure to visit Montauk this past summer for a short but sweet visit, and if I were to ever become an insanely famous author who sells her books for hundreds of thousands of dollars, I would seriously consider buying a bayfront property with a wrap-around porch and an infinity pool there. As a Jersey shore girl, I have certain expectations for what a beach town should offer–good breakfast spots, great bars, and stunning beaches. But, there’s something else a true beach town has to have, and that is its very own unique and whimsical vibe. Take Cape May, for example, with its colorful Victorian-style homes and the historical side that gives it that old-fashioned charm. I had high expectations for the Hamptons, and I can’t lie, I wasn’t disappointed. At least in Montauk’s case, the bars had good live music, the cafes were adorable, and the beaches made me stop to truly take in the beauty of Mother Nature. Okay, maybe I’m being a little over-the-top, but my point remains. Montauk has the essential je ne sais quoi of a perfect vacation spot; it’s the paradise of surfers and microinfluencers looking to have their Surf Lodge TikTok go viral. Yeah, it’s a little ridiculous (with $30 chicken salads at Round Swamp Farm and tourists at “casual” spots wearing business attire), but the appeal is clear. I can’t speak for the rest of the Hamptons, but beautiful places for beautiful people will always be popular. If the scenery doesn’t draw you in, the designer boutiques, excess of pilates studios, and influx of young, single rich folks will. And a man who can dress? You’ll surely find one in Montauk.

Photo: halleykmcg/Instagram

When it comes to people’s views on the Hamptons, it's a love or hate situation: either you love the foggy mornings and farmers markets paired with the exclusivity of the location, or you find it overhyped, a meeting grounds for the worst sort of clout chasers and finance bros looking to flaunt their money. Regardless, the Hamptons are as famous as the celebrities and socialites that frequent them. 

Photo: boboandchichi

As for the fashion? When you see your favorite actress, singer, or slightly controversial pop culture figure post a photoshoot they had on main street in East Hampton, you’re going to tune in–and notice the trends that are circulating down there. Shows like Gossip Girl and Sex and the City have deemed the Hamptons as the safe haven of heat-stricken New Yorkers looking to escape the city during the summer, adding fuel to the fire. People now look to the Hamptons because of its significance in the media, from stunning celebrity homes, to the White Party, to influencer pop-up events. The Hamptons has been featured in fashion magazines like Vogue and Elle, and various designers have drawn attention by having exclusive events there. Clearly, anybody who’s anybody turns to the Hamptons for inspiration for their summer wardrobe. I mean, how could you not? Linens, stripes, pearls, and so on. This summer, everyone loved the Ralph Lauren, “coastal granddaughter” aesthetic, and the appeal is still very apparent. 

The Hamptons themselves were treated like the trend of the summer, so obviously the clothes people wear there became highly sought after. If you can’t visualize the aesthetic, think coastal and polished, less shabby chic and more “my father owns a $40 million home in Southampton.” Colors like soft blues, creams, and whites are most popular, complementing the colors of the ocean and the sand harmoniously. It’s preppy, it’s elegant, it’s nautical, and it’s practical. Flowy maxi dresses, Birkenstocks, and tote bags are only a few examples of what you might find someone sporting on the streets of Montauk. Honestly, what’s not to love? It’s literally effortless luxury, which is what everyone is constantly trying to accomplish for some reason. 

Photo: Revolve

An undeniable allure of the Hamptons style trend is the desire to look expensive, without trying so hard. You can buy all the Gucci t-shirts you want, but looking luxurious takes careful consideration, curation, and class. Perhaps it's this country’s economic crisis that has everyone, regardless of if they’ve ever been to the Hamptons, obsessed with quiet luxury and dressing “expensive.” You can look the part, even if you thrifted your whole outfit. Honestly, it’s kind of a good thing for people who want to be on trend, on a budget. But like its inspiration, Hamptons style is not free of its share of indulgences. I mean, the shops in East Hampton Village certainly suggest that Hamptons-goers love to spend some money, if the houses, boats, and cars didn’t already speak for themselves. The trend is as inclusive as it is exclusive, kind of like the Hamptons. Anyone can visit for the day just to go to the beach and grab a $15 matcha, but only the richest people can own real estate there. Kind of a bummer, right?

Photo: Tria Giovan

My take? I’m a sucker for neutral colors and pastels, along with the whole clean-girl-meets-surfer-girl thing. Despite how much I want to dislike this trend, due to it being so forced on everyone by NYC influencers posting their weekend in the Hamptons outfits, I actually don’t mind it. Wealthy people have pretty good taste! I do think that we shouldn’t be losing our minds (and our paychecks) over trying to exude old money beach town realness, but taking some inspiration from the Hamptons style isn’t harmful. Sometimes, when I put on my linen pants and striped blouse paired with my Birkenstock clogs, I like to believe I’m using fashion to manifest. Like somehow, if I dress like I’m one of those microinfluencers who get invited to party at Surf Lodge, one day I’ll become one of them. Maybe someday it’ll actually happen; for now, I’ll be throwing coastal themed dinner parties and making Pinterest boards, admiring from afar those captivating beach towns that sit on the point of Long Island. 

XOXO, The Fashion Stock Market

Cover Photo: Revolve

Editor: Annaliese Persaud