Sardines, But Make It Fashion
This week’s blog post comes with a special guest I’m so excited to introduce: Melissa Frós.
Melissa is my Fashion Week partner and one of my best friends. We met years ago during the New York Fashion Tour, and our connection was instant. She’s Brazilian, like me, and brings such a unique lens to fashion, culture, and the way we express ourselves through personal style.
I’ve been inspired by her ever since. Her eye for detail, her fashion journey, and her ability to notice the small yet powerful elements of style make her voice one I couldn’t wait to share with you here.
Sardines, but Make It Fashion:
How This Little Fish Became the Boldest Style Symbol of the Summer
by Melissa Frós
Yes, you read that right: sardines are the new fashion obsession for Summer 2025. From colorful fish prints to can-shaped handbags, scaly earrings, and embroidered sea-themed outfits, fish, especially sardines, are everywhere. And the most surprising part? It’s actually working!
What started as a playful design twist quickly turned into a full-blown trend, embraced by designers, influencers, and brands with an eye for the quirky. Visually, sardines are unique: shiny, metallic, compact, and with a vintage vibe that recalls the coastal charm of Southern Europe — think Portuguese markets, French seaside villages, or sunny Italian lunches.
The Mediterranean aesthetic had already been taking over moodboards and collections in recent months, but now it’s entering a more playful, kitschy phase. The sardine has emerged as an emblem of this lighthearted, sun-soaked moment — a simple figure, full of personality.
“Sardines aren’t trying to be perfect or precious, and that’s exactly the point,” says Dayna Isom Johnson, trend expert at Etsy.
Beyond the visual appeal, this trend taps into a broader fashion shift: toward humor, nostalgia, and a sense of fun. After years of minimalism and all things "clean," there’s a renewed appetite for the eccentric, the unexpected, and the joyfully weird.
Whether on beachwear or as bold everyday pieces, sardines are spicing up the Summer with a touch of irony and plenty of style. Perhaps this season we can trade the lemon prints that recall the Amalfi Coast for the unexpected but well-loved sardines?
Ready to dive in? We selected more great sea-inspired pieces and looks for you to add some fun to your wardrobe and inspire others to swim with this fashion trend this Summer.
Melissa Fros is a Brazilian professional with a background in Law and specializations in Footwear Buying and Merchandising from Central Saint Martins in London, as well as Fashion Design Management from Cornell University.
Her career began in the fast-paced UK retail scene and later took her to New York City, where she explored the fashion world behind the scenes of multiple NYFW shows.
Blending a sharp eye for detail with a deep appreciation for individuality, Melissa began documenting New York’s street style. Capturing the pulse of the city through its nuances, diverse styles, and emerging trends.
Now living in the south of France, she continues this exploration through a more relaxed and effortless lens. Her content still reflects that same curiosity and care, now shaped by her current surroundings.
You can find her on Instagram at @melissafros, where she shares street style, snapshots of everyday beauty, and trend observations that are always thoughtful and beautifully seen.
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